Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Teams and Drivers Tackle a Street Course for Final Time in 2012 on the Streets of Baltimore
DETROIT (August 28, 2012) – For the final time this season, the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams and drivers will take on the challenges of street-course racing in the Grand Prix of Baltimore on the Streets of Baltimore. With Chevrolet clinching the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship at Sonoma, and Will Power claiming his third consecutive Road Course Championship title, the battle for the overall Driver’s Championship and Oval Championship will take center stage in the two remaining races.
“Congratulations to Ryan Briscoe and Team Penske on their win at Sonoma Raceway,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager, IZOD IndyCar Series. “With that ninth victory of the season, Chevrolet was able to clinch the IZOD IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship. We are proud of the accomplishment for Chevrolet, our technical partners and all of our teams that have put in a tremendous effort in our return to IndyCar competition.
“With two races remaining in the season, we remain focused on winning the Driver’s Championship and Oval Championship. First up is the Streets of Baltimore, where Will Power was the winner in last season’s inaugural race.”
The 2.04-mile, 12-turn street course in beautiful downtown Baltimore, Maryland provided tremendous excitement for the fans in its inaugural race last season. Slight changes have been made to the course to heighten the competition as the Series returns this weekend. Among the changes to the race track this year include remodeling the chicane, which creates extra turns after the longest straightway along Pratt Street. There will also be improved passing areas around the course — all expected to result in higher top speeds for drivers. However, it will remain a physically and mentally challenging event for drivers, and a technical challenge for the crews to get the car set-up perfectly suited to their drivers.
“The track is modified from last year to improve some passing zones and street courses are physically challenging for the drivers,” Berube continued. “However, we know our Chevrolet IndyCar V6 teams and athletic drivers are up for the challenge.”
Chevrolet competed previously in Indy-style competition as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V-8 engines, winning 105 races, that powered Chevrolet to six driver champions, and included seven Indianapolis 500 victories.
The 75-lap Grand Prix of Baltimore is scheduled to start on Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. ET with live television coverage on the NBC Sports Network.
