Alex Lloyd Signs With Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Indy Pro Series Ace Moves Up to Top-Notch IndyCar Drive
From Indy Racing League Media Reports:
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Alex Lloyd.
Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL |
2007 Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd will join Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Driver Development Program, team officials announced October 17th.
Though Lloyd’s 2008 program is not set, it will most likely be a combination of IndyCar Series races, Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series races and testing.
“I wanted to make sure I’m in a place where I can have good prospects for the future, not just in 2008. I felt that by joining this team I have the opportunity to do well, and if I perform well to be there for a long time,” said Lloyd, who recorded an Indy Pro Series-record eight victories, including five in a row to commence the 2007 season.
“I can really learn the traits of the IndyCar Series and grow within the team. I feel that although I won’t be doing a full season next year, the races that I will be doing I will be in one of the best cars out there with a team I’ve admired for years. For me, that’s actually a more exciting thing than saying I’ll be doing a full year in a mid-field car."
“I’m happy they have given me this opportunity to be able to drive for them, get some races in and see how that progresses in the future. I’m sure over the next four to eight weeks we’ll have a clearer idea what our plan will be. I’m looking forward to get going in whatever aspect that might be.”
Late-Season Tests Give Alex a Chance to Shine
Lloyd, a native of Manchester, England, tested with Target Chip Ganassi Racing at Sebring in August with permission from Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He recorded laps comparable to ones posted by Scott Dixon. Later that month, Lloyd competed for the team in a Grand Am race at Infineon Raceway – in addition to participating in an Indy Pro Series doubleheader where he clinched the 2007 Indy Pro Series title.
“He is a talented driver and a perfect candidate for our development program,” Target Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull said. “In the span of 10 days, he took the wheel of two very different race cars for the first time. He showed at Sebring that he is ready to race an IndyCar (Series car), and then at Infineon Raceway for the Grand Am event, proved under race conditions that his skills were immediately equal to the best drivers in the very competitive high-horsepower Daytona Protoypes.”
Indy Pro Series Run Rejuvenates Lloyd's Career
Lloyd, who finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the UK Formula Renault Championship in 2003, earned three poles and a victory in seven Formula 3000 races in 2005. He joined AFS Racing in 2006 for his first Indy Pro Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg, where he qualified on the front row and earned a podium finish.
This past season, Lloyd started from the pole five times and from the front row in every race there were qualifications. He paced the field with 399 laps led, 751 laps completed, eight wins, 13 top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes (tie).
“Everyone at Sam Schmidt Motorsports is extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish with Alex in 2007,” team owner Sam Schmidt said. “We recognized his tremendous ability and potential in 2006 when he drove a partial season, and I’m glad that we were able to maximize those talents last year. Of course, the championship and multiple records are great, but we are ultimately in this business to graduate drivers to the next level. Alex is the total package and we have no doubt that he’ll be very successful driving for TCGR."
“He has legitimately earned the shot and I applaud Chip (Ganassi) and Mike for supporting the system.”
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