Festa takes fourth in Freedom 100 at Indy; Bussell lands another top ten finish

Indianapolis, Ind., May 26, 2006 -- Cheever Racing's Chris Festa drove to a fourth place finish in the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today, while Nick Bussell finished 10th.

Festa, a 20-year-old from Atlanta, started fourth in the No. 51 Cheever Racing Formtek car and settled into fifth place after being passed by Alex Lloyd early in the race. He followed Lloyd patiently, and with two laps to go, was able to take back his fourth place position for the finish of the 40-lap event at the famous 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Bussell's day did not go as well, starting seventh but then falling back to finish 10th in the No. 52 Cheever Racing car. Finishing in the top ten in all four races to date this season, including a second-place finish at Homestead, Bussell, the 23-year-old from Grand Rapids, Mich., is third in the driver point standings.

The next round of the 12-race Indy Pro Series is at Watkins Glen on Sunday, June 4.

CHRIS FESTA

"The race was good. I am actually pretty happy. Alex Lloyd and I had a little battle there. About 10 laps into the race I decided to tuck in behind him and draft him. I saved my car until the last ten laps and then I went after Alex. I was able to slingshot around him at the end of the front straight heading into turn one."

NICK BUSSELL

"I am real disappointed. We obviously wanted to be further up. Chris ran good and we hoped to be up there with him but we had some issues. In the back there I was at the will of the other cars with the pace, and I wasn't quite right with the gears and everything. It was one of those races where I am just glad it's over."