PDVSA HVM Racing Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Qualifying Report
 
 
Venue: The Streets of Long Beach, 1.968-mile street course, Long Beach, Calif.
Lap Time: 1:10:2232 seconds
Speed: 100.89 miles per hour
Starting Position: 4th  
Notes:
 
The PDVSA HVM Racing team will enjoy starting Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach at the front after driver E.J. Viso qualified the No. 13 car fourth on Saturday afternoon. The second-row position marks Viso’s best qualifying result since joining HVM Racing and the IndyCar Series Championship last season and his first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six.
 
The Honda Dallara was fast in practice all weekend, allowing the team to focus primarily on adjustments to help Viso best navigate the tricky turns of the Long Beach street course.  Like other drivers, Viso drove much of his qualifying sessions on the alternate “red” tires, giving the No. 13 car extra grip.
 
Today’s qualifying effort was the best for HVM Racing on the streets of Long beach.

Comments from PDVSA HVM Racing Team Principal Keith Wiggins after qualifying fourth at Long Beach:
 
“We are very happy with how the car has performed since we got here.  We tested various things in practice and felt we had a good strategy going into qualifying.
 
“It was important that we came out and had a good run in Long Beach after our fast pace but disappointing St. Pete result.  We traditionally run strong on street courses, so we came here with confidence that we could put together a strong performance.  Obviously after E.J.’s qualifying run, we feel good about what we can do on Sunday.”
 
Comments from PDVSA HVM Racing Team Driver E.J. Viso after qualifying fourth at Long Beach:
 
“It was a great day. The car has been fast all weekend, the Firestone tires were good and everything played out as we expected. Things didn’t come together in St. Pete, but hopefully it will happen here in Long Beach.
 
“This achievement is going to boost everyone’s confidence.  We are a one-car team, and it’s harder to put a good car out there when you don’t have a second car to compare information with. But the team has been working very hard and things are definitely coming together.”

 
HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its eight years of competition, the team has earned six wins, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums since 2001. The team finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car championship standings in 2006 and 2007, and earned its drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. In 2008 with driver E.J. Viso, the team earned seven top-10 finishes, including a fourth at St. Petersburg in its inaugural year in the IRL Championship.