News:

ROMAN LAGUDI TO TAKE ON THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE

"Belardi Auto Racing pilot returns to where he earned his first career USF2000 podium"

August 30, 2012 - After a weekend to forget at Road America for rounds eight, nine and ten of the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series, Belardi Auto Racing pilot Roman Lagudi has his sights on making a return to the podium this weekend. Taking on the Streets of Baltimore, as part of the IZOD IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Baltimore, Lagudi enters with four top-three results to date in the 2012 USF2000 series and is hungry to earn yet another trip to the podium.

After two disappointing race events, Lagudi will look to turn his luck around this weekend and get back to the podium. Earning a total of four podium finishes, as well as two top-fives and two top-tens so far in 2012, Lagudi will look to put his #4 Champion Stone/Tool and Supply/High Performance Distributors entry in contention for his first USF2000 career win at a track that suits his racing style. Also, after dropping to fifth in the overall championship point standings after a disappointing Road America appearance, where Lagudi dealt with an underpowered car, the focus now becomes recovering valuable points to move back up in the points tally.

A strong showing at the 2011 edition of the Baltimore event saw the Sydney, Australia native record his first series podium finish during the season finale. Also earning another a top-five finish during last year’s Baltimore rounds, Lagudi’s performance caught the eye of Belardi Auto Racing team owner Brian Belardi, thus securing his full time ride with the championship-caliber team for 2012.

Lagudi will take to the 12-turn, two-mile circuit temporary street circuit August 31- September 2 for rounds eleven and twelve of the 14 round series. Qualifying is slated for Friday, August 31 at 1:15pm EDT. Round eleven will commence Saturday at 1:45pm with Lagudi wrapping up his Baltimore weekend with round twelve at 10:35am Sunday, September 2. Live timing and scoring is available at www.usf2000.com.

The 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series will see seven 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)