Quaker Chemical and Newgarden are Ready to Tame Texas

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Jun 07, 2013, 04:02 ET

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To an IndyCar driver the Texas Motor Speedway means one thing - FAST. Success at the 1.5-mile high-banked, high-speed TMS oval is determined by lightning-fast reflexes, decision making ability plus a healthy dose of good luck.

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Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) and driver Josef Newgarden will be looking for some luck after coming off a weekend of mixed fortunes at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix double-header. A stunning drive from 23rd on the grid to a 7th place finish on Saturday by Newgarden was tempered by a gearbox problem after contact with another car in Sunday's race. Fortunately, the SFHR crew was able to fix the problem in the pit lane, but not before Newgarden lost six laps, resulting in a 16th place finish on Sunday.

"It's a shame that our results were affected by something that wasn't our fault. We had to salvage what we could. It was a tough day, but at least we got some points," Newgarden reflected.

Quaker Chemical Corporation, an official sponsor and technical partner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will support Newgarden's No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry this weekend as the team battles in the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway.

"We are looking forward to building on the positive results that Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and Newgarden took away from the races in Detroit." Joe Berquist, Quaker VP and Managing Director North America, said. "We are also anxious to see how well Quaker's greases and technical expertise can contribute to Newgarden's performance on the demanding, high-speed Texas Motor Speedway race track."

The amphitheater of speed that is Texas Motor Speedway stands in stark contrast to the bone-jarring twists and turns of the Belle Isle street circuit that Newgarden and SFHR tackled last weekend. Both tracks present extreme demands on the driver, but in very different ways. Because of the high speeds and high-banked layout, the lateral g-forces that act on the driver at TMS are not unlike those encountered by jet fighter pilots. In fact, Newgarden will even wear a pair of specially engineered compression socks to keep his feet from going numb during the 228-lap, 550km event.

"Texas presents a unique challenge for us because, not only are you fighting the other cars on the circuit and the track itself, but you're also fighting the wear on your body from the g-forces and the heat," Newgarden said. "Coming off of a physically demanding weekend in Detroit, it will be interesting to see how everyone copes with Texas, but I think we're ready to rock."

The Firestone 550 from Texas Motor Speedway will air live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 8. Qualifying begins on Friday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET. For the latest trackside updates from SFHR, follow @SFHRindy on Twitter.

About Quaker Chemical Corporation:

Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, cans, and others. For nearly 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process knowledge, and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference. Visit www.quakerchem.com to learn more.

About Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing:

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) was established in 2008 and is owned by former driver Sarah Fisher, the youngest woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to run a full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, and businessman Wink Hartman. SFHR has competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2008, earning its first victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway. For more information on Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, visit www.sfhracing.com.

SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation