TrueCar Racing’s Shannon McIntosh Gains Valuable Experience In Front Of Home Crowd

ST.PETERSBURG, Fla (Mar. 25, 2012) – Shannon McIntosh was a busy woman heading into round three and four of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda on the Streets of St. Petersburg as the only locally-based competitor racing in one of the scheduled 10 events. During her first race of the weekend in her No. 18 TrueCar Mazda, she passed 14 cars to finish 11th and was also awarded the “Tilton Hard Charger Award” for passing the most number of cars.

“I’m really happy with our weekend result,” said McIntosh. “Although we didn’t get quite what we were hoping for in the second race, I took so much positive from this weekend. One thing I took out of the second race was that I can improve on my ability to adjust to new conditions as the race track had less grip after the rain in the morning. All in all, I couldn’t be happier or more thankful for TrueCar and Pabst Racing at my hometown race!”

On the heels of opening her 2012 season at Sebring International Raceway, McIntosh returned to her residence of St. Petersburg, Fla., in preparation for the first street race of the season. With a slew of interviews behind her, McIntosh began practice on Thurs., Mar. 22 in her No. 18 TrueCar Van Diemen-Mazda in preparation for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg support races.

The following day, she had just one other 30-minute practice session in advance of qualifications where she had an ill-handling racecar. As soon as Race #1 began, McIntosh got to work to move her way up the field. Her Pabst Racing Services team had corrected the handling issue she was experiencing earlier in the weekend and McIntosh was able to advance 14 positions to finish just outside the Top-10 in front of her home crowd, which included a slew of friends and family.

“I’m really excited about our result after the first race,” said McIntosh. “We accomplished all of our goals and have a great handling car. It was also really great to meet a crew for TrueCar before the race; they were my good luck!”

Following the first race, McIntosh was awarded a contingency award titled, The Tilton Hard Charger Award, for the driver who gained the most positions during the race.

The following day, as an opener for the headlining IZOD IndyCar Series race, McIntosh and the 33 other USF2000 competitors took to the track for Race #2 on the weekend and round four of the 2012 schedule. Staring 18th, which was determined from lap times in Race #1, and with a slew of caution periods, McIntosh didn’t have much time to work her way up the field, but went on to finish 16th. During the race, McIntosh was penalized 30 seconds for a false start and was said to have passed a car before the start line, which in the end, hampered her end-result finishing position.

McIntosh, a sophomore USF2000 competitor originally from Miamisburg, Ohio, is scheduled to host The Grand Prix After Party at PUSH Ultra Lounge, the after party long hosted by the late two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Proceeds from the party will benefit the Dan Wheldon Family Trust. Tickets for entry are $10 at the door.

In addition to TrueCar, additional racing support on McIntosh’s No. 18 program is being provided by: CLEARBook, Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes, TAG Heuer timepieces, Arai Helmets, Alpinestars, CrossFit9, Anytime Fitness St. Pete, U! Creative, and YogaBlu Studio.

Returning to the track for her fifth race of the 2012 USF2000 season, McIntosh will return to Lucas Oil Raceway for the first oval race of the season on May 26, titled, “The Night Before the 500.” Practice for the event will begin on Fri., May 25.

Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the USF2000 National Championship, presented by Cooper Racing Tires and powered by Mazda, is one of three series of INDYCAR’s “Mazda Road to Indy” ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver program.

For more information, please visit www.ShannonMcintosh.com or www.USF2000.com.

###