Chevrolet Seeks to Kick Up Dust at Desert Grand Prix

· Team Chevy drivers gear up for first oval of Verizon IndyCar Series season
ᴏ 1.022-mile Phoenix International Raceway is stiff challenge
· Helio Castroneves is among the handful of drivers with history at racetrack
ᴏ Team Penske driver, who won at PIR in 2002, holds track qualifying speed record
· 2016 race marked Indy car return to the racetrack after 10-year absence
ᴏ Simon Pagenaud and Will Power scored top-three finishes behind winning Chevrolet
· JR Hildebrand returns to No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing

DETROIT (April 26, 2017) – Experience, which is a derivative of longevity, skill and teamwork have been complementary ingredients in Helio Castroneves’ successful career. History is an ally at Verizon IndyCar Series venues.

The veteran Team Penske driver will make his 331st Indy car start, which ranks third on the all-time list, Saturday night in the 250-lap Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix in the No. 3 REV Group Chevrolet. It is the fourth event – and first oval — of the Verizon IndyCar Series season.

Castroneves’ 29 career victories incorporate 16 on paved ovals, including 2002 at Phoenix International Raceway from the pole. Last April, Castroneves set the qualifying lap record of 19.0997 seconds at 192.631 mph on the 1.022-mile oval en route to earning the pole position.

“Phoenix is a track where I fortunately have more experience that anyone else in the series right now due to the years Indy car racing went away from there,” said Castroneves, who is tied with Rick Mears and teammate Will Power for 11th on the career wins list. “I’ve done well there and really enjoy the atmosphere. We had a solid top-five finish at Barber, and the No. 3 REV Group Chevy team really wants to build on that momentum as we head to our first oval of the year.”

Castroneves carries momentum into the race under the lights. He earned the pole for the race April 9 on the streets of Long Beach – the 48th of his career – and started next to pole-winner Power last week at Barber Motorsports Park. Both led to top-10 finishes, and Castroneves is sixth in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings.

Chevrolet drivers have swept the Verizon P1 Award this season.

Teammate Josef Newgarden, No. 2 hum by Verizon Chevrolet, claimed his first victory for Team Penske on the 2.3-mile Barber road course, with reigning series champion Simon Pagenaud, No. 1 Menards Chevrolet, continuing to deliver solid results for Team Chevy with a third-place finish. Both are in the top four in points.

“Coming off our win at Barber, the No. 2 hum by Verizon Chevy team and I are ready to hit the track for our first oval of the season,” Newgarden said. “We had a good test out there before the season and we’re comfortable with what we have out there.”

Last year, in the first Indy car race at the racetrack after a 10-year absence, Pagenaud finished second and Power placed third behind the winning Chevrolet.

Verizon IndyCar Series team owner Ed Carpenter, who competes solely in oval races, will make his season debut in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet. Ed Carpenter Racing also will welcome back JR Hildebrand, who sat out the last race while recovering from surgery on his left hand.

“I am super excited to get back to Phoenix and start my driving season,” said Carpenter, who has three career wins. “We have had several tests since my last race in Pocono, but it will be good to get back to a race weekend as a driver. We had a great open test at Phoenix in February and I feel very confident heading into this weekend.”

Hildebrand was spelled by Zach Veach at Barber Motorsports Park in the No. 21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet.

“It’s been a tricky couple of weeks working through this injury,” said Hildebrand, who sustained a fracture in the race at Long Beach. “I feel like I’m far enough along to be able to go for it this weekend in Phoenix. I know we’ve got a good program. I want to be able to come through for the team at and event where we should be strong.”

The 250-lap race will be paced by a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe.

The Chevy IndyCar Racing Tour display will be open for fans to see an impressive array of Chevrolet production vehicles, including the Camaro 2LT, Equinox, Colorado Z71 Diesel, Corvette Stingray Convertible, Silverado 2500 HD and a selection of crate engines, parts and accessories all sold by local Chevrolet dealers’ parts department.

There will also be race simulators for fans to test their skills and a Chevrolet Verizon IndyCar Series show car plus the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 twin turbo direct-injected engine on a stand.

Fans also can meet and ask questions of their favorite Team Chevy drivers. Ed Carpenter Racing drivers JR Hildebrand and Ed Carpenter will be at the display to meet fans on Saturday from 2:15 PM to 2:30 PM. Display hours will be Friday, April 28th: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Saturday, April 29th: 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM.

NBCSN will telecast the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix live at 6 p.m. PT Saturday.