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Syosset, N.Y.'s Matt Lee Posts Fifth-Fastest Time on Oval

Rookie Leads RLR Andersen Indy Pro Series Testing at Homestead

by Linda K Mansfield
lindakmansfield@cs.com

RLR Andersen’s Matt Lee. Photo: ShawnPayneIRL

Trying his best to impress potential marketing partners and team owners, Matt Lee posted the fifth-fastest time out of 21 drivers participating in the Indy Pro Series open test Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

It was only the third time the 18-year-old driver from Syosset, N.Y. had driven on an oval track. The Indy Pro Series rookie also lost valuable practice time due to clutch problems in the morning.

He ended up getting about an hour and a half of track time during the scheduled six-hour test, but he made the most of it. His fastest lap came on the 79th and final lap he completed on the 1.5-mile oval Thursday, which took 28.6248 seconds for an average speed of 186.761 miles per hour.

Lee's fastest lap was just 0.0720 of a second longer than the fastest lap any driver ran all day. It was posted in the afternoon, while the fastest lap of the test was posted in the morning, when speeds are generally faster due to cooler air temperatures.

Only one other driver in the top 10 posted fewer laps than Lee's 79 circuits. Two drivers ran more than 200 laps, but they placed 10th and 13th.

Indy Pro Series Run Essential to Rise on Open-Wheel Ladder

Lee is trying to compete full-time in the Indy Pro Series, the official development series of IndyCar. The 2008 season opener is Saturday, March 29 at Homestead. All 16 Indy Pro Series races are televised on ESPN2 and run in conjunction with IndyCar races.

"It was an interesting day," Lee said afterwards. "We got a late start; I think it was 2:20 p.m. before we really got going because of the problem with the clutch. But once I got going I felt really good, especially in the draft. I really got comfortable running close with the other guys."

"The RLR/Andersen crew did a great job getting the car back together after the clutch problem," he added. "The engineering department also did a great job to give me a good car for this track. I hope to be able to compete in the race here too; we're working hard on sponsorship."

Dan Andersen, co-owner of RLR/Andersen Racing, was impressed.

"Despite losing a lot of laps, Matt Lee proved he definitely can drive fast on an oval in addition to a road course," Andersen said. "We knew he was fast on road courses due to his background in Formula BMW and Atlantics, but with very little practice he was fast on an oval too."

Andersen Racing is the development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, owned by Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal and comedian David Letterman.

For more information see mattleemotorsports.com.

Raphael Matos Fast Out of the Blocks at Indy Pro Series Open Test

Brazilian Lives up to Big-Time Billing at Homestead

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Andretti Green AFS Racing's Raphael Matos. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

It wasn't exactly the best of days to learn how to drive an oval, with temperatures in the morning slightly north of fifty and the wind gusting near twenty miles per hour during the day, but Andretti Green AFS Racing's Raphael Matos put pedal to metal and led the 2008 Indy Pro Series field in its first official test of the season.

Matos turned a best lap of 187.232 mph (28.5528 sec) over the 1.5 mile oval that will host the series' opener on March 29th. The time was only a fraction slower than Chris Festa's 2007 Miami 100 pole winning speed of 187.280 mph.

“The goals today were to simulate qualifying runs and to run in traffic," he said later. "I have almost no experience running in traffic on ovals, and we were able to accomplish everything that we were planning on for the test."

"We were able to do qualifying runs, we were able to run in the middle of traffic quite a bit, especially in the afternoon when the weather was really hot and it’s really difficult. I’m very happy.”

Second-quick on the opening day of testing was Team E's Bobby Wilson (186.996 mph), followed by 2007 Chicagoland 100 champion Logan Gomez (testing in a Guthrie Racing-prepared machine) at 186.962 mph.

"We're just working a few kinks out of the car," said Gomez. "The hardest thing about today is finding someone to run with you. I towed Sean (Guthrie) around and that worked out."

Sean Guthrie ran fourth-fastest, followed by rookie Matt Lee in the RLR Andersen Racing Dallara with a lap clocked at 186.761 mph.

"It was an interesting day," said Lee of his third trial on the oval configuration. "We got a late start; and I think it was 2:20 before we really got going because of a problem with the clutch. But once I got going I felt really good, especially in the draft. I really got comfortable running close with the other guys."

