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James Davison to Sam Schmidt Motorsports

Indy Pro Series Champions Name Second Driver to Roster for 2008

by Kaaveh Akbari
kaaveh@kaavehakbari.com

Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ James Davison. Photo: SamSchmidtMotorsports

Sam Schmidt Motorsports announced Wednesday (January 30th) that it has signed James Davison of Australia to drive one of the team’s Indy Pro Series machines in the 2008 season.

Davison, 21, is coming off of a successful 2007 racing season in the Star Mazda Championship where he finished second in the final championship standings.

His accomplishments were rewarded by Sam Schmidt Motorsports in October when the team invited him to test in Sebring, Fla.

“From the beginning, we’ve been impressed with James,” team owner Sam Schmidt said. “He’s a very eager driver, and we’ll do our best in providing him with the tools that he needs to take his career to the next step.”

Australian Driver an International Rising Star

Along with the support that Davison has from his new team, he will also have support from his home country where he was recently one of four drivers named to the Australian Motor Sport Foundation’s inaugural International Rising Star Program.

As a part of the program, he’ll receive financial assistance as well as access to sports psychologists, physiologists, and other AMSF networks.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime that I’ve worked very hard for,” Davison said. “I’m joining the number one team in the Indy Pro Series, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got."

Though he’s never raced on an oval, Davison feels confident that his talent combined with the experience of his team will enable him to succeed.

“It’s going to be a new experience, however, I know I have very good people behind me at Sam Schmidt Motorsports. I have high expectations for the season that I am determined to fulfill.”

Formula BMW Experience at Indy Offers Familiarity to Speedway

Davison has previously tasted success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning in Formula BMW during the 2005 United States Grand Prix.

He is hoping to become only the second driver to win on the famed circuit’s road course and oval configurations, and more importantly, to progress towards his ultimate goal of winning the Indianapolis 500.

Since beginning competition in the Indy Pro Series in 2003, Sam Schmidt Motorsports has become the dominating force having won three of the last four driver championships along with holding the series record for most wins (23).

The 2008 Indy Pro Series season kicks off its 16-race schedule on March 29th at the Homestead-Miami Speedway where the team will enter as defending race and series champions.

Alliance Motorsports Intent on Smart Start to 2008 Season

Trio of Racing Regulars Parlay Friendship into Pro Series Team

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Alliance Motorsports car for Indy Pro Series. Photo: AllianceMotorsports

Indy Pro Series competitor Alliance Motorsports aims to start fast, finish strong, and build a record of success that will launch the team on a path to a multi-car operation in the Indy Racing League.

True to its harmonious name, the trio of Jeff Matthews, Chris Williams and Tyce Carlson aligned business savvy with friendship and a lifelong passion for racing into active participation in the 2008 IPS season.

Under roof in shared space in exurban Brownsburg, Alliance Motorsports ventures into the hot competition ahead with a speedy break from the gate this week at a Homestead/Miami Speedway test.

Beginnings Rooted in Long Friendships

Jeff Matthews’ substantial experience in racing management paid off when the Alliance Motorsports team commenced the journey to the starting grid.

“We started in the spring of 2007 by working on sponsorship for Tyce to run the Indy 500,” he said. “Ultimately we weren’t successful, but the experience taught us we could work together.”

“We’ve all been working toward this team’s existence for literally since this time last year,” added veteran IndyCar racer Tyce Carlson. “Plus, we’ve all been good friends for a long time.”

The pair met in 1997 when Matthews was a partner in the team that Tyce drove for in the Indianapolis 500.

Chris Williams, a Carmel businessman, soon joined the team to offer his contacts and operations experience to complete the ownership triad.

The group achieved a major coup in acquiring the racing assets of Kenn Hardley Racing shortly before the New Year, a move that gave them a turnkey operation loaded with inventory and supplies from bare tub to hospitality tent.

Now Great Panamanian Charter is aboard as a sponsor; as is ARCA’s twenty-two year old Dan Brode as driver for the team’s first test at Homestead/Miami Speedway this week (January 31st-February 1st).

AMS Aims to Start Fast and then Go Faster

“We never go to the racetrack without the intent to win,” Carlson said. “We’d like to see a top-ten finish at (the Pro Series season-opener) Homestead depending on who we have in the car. If we have a veteran driver behind the wheel we expect a podium-worthy performance.”

