With two races remaining in his first full season as a Firestone Indy Lights driver, Mexican native Juan Pablo Garcia has encountered a season full of experience.

“We’ve had a lot of good races and some not so good races,” Garcia noted.  “It’s a tough sport.  We started out running a pretty solid season but recently we have encountered a few issues.  I know these aren’t a positive for my season but in the long run, each weekend is important to my development as a driver.  I will learn a lot more from a difficult, more challenging season than I would if everything were perfect.”

JP has visited 10 tracks so far this season, 6 being brand new to him and his car,

“Thus far, my favorite tracks have been Long Beach and Toronto.   I really enjoyed Long beach because I already knew the course and I felt very confident.”

Garcia not only enjoyed the track, but also the atmosphere of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

“With my family having our U.S. home in San Diego, California has always had a special place in my heart,” Garcia mentioned.  “So whenever we race in California it is extra comfortable for me.  I also had a lot of friends and family attend the race so it was overall just a great weekend!”

Racing isn’t always about feeling comfortable and knowing what will happen next.  JP has also had a few surprises during the season.

“The most surprising thing I have experienced this season is the way you have to drive an oval,” JP admitted.  “It is a very different driving technique than a street or road course.  This being my first year racing on multiple ovals, each track gets a little more familiar with time but everything is different on an oval.”

Juan Pablo Garcia and Jeffrey Mark Motorsport head into the final two races of the season in the Top 10 in points standings for the Firestone Indy Lights league.  The team has had a great rookie year so far and is looking forward to finishing strong.

–

For more on scheduling visit IndyCar.com

Trois Rivieres, Quebec – August 3, 2012 –  Juan Pablo Garcia recorded his seventh top ten finish of the Firestone Indy Lights season as he rounded out the top ten in the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres.

JP and crew were more than ready for the Trois Rivieres race.  The pace was perfect and conditions were in their favor at the start of the race.  After an unfortunate issue with the left rear wishbone, the #76 car of Jeffrey Mark Motorsport rounded out the Top 10.

“It was a great weekend for the entire JMM team,” Juan Pablo commented.  “We got a lot of track time and I gained a lot of valuable experience.  We unfortunately were not able to finish the race due to mechanical issues but I am happy to have added another Top Ten finish to my record.  We were really feeling it this weekend.  The crew did a great job with the car, as always, and all the cards were lined up in our favor.  It was an all around good weekend and I am ready to carry this momentum with us on to the last two races.”

The Firestone Indy Lights season is coming to a close, as the second to last race of the season will take place in Baltimore over Labor Day weekend.  JP and the JMM crew are ready to finish the season strong.

Driver: Juan Pablo Garcia
Car: #76 Jeffrey Mark Motorsport
Event Title: Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres
Location: Trois Rivieres, Quebec – Canada
Track:  Trois Rivieres Street Circuit

Join JMM
Practice:  Friday August 3rd from 2:10pm-2:55pm EDT
Saturday August 4th from 8:25am-9:10am EDT

Qualifying:   Saturday August 4th from 2:30pm-3:15pm EDT

Fun with Fans:  Firestone Indy Lights Autograph Session:  Saturday August 4th from 12:30pm-1:00pm EDT

Race:  Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres:  Sunday August 5th at 1:45pm EDT (60 laps)

Broadcast Info:  NBC Sports Network Thursday August 16th at 5pm EDT

Driver Quote:
“I’m really happy to be back in the car at this new race for me.  Trois Rivieres is a street circuit that I have never raced before.  I have studied the track on maps and videos so I am ready to get the in car and give it a go. We are coming off of a very strong car in Edmonton and hopefully we will be able to carry that momentum into the first practice session as well as the whole weekend.

I’m very happy about the all the changes we have made to the car this season.  Right now it is feeling good so we need to work hard and start the weekend right with our good car in order to have a better result.   Once all the pieces come together our results will improve and I feel like this weekend we have everything together.  I am excited for another weekend on the track.”

Edmonton, Alberta – Weather conditions were questionable all weekend long as the Firestone Indy Lights grid managed to stay mostly dry on the track at Edmonton City Centre Airport.

Starting the Edmonton 100 on rain tires due to moisture on the track, most of the grid came in early so switch back to slicks reducing lap times drastically.  Starting out in P10, Garcia made a good run ending in the top 10 at P9.  Experience is critical for Garcia as the season nears an end, he was happy with both the experience and results gained this weekend.

“I just finished the race here at Edmonton.  It was a great race; we started on rain tires and before the end of race we changed to dry tires,” Garcia commented.  “My start was good but another car just went in front of me and I didn’t have anywhere to go so I slowed and that cost me a few positions right off the bat.  It also took a while for my tires to get warmed up so I wasn’t up to full speed until around lap four.  When we made the pit stop for the dry tires, the car was feeling good and I was running very fast times.  I was able to catch up with Ostella from about ten seconds back and I passed him one lap before the end.  The car felt really great and I hope the crew and myself can carry this momentum over to Trois Rivieres.  We made a lot of improvements this weekend as a team and gained a lot of experience.  I am really looking forward to the end of the season. ”

The Firestone Indy Lights Series will finish out its Canadian tour in Trois Rivieres on August 5th.  The Race will begin at 1:45 ET and live timing and scoring can be found on IndyCar.com.

