McDONALD’S DRIVER WILSON HOPES TO AGAIN BE THE ONE TO BEAT AS THE ONLY RETURNING RACE WINNER FOR THE REXALL EDMONTON INDY; RAHAL TO PILOT THE REXALL-OILERS RACE CAR IN SEARCH OF HIS THIRD STRAIGHT PODIUM HERE

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (July 23, 2008) --- Since their first race at the City Centre Airport course in Edmonton in 2005, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) has always looked forward to their return to the 1.973-mile, 14-turn course. This year’s return to the Rexall Edmonton Indy has brought even more anticipation than previous years for a variety of reasons. Although they won two of the three previous races held here with Sebastien Bourdais (2005, 2007), one driver who consistently challenged them was Justin Wilson, who was hired to replace Bourdais at the team and is naturally looking forward to his return here.

“Between Newman/Haas/Lanigan and myself, we have won every race that’s happened at Edmonton so we felt that if we put the two together we would be in good shape to bring McDonald’s another win there,” said Wilson who won in 2006 and has led a total of 33 laps in his three races here. “We expected to be going there in a good position with a well-balanced car but obviously the merger happened so we have to start from scratch with new equipment. But we still have the advantage of knowing the track and having some information on it which is a lot more than we have had at previous races this season. I’m looking forward to it and hope we can still be very strong and challenge for the win.”

The Rexall Edmonton Indy will be the first race where drivers who transitioned from Champ Car have experience at a circuit that returning IndyCar Series drivers do not. Newman/Haas Racing (NHR) won the inaugural race here in 2005 when Bourdais drove to victory from a 10th place start. In 2006 Bourdais and Wilson fought a hard battle but Wilson and RuSport Racing came out on top while Bourdais finished second. In 2007, Bourdais brought NHLR its second win here and Rahal finished third for a total of five podium finishes in three events while Wilson finished second. Although NHR won the inaugural event here in 2005, it looked to be Wilson and his teammate A.J. Allmendinger’s race.
“The first year myself and A.J. were pretty much a second clear of the field and we threw it away near the end of the race,” recalled Wilson, who had been running second to Allmendinger but both spun late in the race. “I managed to finish fourth which was a small consolation considering we should have been first and second. That was disappointing but it made the win there the second year so much sweeter. I was racing Sebastien and I came out on top and won the race. It was a pretty great feeling. Last year with the Panoz we were quick and competitive again and we finished second after a good, strong race.”

Eight drivers entered in the Rexall Edmonton Indy have competed at this course in Champ Car and only four of those have competed in all three races – Wilson, Paul Tracy, Mario Dominguez and Oriol Servia. Wilson will be the only returning winner in this year’s field which may aid him in his quest to become the eighth different winner in the 2008 IndyCar Series season. He started second in 2005 and third in 2006 and 2007 and was in contention for the win all three seasons. So far this season he has started no lower than the first two rows on all four non-oval races including pole in Long Beach and second place in Watkins Glen. Alternate strategy (St. Pete), engine failure (Long Beach) and mechanical issues (Watkins Glen) are among the reasons he has been unable to finish as high. He is hoping to remedy that this weekend.

“The course is an airport circuit with a couple of runways that are connected by what I call a permanent road circuit section so it’s very physical and demanding,” said Wilson. “The corners lead into each other so you have to get into a rhythm and be able to push the car to the limit in qualifying. If you have a good car it is just amplified around the lap so you end up being that much better than anyone.”

The team is not only excited about returning to a track they are familiar with and competitive on, they are also excited about the partnership with event sponsor Rexall and local National Hockey League team, the Edmonton Oilers. Rahal, a hockey fan, is hoping to continue his string of podium finishes here and begin to build momentum in the final five races of the season, three of which are on road/street courses.

