News:

ROMAN LAGUDI CLAIMS PODIUM FINISH AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

"Belardi Auto Racing team driver earns another podium in USF200 action"

June 4, 2012 - Earning his fourth podium finish in five starts in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series, Belardi Auto Racing pilot Roman Lagudi continues his impressive run in 2012. The talent, originally from Sydney, Australia, recently took on the 0.686-mile banked oval at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana. As part of the 'Night Before the 500' festivities, Lagudi headed to the prestigious event on the heels of his strong finishes to date and a recent successful test at the facility.

Posting times in the top-five during the morning practice sessions, Lagudi kept up the same quick pace he had shown during the early May test. Taking in qualifying Saturday afternoon under blazing hot temperatures, Lagudi's lap of 45.128 put him third in the running order for the scheduled 75-lap race. Keeping in touch with the lead two cars on the opening lap of the race, until a caution came out for a multi-car pile-up between turns one and two, Lagudi kept his #4 Champion Stone/Tool and Supply/High Performance Distributors Belardi Auto Racing entry in contention. After 19 laps under yellow, the race was restarted with Lagudi again able to hold with the leaders. Slowly losing ground but able to pull a gap on the fourth place driver, Lagudi finished the race, shortened to 46 laps due to time restraints, in the third place.

"It was a tough race, but I am happy to have another podium," noted Lagudi. "I still need to work to catch up to Spencer (Pigot) and Matthew (Brabham), but I'm getting there...looking forward to Mid-Ohio now."

Lagudi's efforts mark his fourth podium finish in 2012, as well as his fifth top-five finish in the five rounds to date. Currently in third place in the overall Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series point standings, another lengthy break will see Lagudi out of racing action until the next round, August 4-5 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

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)