(by Matt Beer autosport.com 3-6-09)
KV Racing team boss Jimmy Vasser is optimistic that his squad can add a second car for the second half of the IndyCar Series.
Mario Moraes is currently KV's only confirmed driver for the 2009 season, and the team recently had to release a group of employees due to their lack of sponsorship. They ran Will Power and Oriol Servia in a two-car line-up last year.
But Vasser is optimistic that KV can get a second car in the field for the Indianapolis 500 and hopefully beyond. Servia and Paul Tracy are among the candidates for the seat.
"At the very least we're going to have at least one more car at Indy," he told Indianapolis radio station 1070 The Fan.
"Most probably a car from Indy on forward. I don't think it's probable that we'll have two cars for the full season. But I really believe we can put the second car together from Indy."
He dismissed any suggestion that he would contest the Indy 500 himself.
"I always thought that if I was going to do that I need my financing in place by last November, and quite honestly getting me in the car is at the bottom of the line," Vasser said. "I'm working on deals for Oriol Servia, Paul Tracy and so on. I think there's a very small chance for Jimmy Vasser."
Although Dale Coyne Racing convert Moraes will be KV's sole representative in the early rounds, Vasser is confident that the young Brazilian - who was sixth quickest in the Homestead test - can fight for victories.
"If anybody is surprised, they were underestimating his abilities," said Vasser. "He impressed me a lot on the road courses late last year. He was quicker than (teammate) Bruno (Junqueira), and if you saw him at Chicago, he was not afraid to stick his nose up in there.
"I think he impressed a lot of people at Homestead. I don't want to jump the gun and say that Mario's going to do all sorts of things, but I know what Mario wants to do - he wants to run up front. He's 20 years old and I think there's no discounting his natural ability.
"I think we can give him the car that he can take his break-out win in this year."