“Edmonton has been good to me,” said Rahal. “Last year’s third place finish started our streak of three podium finishes in four races and in Atlantics I finished second so I have been on the podium both times I have raced there and I am hoping to do it again this year in the Rexall-Oilers car. Last year was a tough race for me, we lost the radio so it certainly wasn’t an easy finish but everything worked out just fine.”

Rahal has made two starts here, one in the Atlantic series in 2006 where he started third and finished second and in the Champ Car headline event in 2007 where he started fourth and finished third. His fourth place start (three times) remains his highest on a road or street course in Champ Car and the IndyCar Series. He is looking forward to his third event on the “one-of-a-kind” course.

“It’s a great circuit,” said Rahal. “It’s a place I look forward to going to. It’s really cool how they have taken your classic airport circuit and paved a proper track in the middle of it so you get areas of the track that are really high grip. The intersection of the track is pretty fast and grippy and the outside is the airport surface which makes the racing exciting because it is wide and there are a lot of places to pass. I don’t think there is another track in the world that has that mix of both of those.”

Edmonton marks the final race of a six-week stretch before the teams enjoy a well-deserved weekend off. Before that happens, the drivers will need all the energy they can muster to tackle what was widely considered the most physically demanding Champ Car race of the season in recent years. The heavy steering effort due to the high level of grip produced on this course will require stamina and precision from the drivers. Rahal believes that if it is as difficult in an Indy car as it was in a Champ Car, the drivers coming here for the first time will be as surprised as the Champ Car drivers were.

“The other IndyCar drivers said that Mid-Ohio was one of their most physical tracks last year but it wasn’t as difficult as I expected,” said Rahal. “Driving a Champ Car around Edmonton was probably the most physically demanding of our (Champ Car) season. I’m not sure what to expect in the Indy car this weekend but at the end of the day, every race that is two hours long becomes physical after a while. People talk about the endurance that we have as drivers and on a hot and sunny day, which is how it usually is in Edmonton, you’re going to need it because it’s going to be a physical race. I don’t think any of the tracks we have been to this season stack up any where near Edmonton. I’m not sure if it will be as hard as in a Champ Car but I’m looking forward to finding out.”

Not only is it the first time for the IndyCar Series to race in Edmonton, it is also their first race in Canada in general. However, the team has enjoyed many competitive races in Canada over the years. Of their 106 wins, they have earned a combined total of 15 at events in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton dating back to their first in Canada with Michael Andretti in the 1989 event in Toronto. In addition, they have a total of 33 podium finishes in Canada, which has long been known for their fan support.

“There has been a great turnout in Edmonton in the past,” said Wilson. “A lot of people came out even if the weather was not that great. The local fans have supported it and this year should be no exception. The promoter was put in a difficult position in terms of not having much time to promote the event. We have been looking forward to returning to Edmonton ever since the merger when it was only a possibility that the race would be added. Although it is the first time for the IndyCar Series to race in Canada, a good percentage of the people that are coming to Edmonton have raced in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and remember what great events those were.”

“The fans in Canada have always been the best,” added Rahal. ‘I wasn’t at Edmonton the first year but everyone that was there saw all of the fans that were there even in the rain. They haven’t had much time to promote the race this year since it was only confirmed a couple of months ago so it might not be as packed as it has been in the past but I think everyone who comes there for the first time will be pleasantly surprised once they see the amount of people that will turn out. These are the most passionate fans in all of motorsports. Canada is a huge market for us. Toronto and Vancouver were two of the most successful races in CART history. I can’t wait to get back to Canada!”

This weekend’s Rexall Edmonton Indy can be seen on live on Saturday, July 26 at 5:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The event will get underway with practice on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and the 95-lap race will begin at 3:00 p.m. MDT on Saturday. As always, fans can follow the action from every on-track session via the official website of the IndyCar Series, www.indycar.com. It will also be broadcast live on IMS Radio Network and XM Radio Channels 144 and 145.



