Crawford sets driver lineup
Rookies Williams, Jaskol to compete in Freedom 100
 
Michael Crawford Motorsports will bring a fast rookie to the Freedom 100 on May 25. The team announced that 18-year-old Marc Williams will make his Indy Pro Series debut alongside Matt Jaskol in the team's two-car effort in the series' feature event. Williams, a Plymouth, New Zealand native, recently passed his Indy Pro Series rookie test at Kentucky Speedway, turning laps that would have placed him in the top three positions of last year's race. "I've been involved with 56 oval rookie tests in the last six years and no one has been better than Marc," team owner Michael Crawford said. "He had never been on an oval. Asking someone to go run at 188 mph for their first oval effort is asking a lot of them. It was just amazing that he was so quick and smooth and quickly passed his rookie test."  Williams, who has competed in formula cars in his native country, is excited about making his United States debut in the Freedom 100. "I've heard a lot about Indy and it will be a jump in the deep end, but we are hoping for a good finish," Williams said. "Michael Crawford has put together a great team and a great car." Joining Williams will be Jaskol. The Las Vegas native debuted in the Indy Pro Series at St. Petersburg, qualifying fifth for the first race. He was sixth-quick at the Open Test at Indianapolis in April. A win in the Freedom 100, would make Jaskol the first driver to win on both the oval and road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won a Formula BMW race at the Speedway in 2004. "The competition is the best it has ever been," Jaskol said. "With 25 cars in a record-breaking field, I can't say enough how proud I am to be here in Indy."
May 23, 2007
By David Downing - indycar.com