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Matos, Antinucci Collide in Early AM Warm-Up at Mid-Ohio

Points Leader and Contender Bring Session to a Close with Crash

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Just when you thought the Indy Lights Series championship race couldn't get any tighter, fate stepped in this morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to twist the thumbscrews just a little bit more.

Firestone Firehawk Cup points leader Raphael Matos poked the nose of the No. 27 car beneath the red and white No. 7 of Richard Antinucci as the pair entered the 90 degree right-hander at the end of the backstretch on the 2.258 mile road course at approximately 8:05 AM, bringing contact that knocked the left front suspension of Matos' car askew and sent both racers into the kitty litter at the outside of the turn.

Both drivers emerged from their race cars uninjured, and a civil discussion of the do's and don'ts of warmup practice ensued.

Antinucci's car looked essentially intact; however, the right front wing was broken from the front of the No. 27 car in addition to the suspension damage sustained.

The practice session was checkered after the incident with only a few minutes remaining.

Matos leads the series by three points over Antinucci, having overtaken the latter for the top spot in the standings Saturday (July 19th).

Matos and Antinucci stood on second and third for the session when the incident occurred. Team Moore's Pablo Donoso had the fastest clocking, with Guthrie Racing's Logan Gomez and Brian Stewart Racing's Mitch Cunningham fourth and fifth at the close.

The second Mid-Ohio 100 race is scheduled to begin at 10:35 AM.

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Firestone Indy Lights Mid-Ohio Warm-Up Results

Prendeville, Hildebrand Fast; Hall Stalled at Upstate New York Trials

Brit Scuttled for Watkins Glen Debut

by Linda K Mansfield
lindakmansfield@cs.com

Andrew Prendeville and J.R. Hildebrand had a successful test day with their Firestone Indy Lights cars yesterday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y. as the RLR/Andersen Racing team prepared for a doubleheader to be held there July 5th.

Unfortunately another one of the Palmetto, Fla.-based team's drivers, Charles Hall, only got a handful of laps of testing in on Wednesday due to mechanical problems with a car the team leased from another team. Without that valuable seat time, Hall and the teams jointly decided to postpone his Firestone Indy Lights debut for now.

Hall, of Sheffield, England, is the current point leader in the Star Madza Championship presented by Goodyear.

"We struggled all day with Charles's car, so we've withdrawn his entry in the Watkins Glen doubleheader," said team co-owner John Andersen. "Other competitors in the paddock did everything they could to try to help us in a variety of ways, and the people from Speedway Engines went above and beyond in their efforts. We had fuel pressure and electrical problems, and we just couldn't get it sorted out in time to give Charles enough laps. His Firestone Indy Lights debut is postponed for now, but we all expect that it'll happen sometime before the end of the year. In the meantime, his focus remains the Star Mazda Championship."

Andersen said he was very happy with the progress made during the test with the team's other two cars. Prendeville drives the Best Friends Animal Society No. 5, while Hildebrand is at the controls of the Allied Interior Products No. 25.

The July 5 Firestone Indy Lights doubleheader at Watkins Glen will mark the first time in that series' history when two races are held on the same day.

Indy Lights Racers Swarm Brickyard Oval

Timing and Scoring Puts Points Leader Hildebrand on Top

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

RLR Andersen’s J R Hildebrand. Photo: TonyDiZinno

RLR Andersen Racing's J R Hildebrand posted the fastest lap in early morning practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday ahead of Friday's Carb Day Firestone Freedom 100.

The silver and black No. 25 car ran to a field's-best speed of 191.575 miles per hour around the 2.5 mile oval, over half a mile faster than the nearest competitor.

Sam Schmidt's James Davison continued on the rise with the second-quickest tour of the Speedway on 190.950 mph; while Bobby Wilson in the No. 17 Team-E Dallara was third with a best lap of 190.355 miles per hour.

Eight drivers turned laps greater than 190 miles per hour in the forty-five minute session which began at 9 AM EDT, under a bright sunny sky with temperatures in the mid-sixties Fahrenheit.

