AIM to run Phil Fogg Jr at Laguna

Chris Jameson // Level Ten Communications

The next round of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear takes place this coming weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and AIM Autosport will be on hand with series sophomore David Ostella plus series regular Phil Fogg Jr. who is competing in the Masters division.

Ostella and the team recently returned from testing in Indianapolis at O'Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) for the Memorial Day race taking place ahead of the Indy 500 as part of the Road to Indy Program. David finished seventh in the Global Precast No. 16 AIM Autosport Star Mazda at St. Petersburg and is ninth overall in the series championship.

Fogg Jr. has been a regular in the Star Mazda series since 2005 competing in select events each year in the Expert class for drivers 30-44 years of age. He would finish second in the class championship in 2007 and third in 2008. Phil, a native of Wilsonville, Oregon is joining AIM Autosport for the race at Laguna Seca plus another race later in the season.

"Being from the west coast, Phil has spent a lot of time racing at Laguna Seca", commented AIM Autopsort's Star Mazda team manager Keith Willis. "He has done well here in the past and we are confident he will have a strong run this weekend. We are planning on one more race with Phil this season, but we are not sure yet which event that will be."

Michael Furfari who runs in the Furfari Paving No. 13 AIM Autosport Star Mazda will not be running at Laguna Seca this weekend as the event conflicts with the grade eleven student's exam schedule. He will be back with the team following the end of the school year.

"As with any of the young drivers that have come through AIM's development program, we understand the need to put school first", noted Willis. "It is unfortunate that Michael will miss this race, especially as he is in the top ten in the championship, but we are sure he will make up points as the season goes on."

Willis continued, "Our goal for David this weekend is to improve on the results from St. Petersburg. He was quick in the test at ORP and he qualified well at the Laguna Seca race last year so we are going into the weekend on a good note. Our hope is to move up a few positions in the championship."

Testing begins on Thursday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca followed  by two session on Friday. Qualifying takes place Saturday at 12:20 p.m. ET with the race on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET. Live timing will be available online at www.starmazda.com.