INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Rising Star Racing’s (RSR) Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) and Spencer Pigot (Ed Carpenter Racing) will compete this coming weekend in the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix.
RSR’s founder and CEO, Art Wilmes is ready for the weekend’s competition.
“RSR is very excited for Spencer, as he prepares for his first oval race as a full-time Verizon IndyCar driver,” said Wilmes. “I am confident that both, Spencer and Josef will have their game faces ready, as we head into three consecutive weekends of fierce IndyCar competition.”
This weekend’s race will take place at ISM Raceway, formerly Phoenix International Raceway (PIR), in Avondale, AZ. Newgarden and Pigot will have to battle the 23-car field in the 255.5-mile race.
The Phoenix Grand Prix will be Pigot’s first career start at ISM Raceway and his first start on a short oval since his Indy Lights career in 2015.
“…It’s very important to be precise with the car because the racing line is very narrow. If you’re not in the right place, it will cost a lot of lap time…I’ve spent a lot of time with ECR the past two seasons watching and studying everything about oval racing, so it will be a nice change to be actually driving in the race.”
With his top-10 finish in St. Petersburg, FL. Newgarden will not settle for ‘decent.’
“We had a descent start to the season at St. Petersburg with a top-10 finish, but we’re hungry for more…Last season we had a decent finish at [ISM Raceway] but we’re ready to find a better result this year…”
After race one of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series, Newgarden is seventh in points and Pigot is 16th.
This weekend’s practice session will be available on; the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network, Race Control, INDYCAR YouTube channel and on the Verizon Mobile App.
In addition to, the IndyCar Radio Network, Race Control, YouTube and the Verizon Mobile App. qualifying for the Phoenix Grand Prix will be telecasted on NBCSN beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).
The Phoenix Grand Prix may be heard on the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network, SIRIUS/XM 209-214, on radio stations nationwide and on the Verizon Mobile App. The Phoenix Grand Prix will be telecasted on NBCSN beginning at 9 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 7.
For more information regarding the race this coming weekend, please visit Verizon IndyCar Series’ website.