The only incident in the period was a spin into the grass by Brian Stewart Racing's Marc Williams in the No. 3 car. Neither machine nor driver suffered consequences from the mishap.

New Zealand's Jonny Reid made his oval-track debut this morning. His best lap was 187.186 mph in his maiden experience with the Brickyard.

Practice resumes at 11 AM EDT for a second forty-five minute session before qualifying today at 1 PM EDT.

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Firestone Indy Lights Freedom 100 Practice Session One

Four Recent Indy Lights Grads Aim for ‘500’ Glory

Camara, Howard, Lloyd and Mutoh Launch Month of May

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Four of the stars of the Firestone Indy Lights Series make their Indianapolis 500 debut today as Rookie Orientation commences at the Brickyard.

Roth Racing’s Jay Howard, Conquest’s Jaime Camara, Andretti Green’s Hideki Mutoh and Ganassi Racing’s Alex Lloyd (competing in a novel Rahal Letterman Racing collaboration with TCGR) will travel the 2.5 mile super-speedway at Indy as they chase a qualifying position for the 92nd Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

All will participate in the ROP: a five mile-per-hour increment ladder from 195 mph to over 210 mph that earns them the privilege of traversing the fabled circuit with veteran drivers practicing for the Memorial Day race.

Alex Lloyd Leads Fast Group of Learners at the Brickyard

Alex Lloyd, the 2007 Indy Pro Series champ, finds himself the darkhorse favorite among the group despite his absence from regular-season IndyCar Series competition in 2008.

The Indianapolis resident is well-familiar with the circuit, winning on both the road course and the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2006 and 2007 respectively, the only driver in Speedway history to accomplish the feat.

"I am really looking forward to tackling the Indianapolis Motorspeedway in an IndyCar," Lloyd said. "I have been fortunate enough to win on the famed oval, so for me Indy is the ultimate."

"ROP is a great opportunity for me to get up to speed and learn about the car and get comfortable before the real action starts on opening day. My expectations are high and I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Jay Howard won the 2006 IPS championship on his way to the Roth Racing No. 24 entry he’ll pilot around the big oval on Sunday (May 4th). He’s been impressive, running mid-pack in his rookie season in the big cars.

AGR rookie Hideki Mutoh proved himself fast in the developmental series leading to IndyCar and hasn’t let up on the accelerator since moving into the big leagues.

He set fastest lap in his first IndyCar start (for Panther Racing at Chicagoland Speedway in September, 2007) and recorded a top-ten finish.

Conquest Racing owner Eric Bachelart made no hesitation in hiring Jaime Camara with the loss of sponsor Opes Prime and driver Franck Perera in April.

"It's going to be an amazing feeling to drive an Indycar here since it's always been my goal," said Camara.

"This is the biggest race in the world, and it's such a different vibe. Every time I come to this track I look around and it's just different, the energy is so good and it makes you even more excited for the race."

Jaime has more experience on the Indy 500 circuit than any of the thirteen drivers (save Oriol Servia) who’ll join him for ROP today. He also won here in 2005, driving to victory in the Firestone Freedom 100 that marks the high point of the year for the Indy Lights Series’ drivers.

All four will compete not only for a starting spot on May 25th, but (if they qualify) for the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award won one year ago by Phil Giebler in the Playa del Racing entry.

Indy Lights Racers Storm to Fast Start at Kansas Speedway

Saturday Practice for Round 4 of 16 Complete at Kansas

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

AFS Andretti Green’s Arie Luyendyk Jr. Photo: SteveSnoddyIRL

Raphael Matos motored to the fastest lap in practice for Sunday’s (April 27th) Kansas Lottery 100, besting teammate Arie Luyendyk Jr for the provisional pole.

Matos’ best lap came late in the day when he posted a speed of 190.432 mph (28.7346 sec), the only racer to top the 190 mph mark on Saturday.

“We were able to run around a lot of people and did a qualifying simulation in the end,” he said afterwards. “We’re pretty happy with the car. I think we’ll be quick enough for pole.”

