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ROMAN LAGUDI CLAIMS THIRD PODIUM FINISH OF 2012 IN ST. PETERSBURG

"Belardi Auto Racing team driver takes third place in USF2000 round three"

March 28, 2012 - Earning his third podium finish of 2012, Belardi Auto Racing team driver Roman Lagudi is continuing his success in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series. In his second year in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder series, Lagudi recently took to the streets of St. Petersburg for the third and fourth rounds of the championship series. Running in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Las Vegas, Nevada resident added two more impressive finishes to his resume at the prestigious street venue. Earning a third straight podium finish in round three after taking second and third at the opening rounds in Sebring, Lagudi added a top-five finish on Sunday to emerge as a title contender.

Qualifying in seventh for round three with a lap time of 1:14.037 on Friday, Lagudi would line up on the inside of row four for the start of the Saturday race. Completing 21 flyers around the narrow confines of the spectacular street course, with only one caution period interrupting the racing action, Lagudi was in fifth place as an intense battle for the final podium position ensued in front of him. Running a conservative race and trying to avoid making any mistakes himself in attempt to garner as many championship points as possible, contact between the third and fourth place cars on the last lap resulted in the Sydney, Australia native earning a repeat trip to the podium presentations.

Lining up P6 for Sunday morning’s round four, based on Saturday’s race lap times, Lagudi challenged for a fourth place finish, but had to settle for fifth at the checkered flag. Lagudi’s three podium finishes, along with his top-five result, have him in third place in the overall Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda point standings.

“For the first race I was very happy to come in third and continue with three straight podiums,” explained Lagudi post event. “In the second race, starting in the seventh position and coming away with a fifth was important in picking up valuable points to maintain third in championship. I am very happy with the weekend’s results."

Next on track Saturday, May 26, Lagudi will take to the Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana for round five. Lagudi will look to continue his impressive streak during the prestigious Night Before the 500 festivities with the Belardi Auto Racing team.

The 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series will see 11 stops at some of the most prestigious tracks North America has to offer. Running weekends with the IZOD IndyCar series, the American LeMans series and the United States Auto Club, Lagudi is set to contest for the overall series title with championship-caliber team Belardi Auto Racing. The Las Vegas, Nevada resident is working towards a dream career in motorsports and is proud to represent drivers taking the first step in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder development program.

Roman Lagudi is proudly sponsored by High Performance Distributors and Champion Stone Tool and Supply. For more information on Roman Lagudi, please visit www.RomanLagudi.com or email Paul Lagudi at paul@romanlagudi.com.

2012 Schedule:

Sebring International Raceway, Florida
March 14-16, 2012
(With American Le Mans)

Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida
March 23-25, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series)

Lucas Oil Raceway, Indiana
May 26, 2012
(Night Before the 500 with USAC)

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
August 3-5, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series and ALMS)

Road America, Wisconsin
August 17-19, 2012
(With American Le Mans)

Streets of Baltimore, Maryland
September 1-2, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series and ALMS)

Virginia International Raceway
September 14-15, 2012
(With American Le Mans)