Rookie Davison Tops Teammate Antinucci

Sam Schmidt Motorsports' four-car entry was led by rookie James Davison, in the garage after 174 laps at 186.584 mph. Davison overcame contact with the wall in turn one of the Speedway in the second hour of the open test to record the team's fastest lap of the day.

“We got off to a bit of a challenging start," he said. "The balance on the car wasn’t right. It was just too loose and it resulted in us contacting the wall and setting us back."

"In the afternoon, we started fresh. I built a relationship with the team and my engineer. We did a quick qualification run, and that’s when I set my fastest time."

"I got some good experience running in traffic," he concluded. "I’m happy with the day despite the setback, and I’m real happy with what I learned and achieved.”

Teammate Richard Antinucci came next by six one-hundredths of a mile per hour, then veteran Jon Brownson (also testing in a Sam Schmidt machine) with eighth-quickest speed of the day (186.359 mph).

“It was a very productive day for us," said Antinucci of his first extended introduction to turning only left. "I learned 200% of what I had known before about ovals. It was my first real day of running in traffic, my first day of driving the Lucas Oil car.”

Cyndie Alleman showed little difficulty adapting to the Homestead Miami Speedway circuit, posting a 186.193 mph mark for American Spirit Racing. Alleman brings previous oval experience in Europe with her to the series.

Another notable female entry, SSM's Bia rounded out the top ten for the day. Her best lap at the 4PM EST close of the first day of Indy Pro Series testing, and her own maiden voyage on the oval, stood at 186.163 mph.

“It was great today, especially gaining experience in traffic," she said afterwards. "I thought I’d be scared, but I wasn’t. It was so much fun!"

Sam Schmidt’s Bia. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

"It was much more exciting to be in traffic than running alone. The experience was really good. I’m feeling really comfortable in the car and on the oval. We’ll just have to keep working and be ready to race here next month.”

Pro Series Familiars Place in Second Ten

Festa, alternating in the seat with Guthrie, came through eleventh-best with a speed of 185.795 mph; while Andrew Prendeville (in the other RLR Andersen car) was twelfth.

"The Indy Pro Series looks like it will be even more competitive this year than it was last year," commented Prendeville, who was plagued with a fuel pickup problem throughout the day.

Panther Racing's Brent Sherman found the going tougher than he might have liked in the wind and recorded a 185.677 mph lap; with Apex Racing's Mike Potekhen and Ken Losch, Brian Stewart Racing's Juan Manual Polar, Nathan Freke, Micky Gilbert and Jake Slotten bringing the total number of participants on this day to twenty.

Matos was the only driver to break into the 187 mile per hour bracket on the day.

A total of 2576 laps were made, with most of the field breaking the one hundred mark over the seven-plus hour combined morning and afternoon testing sessions.

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Indy Pro Series Homestead Miami Speedway Oval Open Test Results

Talking, Testing as Cars Take to Track at Homestead

Unified 2008 Season Kicks off Today

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Talking and testing are the order of the day as the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series kick off the 2008 season with a major press conference and open testing at Homestead Miami Speedway.

In the media center IndyCar Series principle Tony George will greet Kevin Kalkhoven to discuss the details of the unification of American’s two major open-wheel racing entities into one, as the big cars prepare for a 4PM start to testing (that is open to the public) on the track.

Seventeen Indy Pro Series competitors will take to the 1.5 mile oval on Thursday (February 28th) morning at 8:30 AM EST to assess their own off-season research and development, and to introduce new drivers and teams to the league.

Agreement Brings Renewal to an Already-Energized Series

With resolution of sports’ greatest divide, the wheels of racing now turn as one—an event that has Pro Series owners and familiars eager to gear up for the challenge.

“I think the unification is a great thing every way you look at it,” said 2007 Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd, “for open-wheel racing in North America in general, and that stems down to the Indy Pro Series.”

“The IPS has grown massively over the last few years that I have been involved, topping it off with a record year in ‘07 for car count, and for competition. It is crucial to the development of every young driver out there aspiring to make it to the IndyCar Series and the Indy 500.”

“I am sure we will see capacity grids in 08 and the best young talent racing. The Indy Pro Series has a very bright future ahead, as does the IndyCar Series,” he concluded.

Panther Racing’s John Barnes has been outspoken in the past about unification, and took the lead in offering the olive branch to his newly-arriving peers to the IndyCar and Indy Pro Series in 2008.

