The Glen 2006 was the team's best result there

Panther Racing enters this weekend's Watkins Glen Grand Prix with hopes of finishing just one spot higher than they did just a season ago.

Delphi Panther driver Vitor Meira finished second at The Glen last year, the first of three second-place results he had for the team, and teammate Kosuke Matsuura hopes to improve upon the sixth-place finish he had here in 2005.

Meira is coming off consecutive ninth-place finishes at Iowa and Richmond, and Matsuura is looking to rebound on the familiar road course territory.

"I'm excited to get back on a road course and especially Watkins Glen because we were so good here last year," Meira said.

"This was the race that really got our season going in the right direction and hopefully that can be the case this year too. We've had a little bad luck the last few races but we've still managed Top Ten results, so that is good for us. But we're all in this to win races and that is our goal this weekend," he stated.

Matsuura's result here in 2005 was tied for his season-best that year and he hopes to get back on track at one of the nation's most historic road courses.

"Watkins Glen is a fun track and I'm happy to be back here," Kosuke said. "It will be good to get back on a road course track because it didn't go very well for us in St. Pete and I want to get back out there."

"We had a little bit more back luck in Richmond and we're looking for any way to turn that around, and I hope that is this weekend. The Panasonic guys have been working very hard and I'm thankful for that," he added.

Vitor is currently in ninth position in the IndyCar Series points standings and has collected three Top Five and seven Top Ten results in nine starts this season. Matsuura recorded his best finish of the season last month at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished ninth.

Meira's effort last season was Panther's strongest finish at Watkins Glen.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source Panther Racing