Driver: Juan Pablo Garcia
Car: #76 Jeffrey Mark Motorsport
Event Title: Edmonton Indy
Location:  Edmonton, Alberta – Canada
Track:  Edmonton City Centre Airport

Join JMM
Practice:  Friday July 20 from 9:45am – 10:30am and 12:45pm – 1:30pm

Qualifying:  Saturday July 21 from 8:00am – 8:45am

Fun with Fans:  Firestone Indy Lights Autograph Session: Saturday July 21 from 10:15 am – 10:45 am outside of the Beer Gardens

Race: Saturday July 21 3:32 pm (40 laps)

Driver Quote:
“This will be my first race in Edmonton and it should be a very interesting race because we race at an airport.  I have been talking to many of the other drivers and they told me that this track is very similar to a street course so it shouldn’t be a big change.  It will be very important for me to make the track walk with the team and see all the details that can be helpful for the setting of the car before the first practice session on Friday.  It is also important for me and everybody on the team to learn the track as fast as possible because we may need extra time to tune the car accordingly.  All in all I am looking forward to a new adventure this weekend in Edmonton”

Toronto, Ontario – July 7, 2012 -  Jeffrey Mark Motorsport took their talents to The Great White North for the Honda Indy Streets of Toronto.  Juan Pablo Garcia had a great car going into the 50-lap event but was only able to complete 30 laps due to contact with another car.

Coming around turn three, the number five car of Jorge Goncalvez bumped the rear of JP’s car sending them both spinning.  The Jeffrey Mark Motorsport ride spun around before sending the tail end into the wall.  No drivers were injured but neither car was able to finish the race.

Juan Pablo was glad to be back on the street course but not pleased with the finish.

“The race ended a lot earlier than I was expecting,” Juan Pablo commented.  “I am not very happy with the race results.  The car felt great and the Jeffrey Mark Motorsport crew made a lot of improvements over the weekend.  I was excited to get the car out on the track this afternoon.  The race started good, we were keeping up to speed with the rest of the grid, the accident just came at a really bad time.  I know Edmonton will go much better.”

“The car is really good right now so hopefully we can use the positive momentum we gained this weekend and carry it over to Edmonton with us,” JP continued.  “I am really looking forward to finishing the season strong so we can build up more championship points.  Being Jeffrey Mark Motorsport’s first year I really want to give them a good Championship placement at the end of the Firestone Indy Lights Season.”

The Indy Lights grid will continue their Canadian journey with a race in Edmonton on Saturday July 21st.

Newton, IA – June 24, 2012 – The night ended early for the #76 Jeffrey Mark Motorsport car as engine issues forced Juan Pablo Garcia into the pits.  IndyCar officials called him into pit lane after noticing a distorted sound coming from the #76 car.  The car was checked and released before being called in for good at lap 71 of 115.

Rain delays forced the Firestone Indy Lights Sukup 100 to start after the Izod IndyCar Series event.  Once the green flag dropped around midnight,  Juan Pablo Garcia and the whole Indy Lights grid ran a fairly clean race with only minor issues.  This occasion marks Garcia’s first DNF of the season.

“There is not too much I can say about this race,” noted Garcia.  “It was an engine failure and out of my control. The beginning of the race was good but once the engine started to slow down it was really hard to maintain the speed.  The car felt very tough and it was difficult to go flat everywhere.  It was not a really good race for me and I am really sad about that but I know we will bounce back in Toronto.  The Jeffrey Mark Motorsport crew worked super hard this weekend and I really wish we could have finished the race.  Special thanks to Jeffrey Mark and Bryan Herta for all the support they have shown me this season.  I am looking forward to finishing out the season strong.”

Firestone Indy Lights will take the weekend off before heading up to Canada for the Honda Indy Toronto on Saturday July 7th with the green flag set for 4pm ET.

Driver: Juan Pablo Garcia
Car: #76 Jeffrey Mark Motorsport
Event Title: Sukup 100
Location: Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa
Track:  0.875-mile oval track

Join JMM
Practice:  Friday June 22 from 1:30pm – 2:15pm
Saturday June 23 from 2:10pm – 2:55pm

Qualifying:  Friday June 22 from 5:15pm – 6:00pm

Fun with Fans:  Fan Village Q&A Friday June 22 from 3:30pm – 4:00pm

Race: Saturday June 23 at 6:40pm (115 laps)

Driver Quote:
“I am looking forward to another oval race.  With each oval I learn a little more and become more confident in the car.  I have never raced at the Iowa Speedway so I am really looking forward to the new experience when we head out for practice on Friday.  This is also my first night race, which will be very fun and add a new element to the course.  After completing all 100 laps in Milwaukee, I gained a lot of confidence and I am ready to tackle the weekend.  I know this oval is very different than what I am used to but that’s what makes the sport of racing so exciting.  It will be an awesome weekend for Jeffrey Mark Motorsport.”

WEST ALLIS –  It was a successful day for Jeffrey Mark Motorsport as the #76 car completed its first Milwaukee Mile.  The day started early in the morning with two practices and a qualification run before the evening race began.

The venue was packed with fans as the sun beamed down on the exciting event.  Ending the day in P11, Driver Juan Pablo Garcia had this to say about his Milwaukee debut.

“It was a fun day and I was much more confident driving but there is still a lot to improve on,” Garcia commented.  “The car was fast and felt great; it also helped that the race was mostly green.  The Milwaukee Mile is a very exciting and historic track.   I was happy with the race but there is still a lot of work to do in order to prepare for next weekend.  As always, the whole Jeffrey Mark Motorsport crew did a great job.  I am ready to back in the car in Iowa next week.”

The Firestone Indy Lights crew will now look towards the Iowa Speedway for the Sukup 100 taking place on Saturday June 23.  For more information visit JeffreyMarkMotorsport.com.