PKV Racing's Jimmy Vasser called it a "barometer" while teammate Cristiano da Matta thinks "it will be a good test", but both drivers are looking forward to this weekend's Molson Indy Toronto on the temporary street circuit at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada.
source: pkvracing.com / gulfstream.com Vasser, who has piloted the #12 Gulfstream/PKV Racing Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone machine to three consecutive top six finishes and four top-10 showings in the first five races of the 2005 Champ Car World Series season, currently sits fifth in the championship race with 82 points Commenting on the Toronto race he said, "I am very curious to see how the PKV Racing team does on a true street circuit. This is the first street circuit we have raced on since Long Beach where we did not fair as well as we had hoped. I think it will be a good challenge for the team and a good barometer of where we are as a team." Meanwhile da Matta, who with his #21 Bell Micro/PKV Racing Ford-Cosworth/Lola Bridgestone team, has been on something of a tear the last two races scoring the team's first win, a victory in Portland, and following up with a strong performance in Cleveland, said, "I think the Toronto race is going to be a very good test for the PKV Racing team. The last two races we have been running really well, but the Toronto circuit is different from Portland and Cleveland. The last two circuits are more flowing. Now, we are going to a true street course where there is more hard braking and you have to be able to put the power down in the corners. I am confident that the PKV Racing team will get the setup correct and that will be key to having a good weekend." Vasser opened the 2005 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season with a ninth place showing at Long Beach. He finished 14th in Round #2 in Monterrey, Mexico before placing a season high fifth at Milwaukee then following up with a pair of sixth place performances in Portland and Cleveland. Vasser has qualified in the top-10 in four of the five events this year including taking the first pole in PKV Racing's history (Milwaukee). This will be Vasser's 14th race in Toronto. In 13 previous events at Exhibition Place he has earned six top-10 qualifying positions with a best starting spot of second in 1995. Vasser has finished in the top-10 seven times, including two podium performances with a best showing of second in 2004.
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