INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 18, 2019) – Pippa Mann qualified 30th for the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 in the #39 Clauson-Marshall Racing Driven2SaveLives Chevrolet on Saturday, May 18 in a qualifying effort that came down to the very last second.
Pippa’s one and only qualifying run – a four-lap average of 227.244 – took place in the early afternoon on a sunny and unusually warm day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With inclement weather threatening on Sunday, this qualifying effort was paramount and track temperatures continued to rise throughout the afternoon.
When the qualifying clock signaled 5:50pm and the end of the day, Pippa’s 30th place spot on the starting grid was locked in, securing her seventh start for the 2019 Indianapolis 500.
“What an incredible day for this Clauson-Marshall Racing Driven2SaveLives team,” said Pippa. “I can’t say enough about the effort everyone put in to make this happen, and I’m so thankful to the Clauson family, Indiana Donor Network, Ross Motorsports, and all of my other sponsors for believing in me. We had a solid week leading up to today and we believed the #39 car was fast enough to make the show. We might be a smaller, one-off race team but today was proof that we had the drive and dedication to get it done.”
Clauson-Marshall Racing team co-owner Tim Clauson added, “Today was just absolutely amazing. A year ago, Pippa and I talked about the possibility of coming back here together. In that moment, I don’t think either one of us even thought that would be a reality so to get to really do that the way it ended up, biting our nails at the end of the day, was incredible and I’m so proud of Pippa.
“We came here as a new team and I leaned on Pippa more than just being in the driver’s seat. She’s taught us a lot about being at the racetrack here as a team, so we’re all just really excited.”
Pippa’s 2019 campaign marked her eighth attempt at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the Driven2SaveLives team started strong on Opening Day with a lap time of 223.910. Lap times continued to improve throughout the week, showing her in P12 on the IndyCar no-tow list on Wednesday and topping out at 227.996 on Fast Friday.
The NTT Data IndyCar Series has two more days of practice before the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Pippa will be on track Monday, May 20 and Friday, May 24. In between, she will participate in a variety of events, including a nation-wide media tour and IndyCar’s Community Day in Indianapolis. The 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 26 at 12:45 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast in the United States on NBC.
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About Clauson-Marshall Racing
Bryan and Tim Clauson initiated Bryan Clauson Racing in 2008 with the idea of providing their knowledge and experience with drivers and families attempting to navigate their way through the sport while at the same time providing Bryan with an outlet to pursue the venue of motorsports that he loved most, Midget and Sprint Car racing. Along the way, the team met many of its goals including a pair of USAC National Midget championships and a USAC Sprint Car title along with three USAC Driver of the Year awards while also helping in the development of many younger drivers making their way through the ranks.
Richard and Jennifer Marshall have been more than sponsors to Bryan and the teams over the years, they have become family and now partners. Bryan and his teams have represented the Marshall Family through Priority Aviation from the small dirt tracks of the Midwest to the Indianapolis 500. Tim Clauson could not be prouder to partner with Richard and Jennifer to continue on Bryan’s legacy in the sport with Clauson-Marshall Racing, knowing that BC will guide their every move.
Now, Clauson-Marshall Racing is expanding from its roots in dirt track racing to the asphalt with its first IndyCar entry in the Indianapolis 500. Learn more at www.ClausonMarshallRacing.com.
About Driven2SaveLives
Indiana Donor Network launched the Driven2SaveLives racing campaign in April 2016 to elevate the conversation about organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation through motorsports by honoring IndyCar donor hero Justin Wilson. Today, the campaign also honors IndyCar and USAC driver donor hero Bryan Clauson. Both drivers died in racing accidents and as registered organ donors, were each able to save five lives. Learn more about our lifesaving efforts at Driven2SaveLives.org.
About Indiana Donor Network
Indiana Donor Network is one of 58 designated organ recovery organizations in the United States and coordinates organ, tissue and eye donation throughout the state. Indiana Donor Network is devoted to public education about donation and transplantation with the goal of saving and enhancing more lives. For more information about Indiana Donor Network, or to register your decision to become a donor, visit IndianaDonorNetwork.org.
Indiana Donor Network® and Driven2SaveLives® are federally registered trademarks.
- PHOTO BY ALI MARKUS -