“I’m just so proud of Tony George, (Indy Racing League Presidents) Brian Barnhart and Terry Angstadt for all the hard work they’ve done with our sport to put this thing together, and I can’t wait to get those (Champ Car) guys on the track with us this season,” he said in a press release on Monday (February 25th).

“The Indy Racing League has experienced the biggest growth amongst professional sports leagues in the last two years and time will tell how much unification helps with that. We still have work to do—continuing to move up and show that growth is important and I believe we’re going to be able to do that.”

Barnes’ sentiments were echoed by Indy Pro Series king-maker Sam Schmidt of Sam Schmidt Motorsports, who spoke of the reconciliation as a new beginning of prominence for open-wheel racing in America.

SSM’s Richard Antinucci. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

"This is a great day for open-wheel racing and one that everyone at Sam Schmidt Motorsports has looked forward to for a long time,” he wrote. “Although the Indy Pro Series achieved record fields in 2007, this unification can only result in a clearer path to the pinnacle of open wheel racing in the United States, the IndyCar Series.”

“I truly believe that this is the first step toward restoring open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 to not only where it once was, but beyond."

The press conference will be streamed live over IndyCar.com at 12:25 PM EST today (Wednesday, February 27th), and broadcast live on SpeedTV and ESPN News cable networks.

Indy Pro Series Faces Make News Up and Down PitLane

Of particular interest on Wednesday will be the debut of 2006 Indy Pro Series champion Jay Howard and 2007 runner-up Hideki Mutoh for their first full season of racing in the IndyCar Series.

On tap for Thursday morning for fans at Homestead is a glimpse of the 2008 Indy Pro Series field, including the two pre-season favorites to hoist the Firestone Firehawk Cup at season’s end: SSM’s Richard Antinucci and Andretti Green AFS Racing’s Raphael Matos.

Antinucci stormed to victory at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma in 2007 as he battled champion Alex Lloyd successfully and impressed with his road course style.

Matos moved to the Indy Pro Series in the off-season to take a seat with Gary Peterson’s always-competitive team in his initial full-season of competition in the IPS after a successful stint in Toyota Atlantic which yielded the series championship in 2007.

AGR AFS’ Raphael Matos. Photo: ChrisJonesIRL

Both have raced the road courses, at least in part, of the IPS; and are expected to contest a competitive season-long campaign that challenges them to master the intricacies of close-quarter, multiple-car-wide oval racing beginning with their first official laps of the season.

The pair is flanked by top-flight talent from around the globe: Bia, Antinucci’s teammate at SSM, boasts a resume of success from South America and Europe to the Far East and will offer stiff resistance to Antinucci from within his own garage.

Another prospect to keep an eye on is Brent Sherman, late of NASCAR and now moving into the Indy Pro Series to hone his competitive edge in open-wheel racing. Sherman figures to have an advantage initially as he brings familiarity with oval-track racing with him to the Panther Racing cockpit and a team that toasted the series championship in 2003.

The IPS field is loaded with other talented oval-racers, with a year of competition under their belt, including Guthrie Racing’s Sean Guthrie; Andrew Prendeville of RLR Andersen Brothers Racing, Mike Potekhen of Apex Racing and Chicagoland 100 winner Logan Gomez, who was announced Monday as Guthrie’s teammate.

The Indy Pro Series season opens at the Homestead track in only four short weeks (March 29th) as the chase to the Cup begins in earnest with the Miami 100 (televised tape-delayed on ESPN 2 on April 3rd at 4 PM EST).

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Indy Pro Series Open Test Entry List

Car Driver Hometown Entrant
3 Juan Manuel Polar (R) Arequipa, Peru Brian Stewart Racing
4 Sean Guthrie Albuquerque, N.M. Guthrie Racing
5 Andrew Prendeville Summit, N.J. RLR/Andersen Racing
6 Jake Slotten (R) Kimberly, Wis. Michael Crawford Motorsports
7 Richard Antinucci Rome Sam Schmidt Motorsports
8 Nathan Freke (R) Kidderminster, England Michael Crawford Motorsports
11 James Davison (R) Melbourne, Australia Sam Schmidt Motorsports
16 Brent Sherman (R) Wauconda, Ill. Panther Racing
17 Bobby Wilson Oconomowoc, Wis. Team E
18 Cyndie Allemann (R) Moutier, Switzerland American Spirit Racing
23 Ana Beatriz (R) Sao Paulo, Brazil Sam Schmidt Motorsports
25 TBA TBA RLR/Andersen Racing
27 Raphael Matos (R) Belo Horizonte, Brazil Andretti Green-AFS Racing
34 Jon Brownson Breckenridge, Colo. Sam Schmidt Motorsports
41 Logan Gomex Crown Point, Ind. Guthrie Racing
43 Brandon Wagner (R) Lafayette, Ind. SWE
44 TBA TBA SpeedWorks
53 Mike Potekhen Silverthorne, Colo. Apex Racing
54 Micky Gilbert Golden, Colo. Mile High Motorsports

