KV Racing Technology announced today that former Indianapolis 500-winning car owner Barry Green has joined the team to assist on Paul Tracy's No. 15 GEICO/ KV Racing Technology Dallara-Honda entry in this year's Indianapolis 500.
Green, whose team won the 1995 Indy 500 with Jacques Villeneuve driving, returns to the Brickyard to work with Tracy as the race strategist for the GEICO KVRT operation.
The move reunites Green and Tracy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since the controversial 2002 Indy 500 finish, when Tracy was awarded second place in the No 26 Team KOOL Green car. Green and Tracy protested the finish, as they felt Tracy had passed leader Helio Castroneves in Turn 3 on lap 198 before the caution lights were lit for a Turn 2 crash. Green's organization filed a written protest that was heard by a special committee. On July 2, the committee announced the protest was disallowed with Castroneves retaining the win.
Green later that year sold his Team Green operation to Michael Andretti, Kevin Savoree and his younger brother, Kim, and Andretti Green Racing was formed to compete in the 2003 IndyCar Series. Tracy went on to win the 2003 Champ Car World Series championship.
“I'm very excited to return to the Indianapolis 500 and work with Paul again,” said Green, one of open-wheel racing most respected executives. “Paul and I both feel we have some unfinished business at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I want to thank (KV Racing Technology team owners) Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for this opportunity to assist Paul and his GEICO crew throughout the month. I have worked with John Dick (Tracy's engineer) on numerous occasions and I believe we have a strong effort to challenge for an Indy 500 victory.”
Tracy, a six-time Indianapolis 500 starter, is delighted to have Green back calling his race this year.
“With my tenure at Team KOOL Green, Barry called every one of my races and called all of my race wins including winning the 2002 Indianapolis 500,” said Tracy. “When Jimmy (Vasser) and I sat down at Long Beach to discuss our Indy 500 plans, Jimmy told me he couldn't be as hands-on with my car as he was last year. He asked me to explore the right person to help me at Indy. It didn't take long to think of Barry. He has the same desire and commitment to winning as I do. Obviously, he was my choice to work with me this year. I know we have some unfinished business at the Speedway.”
Tracy's entry will be the fourth for KVRT in this year's Indianapolis 500. Tracy will team with rookie Takuma Sato, E.J. Viso and Mario Moraes.
“Paul asked me about bringing Barry in for the Indy 500 and I was elated,” said Vasser. “I had to race against Barry's team for many years, and I can appreciate his expertise in calling races. Having him with KV Racing Technology gives us an added bonus as we prepare to enter the month of May and the biggest race in the world. I am very pleased with our four-car lineup for the Indy 500.”
Green, an Australian native, has an outstanding racing resumé, including competing as a driver in Formula 3 before taking leadership of racing organizations such as Paul Newman's Can-Am team, Forsythe Racing, KRACO Racing and Forsythe-Green Racing.
Last year, Tracy drove his GEICO Dallara to ninth at Indianapolis. In addition to the Indy 500, he also drove at Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, Toronto, Edmonton and Mid-Ohio last year, but at present Indy is his only confirmed event for 2010.