The team’s expectations for the future run counter to the typical first-year competitor on the Indy Pro Series pitlane.

Alliance Motorsports’ Dan Brode. Photo: Jeff Matthews

“Building continuity and getting experience in the series is important this year,” said Carlson, “but eventually we want to be more than just a one-car operation.”

“If you look at the top teams, they all have two, three, even four cars. It’s the same in NASCAR Cup racing—multiple car teams that can build off of each other.”

“We’re still in the early stages of getting our program together,” added Matthews. “We’re able to utilize Fuzion Racing’s Travis (Rogers’) experience with our testing program and once we get past the tests and evaluate ourselves, we will make some final decisions about some very talented people who’ve shown interest in our team.”

Personal Touch Benefits Alliance Motorsports’ Effort

Carlson plans to draw from his personal IndyCar and Indy Pro Series experience to develop the talent that will take the team to the top.

He started 30 IndyCar events during his racing career that spanned the years of 1996 through 2002, including two starts in the Indianapolis 500.

“I will be up in the spotter’s seat,” he said.

“For me, it’s about teaching lap to lap out there. Honestly, among our group we’ve seen hundreds of these races, and if you see something about to happen in this series, it’s going to happen.”

“If they go three-wide into a turn, it’s for sure they aren’t coming out that way!”

Thirty-Four Car Field at Homestead an Educated Guess

The competition in the Indy Pro Series figures (as usual) to be intense, with talented young drivers coming from all over the globe to contest the race to the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup.

The Alliance Motorsports brain trust figures the season will showcase the usual suspects at Sam Schmidt Motorsports, and bring Brazilian Rafael Matos’ into the crosshairs of the rest of the field.

“Matos is an unbelievable talent,” said Carlson, “and the resources of Andretti Green and Gary Peterson will make him very hard to beat.”

“On the other hand, Team KMA (with Robbie Pecorari) won at Nashville out of no more than a twenty-foot tow-trailer and a motorhome last year.”

”It’s going to be like the old days,” says Tyce Carlson mulling 34-car field

“It’s a spec series,” he continued, “and that gives us the opportunity to be as good as any of the other teams in the race.”

No doubt the sheer numbers of the Indy Pro Series will offer up some surprises, particularly if the anticipated growth in entrants reaches pre-season expectations.

“I’d say at the most you’ll see 34 cars on the grid at Homestead,” offered Carlson. “And probably they’ll try to start all of them”

“It’s going to be like I remember back in the 1990’s in the big cars: we’d have so many cars we had to send some guys home every weekend.”

Opportunities in IndyCar Open Seats in the Pro Series

The departure of Sam Hornish and 2007 IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti caused anxious hand-wringing among open-wheel racing fans, but the Alliance partners see the movement of talented young drivers into those vacant seats as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Indy Pro Series competitors.

“It’s exciting,” said Williams. “Sam’s gone. Dario’s gone. Younger kids are coming up. It’s all good.”

“Hopefully more eyes will open and see the top-notch kids that run in the IPS. It’s time to find the budgets and support they need to continue to move up.”

“Open-wheel’s not going south when there are all these great kids coming along.”

“I like that it’s an international series,” added Carlson. “The Pro Series is becoming a world-renowned feeder series, with excellent young drivers from all over the globe.”

“I’ll second that,” quipped a smiling Matthews with a wink. “I recently had to run an email from a prospective driver through an online translator to understand it!”

AFS Andretti Green's Raphael Matos Grabs First 2008 Podium

Indy Pro Series Newcomer Co-Drives Winning GT Entry at Daytona 24

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Daytona 24 GT-Class winner Mazda RX8. Photo: Daytona24

AFS Andretti Green Racing’s Raphael Matos drove in a team-effort at Daytona International Speedway to a GT-class first-place in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race on Sunday (January 27th). The SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 finished seven laps in front of the second-place Porsche GT3 and gave the Brazilian Indy Pro Series driver his first podium finish of the New Year.