All cars use Dallara chassis and Firestone tires.
(R)=Rookie. Issued: 2/25/08

Brian Stewart Racing Inks Juan Manuel Polar

Spanish F3 Runner-Up Eager to Tackle Indy Pro Series Challenge

From Indy Pro Series media reports:

Brian Stewart Racing announced Friday (February 22nd) that Peruvian driver Juan Manuel Polar will compete in the Indy Pro Series during the 2008 season.

"The Indy Pro Series is a very high-level series and it's very, very competitive," Polar said. "I want to say thanks to Brian Stewart Racing for giving me the opportunity to participate in the series. I'm very happy to be here, and I hope I can do very well."

The 24-year-old has competed in various ladder series in Europe and has spent the last two seasons racing in Spanish Formula 3's Copa de Espana division, finishing as the series' runner-up in each season.

"There are certain places you look for drivers, and you know if they've done well there, they'll do well here," said team owner Brian Stewart, whose team won the Indy Pro Series entrant title in 2005 and 2006. "If a guy has done well in British F3, Italian F3, French F3 or Spanish F3, you know in any one of those series, you know you have a good driver."

IndyProRacer.com Talks Cars, Guys and Green with Leilani Munter

Indy Pro Series Favorite Forecasts Bright Future for Self, Series

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Leilani Munter. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Leilani Munter took the Indy Pro Series by storm last summer when she made her debut at Kentucky Speedway for Sam Schmidt Motorsports aboard the SMART Papers orange and black Dallara racecar.

She drew acclaim from motor racing's cogniscenti, prompting four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears (who coaches young drivers in the Pro Series) to remark, "Leilani did a great job, I’m looking forward to seeing her race some more."

So were the rest of us!

After qualifying fifth on the grid at Kentucky, at a speed just a tick shy of 190 miles per hour, Leilani drove through the field with confidence and skill until a multi-car smashup put her out of the race with only thirty-nine laps gone.

Misfortune struck again when mechanical problems and a lengthy pitstop set her back in the field in the No. 57 car during the season-ender at Chicagoland Speedway.

Back in North Carolina after a busy off-season in which she became engaged, tested for Panther Racing, appeared in Italian Vogue, and continued her good works in protecting the world's rain forests, Leilani has her sights set on getting back on-track again.

Ever-true to the words of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich that grace her website ("Well-behaved women seldom make history") Leilani took time out to talk to IndyProRacer.com about the upcoming 2008 Indy Pro Series season and where she's going (as always) fast!

IndyProRacer.com: What would be the ideal situation for you as far as a ride in the Indy Pro Series for 2008? Join an existing multi-car team? Get in on the ground floor with a team that’s growing? Start your own team?

LM: I think I gained some respect with my debut last year because I had calls coming in from some really great teams offering me a home for 2008 and asking me what my plans are.

I have fast race cars waiting for me. All the pieces of the puzzle are there now except for one - a sponsor.

SMART Papers has indicated to me that they are not going to be making any decisions until later in the year so I have to open up the discussions and let people know that I need a company to come on board. If I’m not in a car at Homestead, which I still have hope I will be—then I feel that it is very important for me to run at Indianapolis because it is our largest stage. It's a huge audience being on Carb Day for the Indy 500. It's the biggest Indy Pro Series race of the year and I don't just want to be there, I want to win it.

The Necessary Steps Lead to Sponsorship Commitment

IndyProRacer.com: How do you build the relationships that lead to sponsorship? Do you network? What kinds of things do you think are helpful for racers in this regard?

