MÜNTER RECOVERS FROM EARLY SPIN TO FINISH 13TH AT CHICAGOLAND
(Sept 9, 2007) JOLIET, Illinois – After Leilani Münter's impressive Indy Pro Series debut at the Kentucky Speedway last month,
it's no surprise she is disappointed with her 13th place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
To start off the weekend, Münter was fifth quick in the first practice session on Saturday morning. "The car was really fast in the
draft, I was very happy with it." In the afternoon the team went out in qualifying trim but were not as quick, posting the 13th quickest
time on the grid. Münter qualified 12th later that day.
Münter had a good start but the #57 SMART Papers Dallara bobbled coming out of turn four. "I got loose coming out of turn four
but I saved it. I knew I had a loose car and I was trying to be careful but coming out of two the rear end
just snapped around, I think the combination of cold tires and the dirty air on my wings got me."
Münter came to a stop in the grass on the back straightaway. She was able to keep the car off the inside wall but unfortunately her rear wing was slightly damaged.
With the assistance of the safety workers, Münter restarted her car and brought it into the pits where her crew changed her rear wing. She lost precious
track position in the process, putting her 12 laps down from the leaders.
Despite her stumble at the start, Leilani kept her cool and returned to the track with her repaired wing to gain valuable seat time. She finished the race in 13th position. She avoided several on track accidents along the way including one that sent Wade Cunningham for
a wild ride into the air before landing upside down in front of Münter and the rest of the field. "Jaques Lazier did a great job of telling me which way to
go, I couldn't ask for a better guy to be on the radio with me."
"I am disappointed of course, but I am looking at the big picture. I know I gained a lot of
valuable experience this weekend," said Leilani,"I have to thank the guys at Sam Schmidt Motorsport for all their hard work
and SMART Papers for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to coming back next season to run for Indy Pro Series Rookie of the Year."
# # #
For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with a member of Sam Schmidt Motorsports, please call Kaaveh Akbari at (317) 727-6957 or kaaveh@kaavehakbari.com.
TV ALERT: Watch Leilani at Chicagoland Speedway on ESPN2 Thursday Sept 13, 500pm EST.
INDYCAR TIMING & SCORING: CHICAGOLAND 100 - PRACTICE RESULTS (SEPT 8)
INDYCAR TIMING & SCORING: CHICAGOLAND 100 - QUALIFYING RESULTS (SEPT 8)
INDYCAR TIMING & SCORING: CHICAGOLAND 100 - RACE SPEEDS (SEPT 9)
INDYCAR TIMING & SCORING: CHICAGOLAND 100 - RACE RESULTS (SEPT 9)
