Familiar faces return for Firestone Freedom 100

Jeff Simmons, who parlayed success in the Firestone Indy Lights into IZOD IndyCar Series rides with Mo Nunn Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing, signed to drive with Team E for the May 28 race, while 2005 Firestone Indy Lights champion Wade Cunningham returns to defend his 2009 race win with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

Jeff Simmons Credit: Dana Garret/Indy Lights

"I wanted to build up gradually, and I think it was a testament to everybody at Team E that we were so quick right off the bat," said Simmons. "We had a good starting setup and we kept the car in a good window. I got the chance to slowly work my way into traffic and feeling that out, because I haven't had that for almost two years. The last time I raced was Kentucky of '08, so be able to have a car that I could be confident in was great. We were quick all day - basically in the top three all day - and if we wanted to play the super-drafting game at the end we probably could have gone a little quicker. But when we come back the track is going to be different from having the IndyCars run on it. I'm just excited to be back and have something to do at the racetrack rather than walk around."

Cunningham, the only two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100, said wining again at Indianapolis would be an accomplishment he would consider to be "very cool."

"The car rolled out pretty strong this morning, but we have a fair amount of work to do on the car before race day," Cunninham said. "We're pretty sure come race time we'll be battling the top teams for the pole. It's really close, but it's hard to tell what everyone has with fuel and downforce levels. But this is practice and in two weeks we go racing."

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