LM: I had a pretty big network of companies that had been talking with me throughout the years I was racing stock cars, so I am still in touch with all of them. Many of the companies that have sponsored me in the past have been from me just picking up the phone. I was cold calling, emailing, and mailing out proposals nonstop. Sometimes sponsorship has come from marketing people, sometimes it has come in from race track personnel that have seen me race and want to help out so they picked up the phone. It is a word of mouth kind of thing, but speaking with the media is also a good way to reach out to a lot of people at once. Sometimes sponsors have called me because they saw me on tv or in a magazine or found my website somehow.

Leilani Munter. Photo: AllanBrewer

IndyProRacer.com: Your commitment to the environment is arguably the greatest of any current race-driver at any level. How did you get involved initially in this cause?

LM: I was a scientist before I became a race car driver. Science was a very important part of my childhood because my family is in the medical field. I hold a degree in biology (with a focus on ecology, behavior, and evolution) from the University of California San Diego. While I attended college I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center - we would take in injured and orphaned wildlife and return them to the wild when they were ready. I have also been a certified scuba diver since 1994. So I have cared about conservation and the environment for a long time.

I am extremely concerned about the damage we are doing to our earth and I believe climate change is the most critical problem we need to solve. We stand to lose an incredible amount of biodiversity on both land and water if we continue the path we are on now.

I feel that one of the greatest challenges of our generation is to replace our current fossil fuel energy infrastructure with renewable, clean energy sources such as solar, wind and tidal turbines. Cars need to be run by either hydrogen or electric power. Ethanol could have a future, but first we need to make the use of cellulostic ethanol more economical so we don't use up a food energy source. Cellulostic ethanol would allow us to make fuel out of the stalks of the corn, grass... the stuff we don't eat.

The great thing about making all these changes is the benefits go far beyond our environment. Politically this will make our country more self sufficient and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The interesting thing to note is that the basics for these technologies are already there, our challenges now lie in the political arena. So please, pay attention when you vote.

IndyProRacer.com: How is the work going so far? Do you have a goal for this year or beyond?

LM: Being in a sport that is not necessarily the most “green” of sports, I wasn’t sure of the reaction I may get by speaking out but the reaction has been really positive. I have a few really exciting environmental programs I will be working on in 2008. One of them even includes me flying to Washington DC to meet with members of Congress on behalf of a new climate security act that will ask for firm caps on carbon emissions in the United States. I am really looking forward to that trip. I want to learn more about the political process of making changes in our country.

No Need for E-Harmony Around Racing Match-Makers

IndyProRacer.com: How did you meet your fiancé?

LM: I met my fiancé through a mutual friend—a motorsports marketing guy. He and one of his buddies started asking me what I was looking for in a guy. I told them I wanted to meet someone that wasn’t involved racing, someone that had other interests. They immediately both said, “We have to introduce her to Kiwi!” My fiance’s nickname is Kiwi because he comes from New Zealand. We met, went on a date, and have been inseperable for the last 3 ½ years. He is an engineer and my background is biology so we are both science geeks. It’s an amazing feeling when you meet the person you want to grow old with. I feel very lucky to have found that.

IndyProRacer.com: Is he a race-fan? If not, what can we do to make him one?

"I can't wait to get in a car!" says Indy Pro Series racer Leilani Munter

LM: He is an Indy Pro Series fan now! He’s from New Zealand so rugby is really the main sport he follows. Since we have been dating, I think his interest has gone up because he understands the sport so much more. My entire family didn’t know much about racing when I started out. During my first Indy Pro race my whole family was tuned in watching it live on IndyCar.com. They all flew in to watch the next race in person. It means a lot to me to have so much support from my family.

IndyProRacer.com: What are your thoughts on the unification?

LM: I think it is the best thing that could have happened for open wheel racing. I know I came from stock cars but I feel like I am an open wheeler now and I am so excited about what this will do for our sport. It’s going to be a great year for open wheel. I can’t wait to get in a car!

Open Test Nears With Untested Field of Competitors

Indy Pro Series Teams Roll Out at Homestead in Less than One Week

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Alex Lloyd (Front), Logan Gomez and Robbie Pecorari go three-wide in IPS oval-racing. Photo: JimHainesIRL

The Indy Pro Series moves forward into another season of competition for the Firestone Firehawk Cup with an open test over the 1.5 mile oval at Homestead Miami Speedway next Thursday (February 28th).

With the upward promotion of 2007 Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd to Chip Ganassi Racing, and the movement of runner-up Hideki Mutoh to Andretti Green Racing, the field is wide open for someone to step up and become the next IPS champion to graduate to the IndyCar Series.

