Heat Index looks at the driver(s) who advance the most positions during the race.

BALTIMORE -- E.J. Viso's race weekend didn't begin on a good note.

The driver of the No. 5 CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing Technology car had an incident in the morning practice Sept. 1 that prevented him from getting any track time on the 2.04-mile, 13-turn temporary street circuit. In the first round of qualifying, the car brushed the wall in Turn 9 on his second timed lap.

So the IZOD IndyCar Series veteran qualified 24th for the 75-lap Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT. Beacuse of grid spot penalties, he started 22nd.

Viso's race day was equally as adventurous, but significantly more productive.

He was running 18th when the team made a strategy decision and pitted Viso for what would prove to be the final time on Lap 42.  In order to make the strategy work, Viso was required to save fuel, but maintain pace for 33 laps. He met those goals and picked up five positions over the next 22 laps, and gained three more spots in the final 10 laps by avoiding being involved in two of the nine full-course cautions in the race to grab ninth place.

“We could always do better, but finishing ninth was not a bad way to end the weekend after the way we started,” said Viso, who recorded his fourth top 10 of the season.  “It was a very difficult and long race to drive.  There were a lot of decision that needed to be made at different parts of the race.  Some of them based on the weather and some of them based on how the car was handling. 

"I believe we made the best decision we could under the circumstances.  Looking toward the final race of the season in Fontana, we have been fast on all the ovals this year and hopefully we can continue to be fast and have a good result to end the season."

JR Hildebrand, who did not participate in qualifications because of a crash in the morning session, jumped 11 spots to 12th in the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing entry.

Rubens Barrichello and Graham Rahal in the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing car both moved up 10 positions in the race. Barrichello, in the No. 8 BMC|Embrase KV Racing Technology car, posted his second consecutive top-five finish. Rahal, who also had a difficult qualifying day, finished 11th.

"I was happy with the race and the car from the moment I arrived here I fell in love with this track and am pleased I was able to bring another top-five finish home," Barrichello said.

Race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, runner-up Ryan Briscoe and Oriol Servia all gained nine positions. Briscoe, driving the No. 2 PPG Automotive Refinishes Team Penske car, won the race at Sonoma a week earlier. Servia finished seventh.