Young Rookie Continues Forward Progress at Barber Motorsport Park

Birmingham, AL - (April 10, 2010) -- Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro and her Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing team showed up this morning for qualifying in preparation for tomorrow’s Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by Legacy Credit Union at Barber Motorsports.  With cool temperatures barely cracking the 60 degree mark, De Silvestro climbed into her No. 78 Stargate Resistance Honda Dallara hoping to solidify a strong starting spot for the third start of her IZOD IndyCar Series career.

As part of Qualifying Group #1, De Silvestro hit the track first and soon began her charge towards the first 6 positions which would allow her to advance onto the next round of qualifying.  With 3 timed laps completed, including dealing with traffic, she entered the pits, having the second quickest time, for a tire change.  Then a late session spin by Dan Wheldon and the ensuing full course caution cut down De Silvestro’s additional laps to a single lap on her new tires and that just wasn't good enough to improve on the time set earlier.  She would go on to a final qualifying position of 13th with her fastest lap being 01:11.0262 (116.577 mph).

The race will be presented live at 3 p.m. (ET) on VERSUS and will also air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel  211. Followers can also log on to www.indycar.com and follow the race via live timing and scoring along with a live video feed.

Keith Wiggins, HVM Racing Team Principal - “Such a frustrating qualifying. We can't make the usual racing excuses but we were in such good shape and we had the speed to be in the fast group. Unfortunately, the yellow for Weldon came out as we were leaving on new tires. It was actually our slow lap in traffic that determined our grid position. Now we have to do it in the race."

Simona De Silvestro, Driver No. 78 - “I'm a bit disappointed. We had a very quick car and I could have broken into the fast twelve. We were comfortably in the top six until the yellow came out and I didn't get a run on my red tires. It’s overall a bit frustrating, but starting 13th is not too bad and I hope to have a good race tomorrow. Once again the team built me a fantastic car and one of these weekends it will all come together."

Imran Safiulla, Team Stargate Worlds Principal - “A very fast car and a driver driving it very well; that's what we had during qualifying, but a very frustrating outcome. Simona is continuing to take positive strides and the team is doing a great job supporting her. It’s still a fair starting position and we hope to have a good race.”

About HVM Racing:
HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.  In its nine years of competition, the team has earned six wins, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. The team finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car championship standings in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Since joining the IRL Championship in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes with drivers E.J. Viso and Robert Doornbos. For 2010 HVM Racing has partnered up with Team Stargate Worlds and driver Simona De Silvestro for its IndyCar program and also enters the Firestone Indy Lights with driver Junior Strous.  You can follow HVM Racing on twitter at www.twitter/HVMracing.com  and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing