The need for more speed

Assen, The Netherlands (September 1, 2007) – Minardi Team USA drivers Robert Doornbos and ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke will start the Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix of Assen from mid-field, having qualified ninth and tenth respectively following this afternoon’s final qualifying session. While Dan improved three positions from yesterday, Robert fell two spots, from seventh.

It is definitely not where the hometown hero would like to start tomorrow’s one hour and forty-five minute race, but the young Dutchman knows as well as anyone that it is possible to come from the back in Champ Car racing to finish on the podium. He won’t have quite as many cars to pass to get to the front as he did in San Jose, and there’s no doubt Robert will put on an entertaining show for the thousands of fans who are sure to invade the famous Assen circuit on Sunday.

ROBERT DOORNBOS: “It’s shocking that we couldn’t get it together for qualifying. I’m not exactly sure why, either. We have a couple of small issues to sort out, but it’s not like there is one major thing we have to fix. I started at the front last weekend and finished seventh, and tomorrow I start ninth, so hopefully I can finish at the front. Anything is possible in Champ Car, and I’m sure we’ll have a strong car come the race. This circuit is a great place to drive, and hopefully it will be a fun race. Once again, all of the support from the fans has been fantastic. It gives me an extra boost of confidence to be in front of my home crowd.”

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