Rahal Letterman Duo Ready for Challenges of Vancouver

HILLIARD, Oh. - Rahal Letterman Racing's Toyota Atlantic driver duo of Danica Patrick and Chris Festa head to the Pacific Northwest this weekend for the Molson Indy Vancouver. The second of three Canadian stops on the 2004 schedule, the Molson Indy Vancouver is in its 15th year. In addition for being noted as one of the more successful street races, the Vancouver track itself is acknowledged to be one of the more difficult and demanding street courses in North American open-wheel racing.

Rahal Letterman rookie Chris Festa has never been to Vancouver and so he will spend the track walk on Thursday and the first part of Friday practice trying to familiarize himself with the circuit.

"I have watched in car camera tapes from past races at Vancouver and my engineer Walt Preston has been a big help, but nothing beats laps on the track," said Festa. "I have had to go through this process a few times this year so it really isn't anything I am overly concerned about. Running new tracks is part of the challenge of being a rookie."

Festa has run three street races this season and posted his best street finish of eighth at Toronto.

Festa is ninth in the championship and the 18-year-old native of Atlanta, Georgia, is fourth overall in the Toyota Atlantic Rookie of the Year competition.