05-24-05

INFINITI PRO DRIVERS GO KARTING FOR CHARITY

Indianapolis, Indiana — Six Menards Infiniti Pro Series™ drivers joined 2004 series champion Thiago Medeiros at Fastimes Karting in Indianapolis May 23 to help raise funds for Junior Achievement.

For the fourth consecutive year, FedEx has sponsored the karting outing at the facility in an effort to raise funds for Junior Achievement’s “Exchange City” program. In the program, students cover a six-week curriculum that teaches them about financial responsibility. At the end of the program, the kids run a virtual city for a day and are expected to turn a profit.

Twenty-two teams of four participated in the all-day event. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series team of Mishael Abbott, Cole Carter, Wade Cunningham and Travis Gregg was eliminated in the first 45-minute heat.

After falling a lap behind early, Gregg made a pass for second place with 14 minutes remaining in the session. A pit stop to switch drivers caused the team to lose that position and fall half a lap down. Cunningham, a former world karting champion, anchored the team and cut a 15-second deficit down to three seconds before time expired. Cunningham turned a lap in 26.018 seconds, which was quickest in the session.

Medeiros started fourth for the FedEx team, which was put together by Tony Ferguson, manager of air, ground and freight services. Ferguson is also a pit tech for the Indy Racing League. Medeiros drove the first 15 minutes of the heat and built leads of 1, 3 and 5 laps over the competition. Al Unser and Chris Festa also drove for the FedEx team.

“It was fun hanging out with everyone aside from racing, and it’s for charity, a good cause,” said Gregg, the series points leader.

The Menards Infiniti Pro Series drivers will practice and qualify at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26. The Futaba Freedom 100 is May 27.

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