Matos was partnered with team owner Sylvain Tremblay, Nick Ham, and David Haskell for the forty-sixth annual Daytona 24, an event that in recent years has become a veritable “All-Star Game” of racing’s best drivers from every discipline.

The No. 70 black Mazda coupe took ninth place overall. The race was won by Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 01 Lexus Riley piloted by Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas.

The win marked the first for a production-based GT-spec Mazda in the race since 1993 when Dick Greer, Al Bacon, Peter Uria and Mike Mees took their RX-7 GTU to victory lane.

The winners covered a total of 664 laps, averaging 98.3 miles per hour, during the 24-hour Grand Am event over the road course at Daytona.

Indy Pro Series Represents at Daytona 24

Several drivers in the field brought strong ties to the Indy Pro Series’ past with them to Daytona.

Former Pro Series drivers Anthony Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter teamed up to drive the Vision Racing entry to a 25th-place finish, covering 615 laps before mechanical failure sidelined the Porsche Crawford with little more than an hour to the checkered flag.

The reigning Indy Pro Series champion, Alex Lloyd (co-driving the No. 02 Lexus Riley sister car to Chip Ganassi’s overall champion in the race) saw action until a late-morning spin put the car into the garages for the second time and led to retirement after completing 515 laps (44th-place).

Indy Pro Series’ Pablo Perez Walking and Driving Again

”I’m walking with a crutch, testing in a prototype”

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Pablo Perez. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

Former Chip Ganassi Racing and Indy Pro Series driver Pablo Perez is on the mend in his home country of Argentina. Perez is walking with a crutch, driving again after a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation, and still dreaming of the famous oval at legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Via e-mail Perez told IndyProRacer.com on Friday (January 25th):

"For several months, I will say like seven months, I was in a wheel chair; and then a couple of months with two crutches, and at the present moment I’m just using one crutch to get around."

"One month ago I tested for the first time in a sports car prototype. Wow! At that moment I new that I have to race again."

"Of course on the first laps I was very very cautious, but after a few laps I was pushing really hard. It was fantastic!"

Steps Forward in a Successful Recovery

Pablo continues to rehab his feet and legs as he enters the final steps of a successful recovery, and has several business projects ongoing with his brothers in his hometown of Buenos Aires.

"Right now I’m spending 2 hours in FLENI (a rehab center in my country) to recover my muscles of both legs and to have correct movement of both ankles. I'm also doing 5 hours a day of gym-work to prepare myself for a return to racing."

"I’m working hard to try to open a franchise restaurant in Buenos Aires, so I’m really busy with that right now. And of course I'm playing a lot with the PlayStation 3, especially with the racing games."

"For now, go-karting is something that I cant do because I'm not one hundred percent recovered, but I am looking forward to driving a kart in the future because it is fun for me, and it helps with the reflexes."

Perez is also keeping busy with the normal joys and chores of everyday life.

"I like going out to the movies, playing with the PS3, going to the gym, and of course, going fishing."

"Also I love washing my car and my two bikes. I can spend hours cleaning my babes!"

Memory of Calamitous Crack-Up Recedes as Rehab Progresses

With the horrific accident in the past, and recovery well under way, Perez has his sights set on a return to the track.

"My first goal is to be competitive, then to find a drive in the States again," he said. "I would like to start racing in stock cars. It will be difficult to race in open-wheel because of my legs."

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Pablo Perez. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

The twenty-five year old racer suffered injuries to his lower legs and feet in a frightening accident at Homestead/Miami Speedway on March 24th, 2007 in the Indy Pro Series season-opener.

After colliding with other competitors, Perez got into the catch fence along the outside of the mile-and-a-half oval’s turn four, launched into the air by wheel-to-wheel contact. His red No. 10 Dallara racer was destroyed in the accident that followed, the tub-only surviving and traversing the track before coming to rest in the infield.

"At some point I'd like to drive the two-seater Indy car, especially at Indianapolis since it was my dream when I started racing in a go-kart to someday race in the '500'."

"Now that is going to be impossible because of my legs, but I'd still like to complete part of my dream just to do a few laps over that magic oval."

