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MEDEIROS FASTEST IN MENARDS INFINITI PRO SERIES TESTING
AVONDALE, Ariz, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004 – Seven Menards Infiniti Pro Series drivers completed a total of 1,095 laps during testing Feb. 10 at the reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway. Thiago Medeiros posted the fastest lap of the day at 156.718 mph, 22.9712 seconds in the No. 11 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone. Rookie Jesse Mason was second fastest at 154.687 mph, 23.2728 seconds in the No. 3 Brian Stewart Racing Dallara/Infiniti Firestone, but his test ended early after he made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 4. There was significant damage to the right side of his car, but Mason was uninjured. Another rookie, Phil Giebler, was third quickest at 154.457 mph, 23.3074 seconds. Giebler, a former Red Bull Driving Search candidate, ran his first laps in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series in the No. 2 Keith Duesenburg Racing Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone. The 2004 Menards Infiniti Pro Series season-opener, the Homestead 100, is scheduled for Feb. 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ESPN2 will broadcast the event at 4 p.m. on March 4.
POST-PRACTICE QUOTES:
THIAGO MEDEIROS (No. 11 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/ Firestone): “The car ran pretty well. We started to try some things, like make more mechanical changes than aero package because sometimes during a race weekend, we don’t have time to set up the car and make those big changes. We’re trying to set up the car for qualifying and for the race.” (About the reconfiguration of Phoenix International Raceway): “The track is about 10 feet wider in the exit to Turn 2. It just makes the track safer, I think. It’s also a little bit quicker because you can carry a little bit more speed into the turn and have a little more room on the back straightaway.” (About testing with a teammate for the first time): “Arie (Luyendyk Jr.) is a very good driver and a good guy. It’s better because we are testing different things, and now he can see my data, and I can see his data. We can learn from each other, and hopefully, we’ll have a nice friendship between us and work together the same way.”
For more information:
Michele Davis
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
C: 602-741-1915
F: 805-926-4052
E: mdavis@marketingchampions.com
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