JUSTIN WILSON, driver of the #02 McDonald’s Dallara / Honda / Firestone:
ONE WIN, TWO PODIUMS IN THREE RACES AT EDMONTON: Will be his fourth race here and first in an Indy car at this track. He started second, led four laps and finished fourth in 2005; started third, led 28 laps and won in 2006; started third, led one lap and finished second in 2007. It will be only the THIRD track this year that he has raced on prior to this season.

2006 & 2007 RUNNER UP TO THE CHAMPION: Finished runner up in the Champ Car championship to the driver he recently replaced, four-time champion Sebastien Bourdais, in 2006 and 2007. Was a championship contender until the conclusion of the penultimate race of each season. He also finished third to NHR drivers Bourdais and Oriol Servia in 2005.

PERSONAL: Justin Boyd Wilson was born on July 31, 1978 (29) in Sheffield, England…He married the former Julia Coggins in England on 12-29-2006 and reside in a suburb of Denver with their newborn daughter Jane Louise (born 4-12-08; expected 6-1-08)…His father Keith was an amateur Formula Ford racer in England but retired before Justin was born due to a crash that broke his back and legs. Instead of taking interest in mother Lynne’s love of horses, Justin followed his father’s passion and began racing karts when he was eight…In order to help finance his 2003 season in Formula One, Justin created a company -- Justin Wilson PLC – and approx. 900 investors “bought shares of Justin” which raised $2 million. A portion of his earnings go toward repaying the debt…He has conquered the challenges of dyslexia and, if he wasn’t a race car driver, would be a designer of cars or etc. because he is curious about how things work or how to improve them…Hobbies include cycling, miniature golf, video games, karting and trying to fly one of his two RC Helicopters…He spends his free time plotting and completing home improvement projects as well as trying to find time to mow the yard between races…His typical day begins at 7 a.m. and he calls the U.K. and checks his email before spending an hour at his local gym with Julia. After lunch he rides his bike for 1.5 hours and devotes the remainder of the day to home projects, reading 50+ pages of NHLR engineering reports and hanging out with friends…At 6’ 3-1/2” he is the tallest IndyCar Series driver…Listens to Coldplay, Stereophonics, The White Stripes and dance music.

JUSTIN WILSON, No. 02 McDonald’s Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “Between Newman/Haas/Lanigan and myself, we have won every race that’s happened at Edmonton so we felt that if we put the two together we would be in good shape to bring McDonald’s another win there. We expected to be going there in a good position with a well-balanced car but obviously the merger happened so we have to start from scratch with new equipment. But we still have the advantage of knowing the track and having some information on it which is a lot more than we have had at previous races this season. I’m looking forward to it and hope we can still be very strong and challenge for the win.

“The first year myself and A.J. were pretty much a second clear of the field and we threw it away near the end of the race. I managed to finish fourth which was a small consolation considering we should have been first and second. That was disappointing but it made the win there the second year so much sweeter. I was racing Sebastien and I came out on top and won the race. It was a pretty great feeling. Last year with the Panoz we were quick and competitive again and we finished second after a good, strong race.

“The course is an airport circuit with a couple of runways that are connected by what I call a permanent road circuit section so it’s very physical and demanding. The corners lead into each other so you have to get into a rhythm and be able to push the car to the limit in qualifying. If you have a good car it is just amplified around the lap so you end up being that much better than anyone.

“There has been a great turnout in Edmonton in the past. A lot of people came out even if the weather was not that great. The local fans have supported it and this year should be no exception. The promoter was put in a difficult position in terms of not having much time to promote the event. We have been looking forward to returning to Edmonton ever since the merger when it was only a possibility that the race would be added. Although it is the first time for the IndyCar Series to race in Canada, a good percentage of the people that are coming to Edmonton have raced in Toronto and Vancouver and remember what great events those were.”