Sam Schmidt’s Bia New to Ovals but Not to Winning

Brazilian Woman Aims for Indy Pro Series Success

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Bia. Photo: FernandoFreixosa

Sam Schmidt Motorsports has a history of fielding winners into the Indy Pro Series. Little wonder the Indianapolis-based team that has dominated the Indy Racing League’s junior circuit chose Brazil’s Bia for the 2008 campaign. With a racing past that extends to her childhood, the twenty-two year old woman with the dark brown tresses has built a solid reputation for having a heavy right foot and fast on her mind.

Bia spent 2007 in transition from racing in South America to racing around the world. She took the wheel of A1 Team Brazil’s entry at the A1GP Shanghai in April, supporting IndyCar’s Vitor Meira in the Sprint and Feature races.

She backed up that effort with a tour in European Formula 3 before setting her sites on competing on the American side of the Atlantic.

“When I came from Brazil I went to talk to Roger Bailey (Director of the IPS),” she said on Monday (January 21st) from SSM headquarters on Indy’s west side, “and wanted to know about the Indy Pro Series. I wanted to know where would be the best place for me to learn and have a good experience.”

“Everyone told me about Sam Schmidt Motorsports, and I had a test with them last year—at Kentucky, Mid-Ohio and Sebring. It was a really good experience for me.”

Bia Finds Challenge with Ovals Ahead

Ahead of Bia lies a sixteen-race schedule equally split between road courses and ovals. Rather than ease into the seat with a timid toe-in-the-water approach she’s taking the challenge of always turning left with typical Latin verve.

“I will run a full schedule this year. We have upcoming tests at Sebring, Homestead, Phoenix and Homestead again so I can become familiar with the car and the team,” she said.

“I’ve never raced on ovals, even in karts. The Homestead test will be my first time on an oval, and of course Phoenix will be on the oval also.”

“We have to focus on ovals because I don’t have any experience, but we’ll be fine. I heard from the other drivers that racing ovals is amazing and I’m looking forward to it.”

Bia at work: A1GP Shanghai. Photo: A1GP

A native of Sao Paulo, Bia found curiosity and delight in the routine of Midwestern life within days of her arrival in the Heartland.

“I just came here and it was so cold and there was snow—I was so happy to see the snow,” she said.

“Then all the guys in the shop told me after while I’ll be bored with it and want the sunshine again.”

“I’m glad to be in Indianapolis. It’s a really nice place,” she continued.

Although her life-long idol has been Brazilian Formula 1 superstar Ayrton Senna, Bia has plenty of other racing heroes close at hand for her.

“I have a couple of friends and am really comfortable here already. Tony (Kanaan) and I shared the same karting coach so I’ve known him a long time. I just met Helio (Castroneves) in the Granja Viana go-kart endurance race in Brazil, and Vitor and I drove in A1GP last spring.”

“They are so nice to me. It’s really good to be here.”

The influence of the fast friends from her own country has played a big part in convincing Bia she is in the right place at the right time.

“My objective is to drive at Indy. I’m still in my first year of driving internationally outside Brazil.”

“I’m comfortable with saying ‘Let’s see and work hard and do our best’; then take the next step.”

European Racing Pressure Cooker to the Back Burner

Many veterans of the international racing scene find the atmosphere in the States a welcome relief to the demands, both physical and mental, of the racing on Europe’s shores.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about that,” said Bia of the differences. “It’s probably too early for me to say as I just left Europe and it’s hard to compare there with how it is there.”

“I feel something like what (2007 IPS Champion) Alex (Lloyd) said: They were really serious there. It’s different in America. I find this a nice environment and I’m happy here.”

For now the impetus is on finding the fastest way around the Indy Pro Series circuits and letting the future take care of itself.

“I come from Brazil and am going to work hard. I’ll do my best to show good results and I’m happy to be here in the US,” she said.

Formal Education Complete, Bia Looks for Road Tests

One of the most important goals Bia had to meet on the way to the cockpit was her family’s insistence on education first.

Unlike some American and international universities a work/study program that includes racing wasn’t an option for Bia.

“Brazil doesn’t have support for sports like in the US. It’s a pity but that’s not happened.”

“I just finished college two years ago so my family is okay because I have completed all of my studies,” she said.

“Dad is a psychiatrist in Sao Paulo. It was really important to my parents to study and graduate. I did it, so now I can do what I want to do.”