Of the named drivers so far, Sam Schmidt Motorsports' Richard Antinucci and AGR's Raphael Matos get the early nod to win the championship when the final round of racing at Chicagoland Speedway is complete in September.

However, each of these racers has a serious flaw: neither has experience on oval tracks, which comprise exactly half of the upcoming 2008 schedule of sixteen contests.

International and Native Talent Seeks Indy Pro Series Challenge

Among the newcomers to the IPS, one slightly-built young woman stands out: Bia, whose impressive experience and globe-trotting background promises to push her into the limelight.

It doesn't hurt the Brazilian's chances that she's joined the SSM juggernaut and will have Antinucci as a teammate to draft from and draft off her.

Together the pair may be the match for the rest of the field, setting up an intra-team rivalry challenging their experienced crews to outdo each other for supremacy and leaving the others to fight for third-best.

That is, if they can master the nuances of close-quarters, three-wide oval-driving early and take advantage while at speed of the experienced crew behind them.

Former NASCAR driver Brent Sherman will join Mutoh's former teammates in the Panther Racing operation with all the tools he needs to contest the series title.

Panther, like SSM, has championship-winning experience in the garage and the advantage of being under the radar as the season commences.

E-Formula News' Bobby Wilson also brings an outstanding resume and a heavy right foot to the first-year team. Wilson claimed the second leg of the now-mothballed Liberty Challenge in 2007, running through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to a convincing victory in his sole win for the year.

Oval Racing Experience May Come Into Play Early

Only Sherman and Wilson have raced in the heat of battle on an oval prior to next week's open test at Homestead, and the season-opening race at the same track on March 29th.

If that matters at all depends on who you ask.

Pro Series drivers generally give varying degrees of weight to the difficulty of driving on the oval configuration.

Some take a tack of "A corner is a corner, is a corner"; while others think seriously about those menacing concrete walls that await any mis-step at over 180 miles per hour.

Granted, no driver in the Indy Pro Series tackles the challenge alone. An experienced spotter has his or her ear from high in the grandstands or pressbox, and race strategists carefully plot every move on the track.

The Pro Series conducts a rigorous testing program to assess each driver's abilities before granting a license for competition, and manages its races carefully to prevent avoidable contact; but it can't predict when the racing circumstances will merge into a "perfect storm" that ends in near-disaster.

The frightful accident at Homestead in 2007, in which Pablo Perez was pitched into the catch-fence and tumbled over a hundred yards before coming to a stop in the oval's infield offers a chilling example of how everything can go wrong with even slight provocation (such as touching wheels).

Numerous Seats Remain Unnamed One Week from Test

With big names from previous seasons such as Wade Cunningham and Jaime Camara as yet unnamed to cockpits, both of whom have great oval experience, there's room for a team to sign one or both drivers to take advantage of the inexperienced drivers who've garnered the pre-season press.

Either of these veterans could make a wiley and difficult competitor out of a team savvy enough to turn the oval challenges ahead to its favor.

Fan-favorite Leilani Munter also has no ride (so far) as she scours internet message boards for support and sponsorship.

There's even well-known talent that's uncertain of its future, such as Champ Car World Series' Bruno Junqueira who is spending this weekend racing A1GP in South Africa.

All the answers will begin to come next Thursday when the teams line up and strap someone into that Kevlar seat they have to fill.

Michael Crawford's Nathan Freke Joins for 2008 Indy Pro Series

British Driver Arrives in America Eager for Oval Challenge

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Michael Crawford Motorsport’s Nathan Freke. Photo: NathanFreke.com

Michael Crawford Motorsports’ Nathan Freke (pronounced like “freek”) brings a winning record from the United Kingdom to American shores in the 2008 Indy Pro Series season. Though he’s short of experience on ovals he will have plenty of opportunity to hone his left-turning skills beginning next Monday at his rookie test over Nashville Speedway’s 1.5 mile circuit.

“I’m apprehensive because going 180 mph on an oval is scary,” he said Wednesday from Crawford Motorsports headquarters in Indianapolis, “but I’m sure the thought of it is worse than the reality.”

The native of Kidderminster, England cut his teeth in karting in the UK, where he still maintains an active presence.

“It’s a shame for me, but right now it’s impossible for me to leave it behind,” he said. “I’ll be moving back and forth from the US to the UK,” as the Indy Pro Season commences at Homestead Miami Speedway on March 29th.