GRAHAM RAHAL, driver of the #06 Rexall-Oilers Dallara / Honda / Firestone:
TWO PODIUMS AT EDMONTON: Will be his second major open wheel race here and third overall. He started third and finished second in the Atlantic race here in 2006 and started fourth and finished third in the 2007 Champ Car race.

PERSONAL: Graham Robert Rahal, 19, was born in Columbus, Ohio on 1-4-1989 and resides in New Albany, Ohio…The 6’2” driver is one of four children of Bobby Rahal, three-time open wheel champion, Indy 500 winner and Hall of Fame race car driver…Has two sisters (Michaela and Samantha) and one brother (Jarrad)…Became the youngest IndyCar Series winner with his victory in his series debut in St. Pete on 4-6-08 and appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman" on 4-16-08 to discuss the feat…Graduated from New Albany High School with a 3.8 GPA on 6-3-07 despite missing over 80 days of school that year due to racing. ESPN The Magazine covered his graduation… When not racing he likes to work on cars, hang out with friends and family or play other sports for fun…Is a self-proclaimed “Car Guy” and still has the first car he received when he was 16 – a Subaru WRX sti – and is in the process of turning it into a race car with a Cosworth race engine. He purchased an ’07 Atomic Orange Corvette Z06 with his prize money but later sold it and now has an ’07 Ron Fellows limited edition Corvette Z06 as well as an ’08 Chevy Trailblazer SS. In addition he has a 1964 Mini Cooper that he restored for his high school senior project. He also temporarily owned a Porsche GT3 and an Audi he earned by graduating high school with a GPA of 3.5 or above…To prepare for the physicality of racing he spends many hours doing cardiovascular training and weightlifting, skiing, running or bicycling… His favorite type of clothing is anything made by Puma… His favorite food is sushi and his weaknesses are ice cream and white chocolate mocha drinks at Starbucks…His favorite books are those written by Lance Armstrong (and anything he read other than for school)…His favorite thing to watch on TV is any Ohio State Buckeye game, his favorite actor/actress are Owen Wilson and Eva Longoria and favorite movie is “Wedding Crashers.”

GRAHAM RAHAL, #06 Rexall-Oilers Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “Edmonton has been good to me. Last year’s third place finish started our streak of three podium finishes in four races and in Atlantics I finished second so I have been on the podium both times I have raced there and I am hoping to do it again this year in the Rexall-Oilers car. Last year was a tough race for me, we lost the radio so it certainly wasn’t an easy finish but everything worked out just fine.

“It’s a great circuit. It’s a place I look forward to going to. It’s really cool how they have taken your classic airport circuit and paved a proper track in the middle of it so you get areas of the track that are really high grip. The intersection of the track is pretty fast and grippy and the outside is the airport surface which makes the racing exciting because it is wide and there are a lot of places to pass. I don’t think there is another track in the world that has that mix of both of those.

“The other IndyCar drivers said that Mid-Ohio was one of their most physical tracks last year but it wasn’t as difficult as I expected. Driving a Champ Car around Edmonton was probably the most physically demanding of our (Champ Car) season. I’m not sure what to expect in the Indy car this weekend but at the end of the day, every race that is two hours long becomes physical after a while. People talk about the endurance that we have as drivers and on a hot and sunny day, which is how it usually is in Edmonton, you’re going to need it because it’s going to be a physical race. I don’t think any of the tracks we have been to this season stack up any where near Edmonton. I’m not sure if it will be as hard as in a Champ Car but I’m looking forward to finding out.

“The fans in Canada have always been the best. I wasn’t at Edmonton the first year but everyone that was there saw all of the fans that were there even in the rain. They haven’t had much time to promote the race this year since it was only confirmed a couple of months ago so it might not be as packed as it has been in the past but I think everyone who comes there for the first time will be pleasantly surprised once they see the amount of people that will turn out. These are the most passionate fans in all of motorsports. Canada is a huge market for us. Toronto and Vancouver were two of the most successful races in CART history. I can’t wait to get back to Canada!”