August 20, 2008

Team Moore Racing co-owners Mark Moore and Tom Wood today announced a change regarding the team's strategy for the remainder of the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights season and their planning for the 2009 season, resulting in a TMR driver change, placing driver Jonathan Klein to handle the driving duties in the Xtreme Coil Drilling #2 car for the three remaining 2008 races at the twin Sonoma races and at Chicagoland.

"This was an extremely difficult decision for us," said Mark Moore. "Jeff Simmons has done a great job for us this season.  He had us in the hunt for the 2008 championship even though we did not compete in the first race.  Our goal was to combine that we wanted for Jeff to be able to demonstrate his abilities, and to show our own abilities as a team as well, and with Jeff's great input for set-ups and his overall talent, he provided the catalyst in our program to accomplish all of that.  Jeff has had a very positive effect for the team. "

"I knew from the very first event we did together that it was going to be race-to-race," driver Simmons explained.  "I am very thankful for the opportunity to drive with Team Moore Racing this year and proud of my performance and the contributions I was able to make in the development of the car."

Simmons went into the Kentucky race still in the championship points chase but leftover debris from a crash damaged his car's oil cooler, ending his race in 23rd position and also ending his chance for the series title.

"What happened at Kentucky was no one’s fault, but it eliminated us from the points championship.  Tom and I have decided to take the opportunity to have a look at Jonathan’s roadcourse abilities at Sonoma in preparation for the 2009 season," Mark Moore said.  "Sonoma is a good place for Jonathan to show what he can do against the heightened Firestone Indy Lights Series roadcourse competition, and also will it give us the opportunity to evaluate how well he and Pablo Donoso can work as teammates."

Klein has not had the opportunity to compete on a roadcourse this year although he recorded two top-ten finishes at the Infineon Raceway for TMR in 2007.  His best roadcourse finish came at St. Petersburg in 2007 when he finished third.

Not surprisingly, the news delighted Jonathan Klein. "At Kentucky we did exactly what Tom, Mark and I set out to do: stay focused, make zero mistakes, and have a solid result. We did that. It was encouraging for me and for the guys on the team. Now the Sonoma opportunity has come up and I want to thank Tom and Mark for their consideration and wanting me back in their car," said Klein. "It’s been a year since I’ve raced on a roadcourse and I’m really excited. We’ll take full advantage of the test time on the track Thursday and go out with everything we’ve got for this race weekend, again with the focus on zero mistakes and a solid result."

"Jonathan has shown he is truly a gifted competitor," Moore continued. "He’d been out of the car for eleven months and came back with a great drive at Kentucky. To finish only two spots behind the pole-sitter in 8th was excellent. Tom and I are very happy to have him back in the TMR car for the remainder of the season."

Catch TMR and the Firestone Indy Lights Series at Infineon Raceway for the final road course races of the season. The Carneros 100 is set to begin Saturday August 23 at 2:45pm ET, and The Valley of the Moon 100 will start Sunday August 24 at 2:30pm 24 ET. 

All the racing action will be available live on www.indycar.com and will air on ESPN2 August 28 at 5:00pm ET.