Fabulous Resume Earns Brit a Start in America

Like 2007 Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd, Freke brings the highly-regarded British Race Drivers Club McLaren Trophy finalist accolade with him to America.

He won the British Formula Ford championship outright in 2006, earning a test with Derrick Walker’s Toyota Atlantic team and Formula BMW before settling on a career in the Indy Racing League.

“I always thought the Pro Series would be beyond my reach,” he confided, “but over Christmas of last year I sent an email to (IPS Executive Director) Roger Bailey and he put me in touch with Michael Crawford’s team.”

Fitting for Pro Series First Step to Checkered Flag Finishes

Freke spent Wednesday afternoon being fitted for a seat in the Dallara racer he’ll pilot in the season-opening round in slightly more than a month. After taking his maiden voyage on an oval at Nashville Speedway next Monday (February 25th) he’ll move south for the Indy Racing League’s open test at Homestead on Thursday.

“I’ve no previous oval experience, and these cars are significantly quicker than the Formula Ford,” he said in anticipation of the tests he’ll face over the next seven days.

“When I get in the car I’m sure the reflexes and training will take over and everything will turn out all right.”

Roads and Racing Fill Racer’s Routine

When not at the track, or traveling to get to one, Nathan does what comes naturally to him: drive!

“I have a great road car, a Toyota MR2, at home,” he said. “I like to work on it to make it go quick.”

He’s also not without friends on this side of the pond, having raced with Lloyd in the UK way back in 1996 when both were karting and just getting their start up the open-wheel ladder.

“It might be good for me to contact him,” he offered. “I’ll do whatever it takes to do well.”

Panther Racing Signs Brent Sherman for 2008 Indy Pro Series Season

Former NASCAR Driver Makes Unprecedented Move from Stock Cars to Open-Wheel

by Mike Kitchel
kitch@pantherracing.com

Panther's Brent Sherman. Photo: ViewImages

Panther Racing announced Tuesday (February 19th) it has signed former NASCAR driver Brent Sherman to pilot its Indy Pro Series car for the 2008 season. Sherman recently completed a test with Panther on the road course at Homestead Miami Speedway, and Panther team owner John Barnes believes the Minnesota-born driver can lead his IPS team to another championship season.

“It says a lot about the Indy Pro Series when a driver of Brent Sherman’s caliber wants to make this historic move from NASCAR to open-wheel racing,” Barnes said. “I was surprised when I got the first call from Brent, but after getting to know him and seeing his talent first-hand in Panther’s IPS car, I realized this is a guy that can win races and deliver another championship to our race team."

Sherman’s move from NASCAR to the Indy Racing League is contrary to the current trend. With so many open-wheel drivers making the move to stock cars, Sherman is heading the opposite direction. After spending six years in the United States Air Force – a stint that included four years conducting combat, surveillance and instructional missions on an AWAC airplane – Sherman entered a racing school and his racing career was underway.

Former Barber Dodge Pro Experience a Plus for Sherman in Pro Series

He competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series and Grand Am before making the move to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004.

“Open-wheel racing is where I started my career and I’m happy to be back with a team like Panther Racing,” Sherman said. “I want to be successful, and I’m here to win races and championships. I’ve been a lot of places in my career, but the opportunity to drive for a championship caliber team like Panther is the opportunity I haven’t had elsewhere.”

In his career, Sherman racked up over 60 starts in the Busch Series from 2004-2007. He began the 2006 season as a full time NASCAR Nextel Cup driver with BAM Racing, and collected his career-best finish at the Daytona 500 that year, finishing 21st, ahead of fellow rookies J.J. Yeley, David Stremme, Reed Sorenson and Denny Hamlin.

“I’m just really excited to join Panther Racing and a great series like the Indy Pro Series,” Sherman said. “I don’t think a lot of guys in NASCAR realize that kind of opportunities the Indy Racing League has. Guys down there are scraping together all the money they can find to run a partial season or a test in ARCA, Craftsman Trucks or the Busch Series when they could run a full season of IPS. I’m happy to be here.”

Last season, he won the ARCA Re/Max event at Michigan International Speedway.

“You don’t race where Brent has been racing the past few years and not have talent,” Barnes explained. “I knew that coming in and he proved that to us in his test last week. There are some adjustments he’ll have to make as he gets comfortable with the IPS car, but what he’s shown us is that he’ll be right up to speed when the season starts at Homestead.”

