CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Josef Newgarden, of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, brings considerable momentum into Indianapolis for this weekend's running of the 97th Indianapolis 500. The previous IZOD IndyCar Series event in Sao Paulo, Brazil saw 22-year old Newgarden post his best career finish of 5th place, having begun the Sao Paulo event in last place as a result of an engine change penalty. Newgarden's 5th place finish eclipses a previous best of 9th place at Barber Motorsports Park in April.
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Quaker Chemical Corporation, an official sponsor and technical partner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will continue to support Newgarden's No. 21 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Century 21/Quaker Chemical/Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry as he takes on the event known as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500.
"We would like to extend a congratulations to the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing team on their 5th place finish in Brazil," Joe Berquist, Quaker VP and Managing Director North America, said. "We are proud to bring our technology and expertise to the Sarah Fisher Hartman team, and look forward to a great performance at the Indy 500, the biggest race of the year."
During Time Trials last weekend, Newgarden suffered an electrical difficulty on his Pole Day qualifying attempt but pushed the SFHR car to a four lap average of 225.731 mph to record the fastest time of Bump Day, securing the 25th starting position in the 2013 Indy 500.
Newgarden noted, "We knew we would be fine despite the rocky start, since everyone works hard at Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. We have some of the most talented technical guys out there that built a fast car. I think we have a quicker car than we showed, but just getting the car in the race was the priority. We weren't really contenders for pole so we wanted to focus on the race."
Newgarden, who in 2012 was the top rookie and Honda-powered qualifier (in 7th position), knows that while the qualifying weekend at Indy is high-profile, the real prize is a win in the Indy 500, universally known as one of the world's greatest motor races.
"Last year we had a great week of practice and qualifying but then had a terrible race. If I could turn the tables and have a terrible practice and qualifying and then win the race, I'd obviously take that every time. That's really been the plan, to make sure we're concentrating on what's important and that's maximizing our performance in the race on Sunday."
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin next Sunday, May 26 at 12 p.m. ET and will air live on ABC. For all the latest updates from the SFHR team follow @SFHRindy on Twitter.
About Quaker Chemical Corporation:
Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, cans, and others. For nearly 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process knowledge, and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference. Visit www.quakerchem.com to learn more.
About Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing:
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) was established in 2008 and is owned by former driver Sarah Fisher, the youngest woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to run a full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, and businessman Wink Hartman. SFHR has competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2008, earning its first victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway. For more information on Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, visit www.sfhracing.com.
SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation
Eliana Holguin, Global Marketing Manager, holguine@quakerchem.com, 610.832.7897
