KANSAS CITY, Kansas (April 26, 2009) - Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter scored his first top-ten finish of the season in the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway in what was also the first race on an oval and third race overall for the 2009 IndyCar Series season. Teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 15th after battling the car for most of the weekend.

Besides battling a competitive field of 22 cars, Carpenter and Hunter-Reay were also racing against impending inclement weather, extreme wind, and less than ideal handling cars. Carpenter's race was further compounded by radio issues that hampered communication with the crew of the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine.

Despite the difficulties, Carpenter persevered to finish ninth after running as high as sixth from his 10th place spot on the starting grid. In addition, Carpenter drove to his best finish in his sixth attempt at Kansas and earned a second-straight top-ten finish at the 1.5-mile oval.

That momentum should help carry the team and driver into the month of May and the Indianapolis 500 where Carpenter finished a career-best fifth last season.
 

Driving the No. 21 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, Hunter-Reay struggled to find a stable and comfortable car all weekend which led to disappointment in Sunday's race. After starting from 19th place, Hunter-Reay drove as high as 14th in the race and finished in the 15th position in his second attempt at Kansas.

To Hunter-Reay's credit, for the second weekend in a row he brought the No. 21 machine home in one piece despite handling woes, which is ever-important for success next month at Indianapolis where he was named the Rookie of the Year last season.

Reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon earned his first victory of the 2009 season, taking the checkered flag in the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway .7104 of a second ahead of Helio Castroneves. Tony Kanaan finished third and is the only driver to record top-five finishes in each of the first three races this season, Kanaan moved into the Championship lead with 100 points.

Hunter-Reay remains fifth in the championship point standings with 74 points (26 points behind leader). Carpenter moved up to 17th in the championship point standings today with a top-ten finish. He has 46 championship points, 54 points behind the leader.
IndyCar Series racing resumes next month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24th. 

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Post Race Quotes: (April 26, 2009)

Ryan Hunter-Reay - No.21 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone
Finishing Position: 15th  
Qualifying Position: 19th 

On race:

"That was the most difficult race I think I've ever run. We had issues all weekend but nothing that the Vision crew did wrong. We just weren't able to land on our feet and pin point any one thing. In the race, we chased those issues pretty much all day long. I really can't believe we even lasted that long because for a while there I was doing everything I could just to not end the day in the wall. The second half of the race was just survival and trying to bring it home in one piece. The good news is that we have a month to work it all out at Indy."

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About Vision Racing:  Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George as well as actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition. The team features returning IndyCar Series driver Ed Carpenter and welcomed veteran Ryan Hunter-Reay for 2009. In the past calendar year, the team has scored ten top-ten finishes and five additional top-five finishes including a fifth place finish in the Indianapolis 500 by Ed Carpenter and a second place run by Ryan Hunter-Reay on the streets of St. Petersburg in the 2009 season opener. Also new for 2009 is a return to the Firestone Indy Lights Series with driver James Davison, as well as a technical partnership with new FIL team Bryan Herta Autosport and driver Daniel Herrington. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Racing.

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