Tracy, Green Reunite For Another Run At Indy 500
May 04, 2010 | By
KV Racing Technology announced Tuesday, May 4 that former Indianapolis 500-winning car owner Barry Green has joined the team to assist on Paul Tracy’s No. 15 GEICO – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry in this year’s Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, set for Sunday, May 30.
Green, whose team won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 with Jacques Villeneuve driving, returns to the famed Brickyard to work with Tracy as the race strategist for the GEICO – KVRT operation.
“I’m very excited to return to the Indianapolis 500 and work with Paul again,” Green said. “Paul and I both feel we have some unfinished business at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I want to thank (KV Racing Technology team owners) Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for this opportunity to assist Paul and his GEICO crew throughout the month. I have worked with John Dick (Tracy’s engineer) on numerous occasions and I believe we have a strong effort to challenge for an Indy 500 victory.”
Green and Tracy come back together at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since the controversial 2002 Indy 500 finish when Tracy was awarded second place in the No 26 Team Kool Green car. In the 2002 event, Green and Tracy protested the finish as they felt Tracy had passed leader Helio Castroneves in Turn 3 on Lap 198 before the caution lights were lit for a crash in Turn 2. Green’s organization filed a written protest that was heard by a special committee. On July 2, the committee announced the protest was disallowed with Castroneves retaining the win.
Green, an Australian native, has an outstanding racing resume, including competing as a driver in Formula 3 before taking leadership of racing organizations such as Paul Newman’s Can-Am team, Forsythe Racing, KRACO Racing and Forsythe-Green Racing. Team Green was established in 1994 and sold to Andretti Green Racing in 2002.
“With my tenure at Team Kool Green, Barry called every one of my races and called all of my race wins, including the 2002 Indianapolis 500,” Tracy said. “When Jimmy and I sat down at Long Beach to discuss our Indy 500 plans, Jimmy told me he couldn’t be as hands-on with my car as he was last year. He asked me to explore the right person to help me at Indy.
“It didn’t take long to think of Barry. He has the same desire and commitment to winning as I do. Obviously, he was my choice to work with me this year. I know we have some unfinished business at the Speedway.”
Tracy’s entry will be the fourth for KVRT in this year’s Indianapolis 500. Tracy will team with rookie Takuma Sato in the No. 5 Lotus - KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, E.J. Viso in the No. 8 PDVSA – KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car and Mario Moraes in No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine.
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2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.