NOTES OF INTEREST:
- Karam Behind the Wheel: The reigning Indy Lights Champion, 2011 Star Mazda Rookie of the Year and 2010 USF2000 Champion returns to CGRFS after making his debut with the team in Round 1 of the TUSC in his first start in a sports car at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, again with the team in Round 2 at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and most recently in round 7 at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. Karam also led the team’s four-car Indianapolis 500 effort in his very first Verizon IndyCar Series start with a ninth-place result at IMS in May.
- Indianapolis Successes: The No. 01 car has raced at IMS twice in the team’s 10-year sports car career (2012, 2013) and has placed second both times. The team has completed 198 out of 198 laps at IMS and led 23 of those laps.
- Ganassi Driver Development Program: Karam adds to a growing lineup of CGRT development drivers that includes 21-year-old graduate Kyle Larson (No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) and 19-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski (No. 31 RockStar Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series).
QUOTEBOARD:
Sage Karam, Driver: “I couldn’t have been happier to get the call to come drive again with the team in the No. 01 car in Indianapolis. It’s an unfortunate situation for Memo, and I hope he recovers quickly, but I’m happy to step up and contribute any way I can. I have such great memories of competing at IMS already in the Indianapolis 500 this year with the team, so it almost feels like going home a bit. I know it’s a completely different track, but I feel comfortable there, and I’m hoping I can carry that over into a great result this weekend.”
Memo Rojas, Driver: “I spoke to the team after our last race at Mosport and let them know that I didn’t feel that I was 100%. I discussed the situation with our managing director Mike Hull and we agreed that it would be best for me to rest my back this weekend. I know Sage will do a great job filling in and I’m already looking forward to the race at Road America after a few weekends off.”