Tracy leads four KV Racing Technology drivers in top 10
Before the green flag for the Honda Indy Edmonton, it was announced that Honda Canada and IZOD IndyCar Series driver Paul Tracy had raised more than $112,578 for Make-A-Wish Canada through a program in which fans in Toronto and Edmonton had the opportunity to sign the race suits worn by Tracy for a donation.
Tracy gave something back to fans – leading a four-driver top-10 performance for KV Racing Technology with a sixth-place finish in the demanding 95-lap race on the City Centre Airport circuit.
Mario Moraes advanced seven positions to finish seventh (his fourth top 10 in 11 races). E.J. Viso, who started a season-high sixth in the No. 8 PDVSA Jet Aviation KVRT car, followed in eighth and Takuma Sato earned the first top 10 of his initial IZOD IndyCar Series season with a ninth place in the No. 5 Lotus KVRT car.
Tracy, who finished 14th at Watkins Glen International on July 4 and 13th at Toronto on July 18, overtook five cars on the first two laps and was running as high as fifth. He finished sixth last year on the 1.973-mile, 14-turn circuit and fourth in 2008.
"It was a good finish for the Honda Canada/Make-A-Wish/Motegi Wheels KV Racing team," said Tracy, an Ontario native. "Our goal was to make money for Make-A-Wish these last two weeks and they raised over $112,000 for the two races. It feels great to help the kids and the families. My second goal was to have a good time.
"Then we wanted a good finish and we pulled it off. It feels so good to race in front of the Canadian fans. They really enjoy their racing. Both Toronto and Edmonton support these events so well. It is tough to come in as a spot driver and perform well. This place is so hard and physical on a driver. So coming from 15th and finish sixth feels very good.
"I just wish we could get the car figured out earlier in the weekend to get a better starting spot. I think we can race with the leaders if can do that."