Immediately behind came Luyendyk in the No. 26 AFS Andretti Green Racing Dallara with a best lap of 189.543 mph (28.8695 sec).

“It’s not easy to drive out there,” he said of the packs of cars charging around the 1.5 mile oval. “We should be fast in qualifying.”

The performance was sufficiently dominating to promote some early forecast of what kind of race tactics the pair might have up their sleeves. Might they find a way to draft and push that proves beneficial on Sunday?

“If that situation comes about, we’ll always help each other,” said Arie. “We didn’t get to do that in Homestead. We didn’t see each other too much. Hopefully we can work together this weekend to push to the front.”

Beatriz Fastest in Morning Session

Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Ana (Bia) Beatriz was third-quick at the end of the day with a lap of 189.387 mph (28.8932 sec).

Bia was also fastest in the early morning session as well.

RLR Andersen Racing’s J R Hildebrand (189.333 mph in the morning session) and Beatriz’ teammate Jim Davison (189.017 mph) round out the top five.

"I'm pretty happy with the car," said Hildebrand. "A car has to be good on its own and in a draft, and it was in that session."

"It's a little bit of a handful, but it's definitely fast."

"It's a handful, but it's fast!" says RLR Andersen's J R Hildebrand of racecar

The temperatures were on the cool side in and around Kansas City with a high of 61 degrees Fahrenheit under sunny skies at Kansas Speedway.

Marc Williams of Integra Motorsports withdrew from the practice, qualifications and race this weekend for unspecified reasons.

Rookie Mark Olson spun in the early morning practice without damage to self or the No. 8 Michael Crawford Motorsports machine.

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Firestone Indy Lights Practice Session One Results

Firestone Indy Lights Practice Session Two Results

Kansas Lottery 100 Beckons Large Indy Lights Field

Twenty-Five Cars and Drivers Wait in the Paddock

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Twenty-five cars and drivers await the opening of Firestone Indy Lights practice to contest for spots on the starting grid of Sunday’s (April 27th) Kansas Lottery 100 at Kansas Speedway.

As if it weren’t hard enough to win a race in this league, three proven oval-winners have returned to the field.

Resuming driving duties aboard the Team Moore X-Trac Dallara is Jeff Simmons, an IndyCar Series veteran and previous multiple-time winner in the 2005 Indy Lights season.

He’s joined by Wade Cunningham aboard the Brian Stewart Racing No. 33 car and Robbie Pecorari, winner of the 2007 Nashville 100, in a Guthrie Racing machine. Both drivers are making their first appearance in the 2008 Indy Lights campaign.

Thrills a Staple of Kansas Speedway Racing

Kansas Speedway hosted the first Firestone Indy Lights race in history on July 7, 2002. A J Foyt IV took the victory over the newly-opened racecourse.

The Indy Lights have not raced on the 1.5 mile oval outside Kansas City since 2004, when pole-sitter Thiago Medeiros reigned as champion.

The event has served as a bellwether in the past: all three winners from 2002 to 2004 went on to win the Firestone Firehawk Cup.

Kansas Speedway CEO Jeff Boerger was approached by the series in the pre-season about a return to the venue.

“We've become known as one of most competitive tracks out there,” he said, “and have had one of the closest finishes.”

“In fact, in our inaugural season (2002), the series ran here and it was three wide going down the front stretch for the finish—one of the closest finishes in the history of motor sports.”

“We’re excited to have Indy Lights back. It gives added value to our fans,” he continued. “It is great for our fans.”

Competition Heats Up in Round Four of Title Chase

AFS Andretti Green Racing’s Raphael Matos goes into the Kansas Lottery 100 second in championship points to Sam Schmidt’s Richard Antinucci.

He’ll look to capitalize on his growing oval-track confidence and challenge for a win on Sunday.

"This is my first race at Kansas and I'm looking forward to it,” he said. “We were very quick at Homestead all weekend and Kansas is a track that's similar to Homestead.”

“Each time I get into the car on an oval, I'm learning and improving. I need to take advantage of all the practice time we have at Kansas.”