---

Bia’s Career Highlights 2006 - South American Formula 3 5th place - 5 podiums and one pole position Award: São Paulo Citizen Driver

2005 - Formula Renault Brazil
3rd place - won 3 races: Campo Grande, Vitória and Tarumã
Pole Position in 4 races, Campo Grande, Vitória, Interlagos (twice)
7 podiums
Gold Helmet Award - Winner
Raced in select rounds of the South American Formula 3 Light

2004 - Formula Renault Brazil
5th place - 8 podiums
Raced in select rounds of the South American Formula 3 Light

Bia celebrates South American victory. Photo: TorcidoBiaFigueiredo.

2003 - Karting
Rookie of the year - Brazilian Formula Renault
Best lap - Londrina
Best lap - Campo Grande
Champion - Sorriso Petrobrás Kart Cup
Runner-up - Petrobrás Karting Selective

2002 - Karting
Gold Helmet Award - Best Brazilian Driver
Runner-up - Brazilian Championship
3rd place - São Paulo Championship of karting cat. A

2001 - Karting
Gold Helmet Award - Best Brazilian Driver
Runner-up of Brazil Kart Cup
Pole Position - Brazilian Championship - cat. A
3rd place - Brazilian Championship - cat. A
3rd place - São Paulo Championship

2000 - Karting Cat. B
Runner-up - São Paulo Campionship
3rd place - Parilla Racing Cup
6th place - Spring of Braga Cup, Portugal
8th place - Brazilian Championship - cat. B
38th place - World Championship - Braga, Portugal
Price Racing of 2000 - Best Driver

1999 - Karting Cadet Jr
5th place - São Paulo Championship
13th place - Brazilian Championship

1998 - Karting Cadet Jr
5th place - São Paulo Championship

1997 - Karting Cadet Jr
3rd place - Brazilian Championship

1996 - Karting Cadet Jr
4th place - São Paulo Championship

1995 - Karting Cadet Jr
5th place - Brazilian Champioship
3rd place - Schincariol Cup
6th place - São Paulo Championship

1994 - Karting Cadet Jr
6th place - São Paulo Championship

Indy Pro Series Qualifications Procedure Modified for 2008

Cumulative Two-Lap Time Determines Starting Grid for Ovals

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

The Indy Racing league announced on Tuesday (January 22nd) changes to its qualifying procedures for both the Indy Pro Series and Indy Car Series for the coming 2008 season.

The qualifying position of Indy Pro Series competitors now reflects a two-lap total time on the oval courses of the schedule (Homestead/Miami, Kansas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Kentucky and Chicago).

The qualifying on road courses will continue to be based on a best lap of a thirty minute full-field qualifying period, similar to that in the European-style qualifying of Formula 1.

In the past, Indy Pro Series qualifying covered two consecutive laps on the ovals with the best time of the two used to establish grid position.

The IndyCar Series has a new four-lap cumulative time basis for setting the starting positions for the field.

Mods Bring Consistency to League Policy in Both Series

The changes will put both IndyCar and the Pro Series on the same "page" in the rulebook for the upcoming season.

"It puts us in line with qualifications at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Freedom 100," said Roger Bailey, Executive Director of the Indy Pro Series.

"I think this will bring us much closer to what they are doing with the IndyCars, and hopefully when everybody moves up in their careers this won't be an anomaly. It will be something that's the norm."

The Indy Pro Series season, and the new qualifying format, commences at sunny Homestead/Miami Speedway on March 29th.

Andersen, RLR Move to Broaden Racing Relationship

Indy Pro Series Effort Summers in Hilliard, Ohio

by Linda K Mansfield
LindaKMansfield@cs.com

Andersen Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) have agreed to expand their relationship in 2008, marking an unprecedented association between the junior open-wheel ranks and a major-league team.

Last February Andersen Racing was named as the official Indy Pro Series development team of RLR, which fields entries in both IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

Now components of that relationship will expand to include not only Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series team but also its multi-car entries in the IMSA Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and the SCCA F2000 Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire.

Andersen Racing recently moved from New Jersey to the 18-acre Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla., which includes a 1-mile test track. RLR is headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio.

As part of the new, multi-year agreement, the RLR/Andersen Racing Indy Pro Series cars will summer at RLR's nearly 60,000-square-foot shop in Ohio.

