P R E S S   R E L E A S E S

Roth Racing Quickly Getting Up To Speed In New Car
By Dave Lewandowski - www. indyracing.com
Tuesday Apr 27, 2004

Marty Roth 2004 Indy 500 Rookie

Roth Racing team manager and engineer Mark Moore crossed his fingers as Marty Roth drove the No. 25 Roth Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone onto the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 26.

It was the car’s maiden voyage – on the historic 2.5-mile oval and any oval. The team was making final adjustments on the recently delivered car while other drivers were attempting to pass Rookie Orientation Program speed phases during the morning session.

Such scrambling won’t be the norm once a baseline is established. But the crew will have to do double duty in May as Roth Racing is the first IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series™ team to enter an IRL IndyCar® Series event at the same venue.

“My team had a tall order to get the car together and put it on the track (for the Rookie Orientation Program),” said Roth, who completed three of the mandatory four speed phases. “We have a little catching up to do, but we’re happy with the way things went. We have a good platform for the month of May. We’re in a good spot in developing the car.”

Roth will attempt to complete the fourth speed phase of ROP – 10 laps of 210-plus mph while demonstrating consistency in car handling around the track – today in the first of two consecutive days of IndyCar Series open testing at the Speedway. Fans are welcome to watch free of charge (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) from the South Terrace Grandstand. Parking is available in the Hall of Fame Museum lot.

Primarily privately funded Indianapolis 500 and Futaba Freedom 100 entries, Roth ran more than 300 miles in his No. 4 Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone during a Menards Infiniti Pro Series Open Test on April 23 at the Speedway.

“I think running Friday may have put us a little behind,” said Moore, a veteran race engineer. “I was really thankful that once we did get the car out there Toyota produced 100 percent and the guys did a great job. I think when we go back out (April 28) we’ll do a lot better.

“We may be a real small team but we have a lot of experience and I think we can produce.”

Moore said the team will look to put in more than 1,500 miles during IndyCar Series practice beginning May 9. Menards Infiniti Pro Series teams will practice on May 20-21.

“The big thing is he needs miles,” Moore said. “I think by the time we get around to qualify we hope to surprise some people.”

Patience a virtue on Speedway

Roth, a 45-year-old Toronto native, has competed in Indy Lights, in a Formula Ford 2000 and driven in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He had three top10- finishes in six Menards Infiniti Pro Series races in 2003, including a best of sixth at Michigan International Speedway while driving for a team owned by longtime associate Brian Stewart.

This year, in the car he purchased from Panther Racing that won the Menards Infiniti Pro Series title in 2003, he has finished seventh in the Homestead-Miami 100 and 10th in the Phoenix 100.

“Marty may be one of the older drivers in our field this year but he has as heart as any young guy I’ve worked with,” Moore said. “He has a lot of desire. He’s in excellent physical shape. He’s really ready. He can read date better than any driver I know. If anything, I want him to be a little more patient out there. He wants it all right now. This place you need to have patience.”

Roth realizes that he need not accomplish every goal the first few days of practice. It’s can be a long month with ups and downs. And with one car, he can’t afford to take chances.

“We put a pretty strong package together,” he said. “We’ve got the Dallara, the Toyota engine, and we feel good about the package. And Indy offers a lot of time. As long as we get the laps, we’ll feel pretty comfortable. We should have a very strong car for the race.”

‘Just another race’

Roth also quickly focused on his job for the month and says the history, pageantry and excitement of competing in the Indianapolis 500 won’t enter his mind while he’s on the grounds.

“There’s nothing like the 500,” he said. “You know, I’ve been there a few times now, and it’s just such an amazing place as far as the energy. You put half a million people into a stadium, and it covers you with goose bumps. That’s how racing is.

“I was intimidated by it being Indy and the fact that I’ve never been here before,” Roth said. “But once I did the Pro (Series) Open Test and the rookie test it is in fact another race. Right now, I don’t want to focus on how grand that race is because it sure is one big event. Right now, I have to look at it as just another race and get this car up to speed as quick as possible.”

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