INDYCAR: Saavedra Joins Conquest At Homestead

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Saavedra Joins Conquest At Homestead

Conquest Racing will have Sebastian Saavedra taking over driving duties of the #36 IndyCar at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Media Release | Posted September 27, 2010

The young Colombian has endured a tough time of late, leaving his Indy Lights team under controversial terms. Now Saavedra will get his second shot in the IZOD IndyCar Series to end his season. (LAT)

Conquest Racing will have another rookie among its team when it takes on the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway October 2 with Sebastian Saavedra taking over driving duties of the #36 Conquest Racing machine.

The Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 will be the second IZOD IndyCar Series event for the Colombian who made his series debut at this year’s Indianapolis 500. Additionally, Saavedra made 11 starts in Firestone Indy Lights in 2010 with Bryan Herta Autosport scoring one win from pole at Iowa Speedway and claiming five top five finishes.
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“I’m really happy to have an opportunity to drive for Conquest Racing at the last race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 2nd,” said Sebastian Saavedra. “It will be tough because I have not driven an Indy car for four months but I am up to the challenge. Fortunately I have a test day to prepare for the weekend. The IZOD IndyCar Series is my main focus for 2011, so it’s really important to have an opportunity to start preparing now. Finally, to have my good friend Bertrand Baguette as a teammate means a lot.”

Some important partners will be supporting Saavedra in his second IndyCar Series race with Coldeportes, Laboratorios Sumimed, Autoniza, Smart Life, Belles of Ireland and Seringel Ltda featured on the #36 Conquest Racing car.

“We’re known as a team that likes to work with and give young drivers a chance and having Sebastian join us for Homestead reinforces that,” said Conquest Racing team owner Eric Bachelart. “He may only be 20 years old but as he has proved age has nothing to do with driving a race car. His performances have shown that he is a quick learner and we’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with him. I think he and Bertrand, who has been making great progress throughout the season, will be a strong rookie combination in Miami.”

Saavedra, who only turned 20 this past June, was the first driver born in the 1990s to compete at the Indy 500.

In 2009, the Bogota, Columbia native finished third with two wins and was crowned Rookie of the Year in the Firestone Indy Lights Championship with AFS/Andretti Green Racing.

Prior to racing in Indy Lights, Saavedra placed second in the ATS Formel 3 Cup in Germany capturing wins at Hockenheim, Assen and Oschersleben in 2008. Additionally he started on pole four times and finished eight times on the podium.

In 2006 and 2007, the IndyCar Series rookie competed in the in Formula BMW USA series with 2007 being a breakout season for him. He scored a win and four podiums in eight starts in the Formula BMW USA series, won three of six starts in Formula BMW Asia and ran in the Formula BMW ADAC in Germany placing on the podium in one of two starts. He then went on to finish fourth in the Formula BMW World Final.

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