FKM took part to his first IRL qualifying session yesterday on the Infineon Raceway and secured an honorable P8 that allows him to hope a strong result for this first shot in this demanding category!

Franck discovered the track last Thursday for his first official test with the team. The test went well on the learning point of view although our FKM was a bit disappointed not to be at the top of the timesheet. But this is something that may change today… So stay tuned!

Yesterday FKM had a busy day working with the team to prepare the qualifying session. Several meetings and team briefings to make the most of this first race at this stage in the US. He was relaxed before the session although he was determined to do his maximum this weekend.

In qualifying Franck had to learn almost everything… I mean it’s a brand new world for him. But he learned pretty quickly as he qualified for the second round in the Top 12. He then missed his chance for just a few tenths and couldn’t take part to the Firestone Fast Six shootout but still P8, next to Kanaan on the grid, is a very satisfying result. FKM  seemed pretty pleased yesterday altough he knew it could have been slighlty better. He discovered the red tyres (soft) yesterday in qualifying and it changed his car balance quite a lot. The front was then quite heavy and Franck admitted he doesn’t know the car well enough at the moment to change its set up during the session… but he already asked for some changes prior to today’s race. So that may be worth it to stay up tonight to follow his race!

Starting P8 allows Franck to hope for a strong result. Being the first rookie on the grid, FKM can hope for a strong and exciting fight with the top drivers. It may sounds too ambitious to hope for the win but still being in the Top 8 would be great… And I know him, he’ll target even better than P8… 

The laptimes in qualifying and the grid for the race:

1 10 Dario Franchitti Edinburgh, Scotland Target Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chip Ganassi Racing 1:16.7987 107.955 

2 6 Ryan Briscoe Sydney, Australia Team Penske Team Penske 1:16.8485 107.885 

3 3 Helio Castroneves Sao Paulo, Brazil Team Penske Team Penske 1:16.8702 107.855 

4 26 Marco Andretti Nazareth, Pa. Team Venom Energy Andretti Green Racing 1:17.0524 107.600 

5 27 Hideki Mutoh Tokyo Formula Dream Andretti Green Racing 1:17.2055 107.386 

6 02 Graham Rahal New Albany, Ohio McDonald's Racing Team Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 1:17.3885 107.132 

7 11 Tony Kanaan Salvador, Brazil Team 7-Eleven Andretti Green Racing 1:16.9900 107.687 

8 25R Franck Montagny Feurs, France Automatic Fire Sprinklers AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing 1:17.0840 107.555 

9 24R Mike Conway Bromley, England Tran Systems/Dreyer & Reinbold Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 1:17.0895 107.548 

10 9 Scott Dixon Auckland, New Zealand Target Chip Ganassi Racing Target Chip Ganassi Racing 1:17.2247 107.359 

11 7 Danica Patrick Roscoe, Ill. Boost Mobile/Motorola Andretti Green Racing 1:17.6145 106.820 

12 4 Dan Wheldon Emberton, England National Guard Panther Racing Panther Racing 1:17.6782 106.733 

13 13 E.J. Viso Caracas, Venezuela PDVSA HVM Racing HVM Racing 1:17.9180 106.404 

14 5 Mario Moraes Sao Paulo, Brazil Azul Tequila/Votorantim/KVRT KV Racing Technology 1:17.4730 107.015 

15 33R Robert Doornbos Rotterdam, Netherlands HVM Racing HVM Racing 1:18.1095 106.143 

16 14 Ryan Hunter-Reay Boca Raton, Fla. ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing A.J. Foyt Enterprises 1:17.6401 106.785 

17 06 Oriol Servia Pals, Spain Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Newman/ Haas/ Lanigan Racing 1:18.1409 106.101 

18 2R Raphael Matos Belo Horizonte, Brazil US Marines Luczo Dragon Racing Luczo Dragon Racing 1:17.6552 106.764 

19 18 Justin Wilson Sheffield, England Z-Line Designs Dale Coyne Racing 1:18.3353 105.837 

20 98R Richard Antinucci Rome CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G CURB/ Agajanian/ Team 3G 1:17.7500 106.634 

21 20 Ed Carpenter Indianapolis Vision/William Rast/Lilly Racing Vision Racing 1:18.2413 105.964 

22 23 Milka Duno Caracas, Venezuela CITGO/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 1:23.6185 99.150 

23 12 Will Power Toowoomba, Australia Penske Truck Rental Penske Racing no time no speed 

24 34R Nelson Philippe Valence, France i drive green/Conquest Racing Conquest Racing no time no speed  

So stay tuned to learn more about FKM’s race in the US. More news and pictures to follow soon.

The Joker