"Brent'll be right up to speed for season start," says Panther's John Barnes

Panther’s IPS teams have been some of the most successful in the series’ history. After a dominant championship run in 2003, Panther returned from a three-year hiatus last season with Hideki Mutoh, who won two races last season en route to a runner-up finish in the championship.

In its history, Panther has won nine races and finished on the podium in over half of its 27 starts in the series. Both of Panther’s former IPS drivers have graduated to the IndyCar Series, and most recently Mutoh signed with Andretti Green Racing to replace departed Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti.

Sponsorship details for Panther’s IPS entry will be released at a later date.

The Indy Pro Series season kicks off Saturday, March 29th at Homestead Miami Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval. Panther won the IPS event at Homestead in 2003 with Mark Taylor, his first of a then-record seven wins that season.

Jon Brownson Joins Sam Schmidt Motorsports Driver Corps

Veteran Colorado Racer Aboard for '08 Oval Schedule

Kaaveh Akbari
kaaveh@kaavehakbari.com

Jon Brownson. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Sam Schmidt Motorsports has announced today that it has signed Colorado native Jon Brownson to drive one of its Indy Pro Series machines in the eight oval races of the 2008 season.

Brownson will drive a machine sponsored by West Ridge Development.

“We are looking forward to running Jon at the oval events in 2008,” team owner Sam Schmidt said. “We tested him last fall, and he is clearly as dedicated, if not more, than most drivers half his age. He diligently wants to succeed at this level, and we’re going to work hard to make sure he surprises some people.”

Previously, Brownson had driven for SWE Racing in the 2007 Indy Pro Series season. He made 13 starts with a best finish of eighth-place at the season finale at the Chicagoland Speedway.

He also competed in the Star Mazda Series for eight seasons highlighted by second-place results in the 2003 and 2004 Master’s division championships.

In 2006, Brownson added the SCCA Formula Atlantic Rocky Mountion Region championship trophy to his resume.

Love of Oval Open-Wheel Racing Drives Friendly Coloradan

“As an ‘older, more experienced racer,’ I’ve found that I have an affinity for ovals,” Brownson said. “Over the years, I’ve found the best place to explore that is in the Indy Pro Series. After a year’s experience, I’ve come to realize that Sam Schmidt Motorsports was going to be the place with the best possible chance to go forward.

“Ultimately, my goal would be to be the oldest rookie to race in the Indy 500. I don’t want to be here as a freak show, but as a testament for what we can all do. Whether we get there or not, I think that the Sam Schmidt team is the best team to pursue that goal with.

“After the testing we’ve done this winter, I can’t wait to get out on the ovals and keep these kids behind me. I hope to see them all in my rear view mirror!”

Outside of racing, Brownson is a land developer in his hometown of Breckenridge, Colo., and is also an accomplished ski racer having helped the University of Colorado win five national championships from 1971 through 1975 and then continuing competition internationally through 1984.

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.

South African Star Gains Indy Pro Series License

Tschops Sipuka Passes Rookie Test with Brian Stewart Racing

From Indy Pro Series Media Reports:

Tschops Sipuka, a national racing champion in South Africa, successfully completed his Indy Pro Series rookie test with Brian Stewart Racing at Phoenix International Raceway on February 7th.

"I think he did awesome," said Stewart, whose team has won two of the last three Indy Pro Series team championships. "Tschops (pronounced Chops) was very impressive for a guy who had never seen an oval before. He was flat around Phoenix and running times that were comparable to the other guys there."

IndyCar Series technical director Kevin Blanch oversaw the test and came away impressed with Sipuka in and out of the car.

"He had never seen an oval before, so he had no preconceptions of what to do," Blanch said. "We told him about his line and then showed him where he was doing wrong and he was right on the line. He was told he could run flat out and within a few laps, he could drive flat out."

Veteran of VW Cup and Formula V has Engineering Background

Sipuka, an automotive engineer in South Africa, has competed in both touring cars and formula cars in South Africa and throughout Europe. He won back-to-back Volkswagon Cup titles in 2002 and 2003 and was named the 2002 South African Motorsportsman of the Year by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.

He also has competed in Formula Volkswagen in Germany, the Fun Cup, a 25 Hour endurance race held at the famed Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, saloon car racing in Malaysia and Super Truck racing in South Africa.