Martin Plowman Takes First Firestone Indy Lights Win at Mid Ohio

Martin Plowman wins the Firestone Indy Lights Race, after leading from the green flag to the checkered flag.  He was pressured by James Hinchcliffe until late in the race when Hinchcliffe went off track, and Plowman drove away.  Dan Clarke finished second, while Charlie Kimball rounded out the podium for the Mid-Ohio 100.

This was the first win for Plowman in the Indy Lights Series, as well as the first laps he has led all year.  He now has nine top 10 finishes, the most in the series.  Plowman races for AFS Racing and Andretti Autosport, who are also sponsoring Adam Carroll in today’s IZOD IndyCar Race.

The 22-year-old Plowman is from Tamworth, England and competing in his second season in Indy Lights, after competing as a rookie with Panther Racing. Clarke, a fellow Englishman, records his second silver finish of the season, after also finishing second in Toronto.  Kimball, who was also born in England but to American parents, records his fourth podium finish on the year with his third place finish.

JK Vernay had a disappointing finish in eighth, but maintains his overall series lead by 53 points.  Plowman and Hinchcliffe are now tied for second place in the overall series championship with just four events to go.

Plowman noted all the great memories he has had at Mid-Ohio, saying, “This has been a great place for me.  My first pole, my first win, I even met my girlfriend here last year.”  He was excited to have his first win, noting that it was one of his goals that he is now able to check off for the rest of the year.

“I nearly threw it away early with my wheel lock, but I gathered it back together and was fortunate.”  Noted Plowman, “I knew I had to drive 40 perfect laps with Hinch behind me, and when he went off, it made me more nervous.  The championship is far from over, and I am just going to concentrate on getting wins until I am mathematically eliminated.”

Plowman and Kimball both drive for Andretti Autosport, and both credit team owner Michael Andretti for their success.  They consider Andretti Autosport to be a family style team effort, all the way up and down the organization.  The drivers are able to talk with the more senior Andretti as well as the other team drivers to get a better feel for how they should perform.

Clarke felt very positive about his performance, the former Champ Car driver noted, “I am coming to tracks I have never driven and competing against guys who are in their second years.  I feel very good about second place after first driving at Mid Ohio on Friday.”

Clarke pointed out that he missed the long races and 800 HP of Champ Car, but is getting used to Indy Lights and hopes to be in the “big cars” by next year.  “In Indy Lights the races are all about qualifying because they are short races.  We are working hard on our qualifying.”  Clarke is working with Walker Racing, and hopes to have a large enough sponsorship package put together to race in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011.

The drivers of the Firestone Indy Lights series will continue their season in two weeks in the rolling hills of Sonoma, California at Infineon Raceway before finishing the season with three straight ovals.