This will cut down on travel expenses for the Indy Pro Series effort and also give Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series engineers and mechanics better access to RLR's IndyCar personnel and equipment.

Common Setups, Data-Sharing Enhance Performance for Both Teams

Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series engineers and mechanics will have more access to similar personnel at RLR at the track too. They'll be available for consultations about gearing, suspension and aero concerns, etc.

In addition, RLR will conduct twice-yearly driver symposiums for all of Andersen Racing's drivers and their parents. The symposiums will be hosted by driving legend and RLR co-owner Bobby Rahal. They will include presentations by additional key RLR personnel.

RLR will also provide guidance and/or support for Andersen Racing's marketing, hospitality, public relations and administrative work in all three series.

"Our relationship with Rahal Letterman Racing and with Bobby Rahal in particular has proven to be very important to our vision for Andersen Racing," said Andersen Racing co-owner Dan Andersen. "RLR represents the top of the ladder system we have created, taking young drivers from karts to the IndyCar Series.

The assistance, expertise and guidance offered by the fine staff at RLR are very important to our program."

"We are not only looking forward to another year of competition in the IndyCar and American Le Mans Series, but another year of working with the next generation of drivers through our partnership with Andersen Racing," said Bobby Rahal.

"We're looking forward to the next generation," adds RLR's Bobby Rahal

"Rahal Letterman Racing is well known in motorsports for its ability to develop young driving talent, and we expect to continue that legacy in the years to come through our relationship with Andersen Racing."

Andersen Racing strives to provide the best possible training for future open-wheel stars and give them one central home during the time they are honing their skills in support series. Each of its full-season F2000 and Star Mazda drivers earn a test at the next-highest level at year's end.

RLR also provided an IndyCar test for RLR/Andersen Racing's lead Indy Pro Series driver, Andrew Prendeville, last year. Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp.

Raphael Matos Joins AFS/Andretti Green Racing

Immense Open-Wheel Talent Casts Lot With Indy Pro Series Regulars

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Rafa celebrates dual 2006 IPS victories in St. Pete. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Champ Car Atlantic champion Raphael Matos has made the move to the Indy Pro Series. The announcement came Friday (January 18th) as Gary Peterson's AFS Racing Team snared the immensely talented Brazilian for driving duties in the 2008 Indy Pro Series season which begins March 29th at Homestead/Miami Speedway.

Speaking on his website rafamatos.com, the twenty-six year old racer said, "It's the best thing that has happened in my career."

Rafa, as he is known to his familiars, is widely regarded as one of the best young up-and-coming open-wheel racers in the world.

He won two Indy Pro Series events in 2006, driving for the Guthrie Racing team, at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg over the temporary street course.

He followed that with a drive into Champ Car's history books recording another impressive showing in the Atlantics series, winning the championship in 2007 (and along with it a two million dollar prize) by sweeping to six victories in twelve attempts, with four poles.

Rafa in his short career has earned a eye-popping eight championships in a bare ten years at the wheel.

Impressive Record of Success Follows Brazilian Star

Following in the footsteps of such Brazilian formula car superstars as Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna, Matos embarked on his racing career in karts winning three state championships and taking runner-up honors in the nationals.

Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and immigrated to the United States in 2002 to join the Skip Barber Dodge series of open-wheel racing, Matos immediately turned heads by finishing second in the Midwest Region and winning the National Shootout.

After winning the Formula Dodge championship outright in 2003, Rafa moved to the Star Mazda series where he competed a partial season and finished seventh in his first year. His second go-round in 2005 produced a championship as he took the first four races of the season enroute to a three poles, eight podiums and ten top-five finishes.

"It's the best thing to happen in my career," says Matos of Pro Series move

The 2006 campaign found this rising South American star in A1GP, joining Fittipaldi's A1TeamBrasil to record the team's first points-paying finish of the year at Beijing. He raced in four Indy Pro Series events, winning two at St. Petersburg for Jim Guthrie's team.

He capped the year with his first victory in Atlantics at San Jose, finishing his maiden year in the series with three poles and four podiums, then went on to the Championship in 2007.

Rafa also participated in the American LeMans Series, driving for the Mazda factory team in both 2006 and 2007.