AFS/AGR teammate Arie Luyendyk, Jr sees the race as a challenging bit of fun.

“It's going to be really close racing,” said Arie. “We saw in Homestead the cars were pretty difficult to drive, but I think Kansas is a place that will bring all of the guys together.”

“The track is similar to Chicago,” he said, “and I think it's just going to really make it interesting for the fans to watch.”

“It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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TV Coverage of the Firestone Indy Lights Kansas Lottery 100:

• Indy Lights Series: Race: ESPN2 (tape-delay), 2:00 PM EDT, May 1st
• Talent: Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl (announcers); Mike King (pit reporter)
• Live streaming video coverage of Indy Lights Pole Qualifying (9 AM EDT April 26th) and the Indy Lights Series Kansas Lottery 100 (12:45 PM EDT April 27th) is available at www.indycar.com

Track Schedule at Kansas Speedway (all times local; subject to change):

Saturday, April 26th

• 6:30 AM – Firestone Indy Lights Garages open


• 10:30-11:15 PM – Firestone Indy Lights practice


• 3:45-4:35 PM – Firestone Indy Lights practice

Sunday, April 27th

• 7 AM – Firestone Indy Lights Garages open


• 9-10 AM – SWE Firestone Indy Lights Pole Qualifying


• 12:45 PM – Kansas Lottery 100 (67 laps/100 miles)

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Kansas Lottery 100 Entry List

Indy Lights' Arie Luyendyk Jr Moves to Two Beats

Spinning Around the World with Indy Lights and A1GP

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

AFS Andretti Green’s Arie Luyendyk, Jr. Photo: JimHainesIRL

AFS Andretti Green's Arie Luyendyk, Jr moves to the beat of two distinctly different racing sirens: the Firestone Indy Lights Series in the United States, and the sun-loving A1GP World Cup of Motorsport that circles the globe.

Back in America for this weekend's Firestone Indy Lights Kansas Lottery 100, the twenty-six year old racer looks to become the first winner at Kansas Speedway since the series last visited the Sunflower State in 2004.

His season has started with a great run at Homestead Miami Speedway where he finished fourth on the oval; followed by a sixth place result in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race one on April 5th.

A start this weekend would make his fiftieth, the longest tenure of any Indy Lights driver. His consistency in the series permits him a long-term view of a fast-changing sport.

The changes to the Indy Lights are significant, beginning with the machinery.

"The mono shock (suspension, replaced in 2006)," Arie said, "was difficult. It was difficult to adjust, especially on the ovals. It was a good move to go to a dual shock car."

"IndyCar Series cars are a dual shock, traditional race car. Learning how to adjust the mono setup was not really beneficial."

"The extra downforce (a change introduced in 2007) is good for the short ovals," he continued. "It balances the car better."

Kansas Returns as a FireCracker Event on the Schedule

Kansas Speedway historically produces crackerjack racing, with multiple-car wide charges and close finishes that delight fans and bring them to their feet.

"I think Kansas is a place that will bring all of the drivers together," in packs of cars, Arie said.

"It's similar to Chicago, and it's going to make it interesting for the fans to watch," he continued.

"A lot of cars are going to be running really close together. I think it's going to be really important to qualify well and have a car that will run anywhere on the racetrack--in the high or low groove."

Luyendyk, Jr also cites a higher level of competition as being a hallmark of the Indy Lights series over the last several years.

"The competition level has definitely stepped up," from the series inaugural season of 2002.

"You have a lot of guys trying to get to IndyCar," he said. "It seems to be the best route, perhaps the only route, as far as a development series is concerned."

"We have a really solid field of 22 to 24 cars consistently now, and that makes the racing much more fun."

Luyendyk Developing Worldly Perspective to Racing Genres

Racing in A1GP has given Arie both an opportunity to showcase his considerable skills behind the wheel and pick up on new technologies that have not yet reached the Indy Lights.

"Hopefully we'll soon get shift paddles in the car," he said. "I'm accustomed to driving with that in A1GP and I think it's a great tool for the driver. Now that the IndyCars have them, I think we should go to that too--next year if possible."

