EDMONTON, Alberta – Justin Wilson has finished first, second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth and 21st in Indy car races at Edmonton City Centre Airport.

He enters the Edmonton Indy this weekend as the lone active driver to compete in all seven (Champ Car and IZOD IndyCar Series) events. The race was held on a 1.973-mile temporary circuit from 2005-2010 and moved to the opposite corner of the airport and a 2.224-mile temporary circuit in 2011.

Wilson’s 2006 victory separated the wins by Sebastien Bourdais, who also will compete this weekend. Scott Dixon and Will Power (the 2011 champion) also have won twice.

“It’s a good atmosphere. The city and residents support the race and are very welcoming,” said Wilson, driver of the No. 18 Sonny’s BBQ car for Dale Coyne Racing. “It’s perfect for our schedule.”
There have been six different pole winners in the previous seven races, and only Power in 2009 has won the race from the pole. Takuma Sato was the pole sitter last July.

The 2011 race produced six lead changes on the 13-turn circuit that incorporates airport taxiways. The hairpin turns intermixed with three long straights proved to be a challenge for drivers and teams.

“Turn 10 last year was the hardest corner just because it was so bumpy,” Wilson added. “Everywhere else was nice and smooth so it was a real compromise trying to get the car set up to work on the asphalt as well as some of the old concrete.

“We’ve been competitive on every type of track we’ve raced on and hopefully in Edmonton we can put it all together and get another strong result.”

Wilson recently was named an ambassador for the International Dyslexia Association, which has launched a competition for young people with dyslexia to design the race helmet that he’ll wear at the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Labor Day weekend. 

The helmet will be raffled with proceeds benefiting the IDA. CLICK HERE for details.

Design Rahal's helmet for season finale

The Graham Rahal Foundation will be holding a helmet design contest, with the winning design to be worn by the driver in the season finale Sept. 15 at Auto Club Speedway.

Fans have access to a pre-made helmet template at www.GrahamRahalFoundation.org. Designs must be submitted by Aug. 8. Rahal will select the top five designs and post them on GrahamRahalFoundation.org. Fans will then be able to vote for the winning helmet design through Aug. 15.

Following the race, the Graham Rahal Foundation will auction the helmet at Celebrity.eBay.com, with proceeds directed toward Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer and SeriousFun Children’s Network.

International flair

Drivers representing eight different countries are in the top 10 of the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

Other stats and facts of notes: Dario Franchitti needs one earned poles to reach 30 in his career. He is the active leader in Indy car podium finishes with 86, which is seventh on the all-time list. He will tie Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. for fifth with two more podium finishes.

With a start at Edmonton, Tony Kanaan will tie Unser for second on the all-time consecutive start list with 192 dating to Portland in 2001. KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser is the leader with 211 starts. Scott Dixon with 130 consecutive starts and Marco Andretti with 107 are the only other active drivers with a streak of more than 100.

No. 100 for Briscoe

The Edmonton Indy will be the 100th start for Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe.

He has accumulated six wins, 25 podiums and 13 poles. Teammate Will Power recorded his 50th start with Team Penske two weeks ago in Toronto.