Cyndie Allemann Finds Fast Florida Home at American Spirit Racing

Series Schedule Affords Prolonged Sunshine State Stay for Swiss Miss

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

American Spirit Racing’s Cyndie Allemann. Photo: American Spirit Racing

The influx of young, talented drivers from the international scene continues at the Indy Pro Series. American Spirit Racing’s Cyndie Allemann joins Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Bia as the latest to announce intentions toward the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup.

Allemann, an accomplished 21-year old racer who hails from Switzerland, already has oval-track experience and a good sense of American open-wheel racing’s passion for Indianapolis and its place in motor-racing history.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Indianapolis (Freedom 100),” she said on Wednesday from her new racing home at American Spirit Racing in Cape Coral, Florida.

“Actually, I will enjoy all of the races, all of the places,” she said, “and the run to the championship. All of the tracks are new to me, and I am sure I’ll learn a lot.”

Oval Experience a Plus for Swiss

The upcoming sixteen-race Indy Pro Series season offers this Swiss Miss a hearty sampler of road races (eight) and ovals (eight) to let her stretch her racing legs and test the boys.

Cyndie made her oval debut in 2006 at the Lausitzring oval in Germany during German Formula 3 Series competition.

“Yes, I enjoy the ovals,” she said. “I won pole in the Formula 3 championships at Lausitz, and finished second and third in the two races there.”

“I like the need for strategy in oval racing,” she continued. “It’s not the same as on a road course.”

Cyndie found her way to America through her European sponsor’s familiarity with Jon Lewis, owner of American Spirit Racing.

“We were looking for an American series,” she noted, “and the Indy Pro Series seemed the best one for me in 2008.”

2008 IPS Schedule Affords Advantage to Alleman

Cyndie will get her first hands-on session behind the wheel of the 450-horsepower Indy Pro Series Dallara at nearby Sebring International Raceway later this month (January 24-25th).

The schedule offers a unique chance for her to gather herself for nearly three months without even leaving the state of Florida, another boon to the learning process she’ll undergo.

The Indy Pro Series competes in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend doubleheader (April 5th & 6th) before heading north and west for the year.

“It will definitely be a new experience for me, in a new car,” she said. “It will allow me a chance to compare American racing to German Formula 3 and to get more oval racing experience.”

The move to American soil has so far gone well for Allemann. She’s settling into life in the Sunshine State and getting into a typical racer’s routine.

”I like the strategy in oval racing,” says American Spirit’s Cyndie Allemann

“I love living in Florida,” she said. “It’s very beautiful and the weather is wonderful, too.”

“I’m doing a lot of fitness work to get ready for the season. I love sports, and in particular I like walking and jogging.”

Cyndie completed her formal schoolwork with a successful examination result in June of 2007. However, she still has to put together a year of practical experience in order to earn her certificate (diploma).

“I passed the examination in June, but have to work for a year to get the certificate,” she said. “My racing work will give me something to write about for the report for school.”

Allemann will get her first American test at Homestead Miami Speedway on March 29th, when the Indy Pro Series opens its 2008 season on the mile and a half oval in southern Florida.

Changes to IndyProRacer.com for the New Year

Increased DownLoad Speed and Mobile-Friendly Features

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

The 2008 calendar year at IndyProRacer.com brought several new features to make our pages faster to download and easier to read.

The top banner has been modified in format and reduced in size to facilitate quicker downloads to your browser, and to allow our dial-up readers in particular faster access to the latest Indy Pro Series-related news features.

The IndyProRacer.com banner now spans the full breadth of your screen up to 1280 pixels as well.

Just like the Indy Racing League's commitment to an environmental-friendly footprint on the track, the reduced energy consumption on IndyProRacer.com reflects our promise to limit waste and preserve the beauty of our planet for future generations.

Also new are easier-to-read pullquotes and a subtle change to the sidebar module headings to help set them off from the page.

This facilitates selection of the modules in changing lighting conditions typical of mobile use.

IndyProRacer.com is always interested in your user-experience and comments. Please direct them to Allan Brewer and let us know what you think.

Thank you for reading IndyProRacer.com and our sister site A1TeamRacer.com into the new year.