"I would like to see the no-lift shifting back. That's something they had in the car and they took away from us, and I really liked that."

"It's interesting how they do starts in A1GP," he added. "They have one race that's standing start and one race that's rolling start. I think for street courses, just to mix it up, we should try that."

Throwing Down the Gauntlet to the World's Best Open-Wheelers

Arie will rejoin A1 Team Netherlands in a week to contest the season-ending Brands Hatch A1GP event at Kent, UK.

"Having 22 to 24 cars makes the racing more fun," says Arie Luyendyk, Jr

Several of Arie's A1GP peers have expressed curiosity to him about Indy Lights.

"I saw a few walking around in St. Petersburg. Jonathan Summerton, who won the Shanghai A1GP race, was there."

"Guys are really interested in the series," Arie continued. "The Euro and the Pound are high now (versus the dollar), so I wouldn't be too surprised if some guys make their appearances."

"That just makes the series better, makes it stronger."

And, "I'm sure if they did, we would have something for them."

Indy Lights Racer Revving Up Ahead of Important Kansas Clash

PetStops and PitStops Keep Andrew Prendeville’s Motor Racing

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

RLR Andersen's Andrew Prendeville. Photo: AllanBrewer

RLR Andersen Racing’s Andrew Prendeville keeps his love of animals and passion for racing close at hand as he moves from track to track with the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights season.

When the twenty-six year old Las Vegas resident takes the Kansas Speedway track for the Kansas Lottery 100 on Sunday (April 27th) it will mark another step forward in his career and his caring.

Racing Laps for Best Friends, the animal welfare campaign Andrew launched in his rookie season, has been a big hit with race fans and pet-lovers everywhere.

The effort took in over $50,000 in its initial year of operation in 2007.

“The program is going really well,” Prendeville said. “We raised $7000 for Racing Laps for Best Friends at Homestead alone.”

Pay Per Lap Program Supports Animal Welfare Nationwide

Fans pledge a monetary gift from 25 cents to a dollar or more for Racing Laps for Best Friends with every race lap Andrew completes. The pledge can be for as little as one race and is tax deductible.

Prendeville has backed up his commitment to the Utah-based Best Friends animal welfare organization and its partner organizations with more than just money. Through personal appearances Andrew’s donated substantial time to help out the cause.

He’ll appear at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City Wednesday (April 23rd) afternoon at 4PM CDT to sign autographs for two hours and talk about Racing Laps for Best Friends. The event is free to the public and includes a tour of the facility.

The program allows Prendeville to meld his love of animals (fostered in no small part by his affection for his adopted ‘Ballsy’) with his past experience as a racecar driver instructor.

“We have a 3-Day Bertil Roos Racing School prize to the winner of the Racing Laps for Best Friends raffle,” he said.

The second- and third-place prizes in the raffle are also Bertil Roos racing schools of shorter duration.

Impressive Open Test Sets Tone for Spring Tour

Andrew finished a disappointing twentieth after getting off to a fast start in his last race (St. Petersburg race two on April 7th).

A collision sent him to the garages on Lap 22 of the street course after he moved into the top five from seventh spot on the grid.

He bounced back with an impressive Indianapolis Open Test one week later.

”We’re in great shape for May,” at the Speedway says Andrew Prendeville

Prendeville and teammate J R Hildebrand were second and third on the timesheets at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, right behind AFS Andretti Green Racing’s Raphael Matos.

“The test went really well,” Andrew said. “We had a good day as a team, and it should put us in great shape for racing at the Speedway in May,” in the Firestone Freedom 100 (May 23rd).

Kansas Lottery 100 Points Key to 2008 Success

Prendeville is tied for eighth in championship points going into this weekend’s 100-mile race at Kansas Speedway.

He finished his 2007 rookie campaign for the Firestone Firehawk Cup with an eleventh-place result.

The Sunday afternoon Kansas Lottery 100 start will give him a chance to get back into the fight at the top of the standings alongside Hildebrand (currently fourth).

It’s the series’ first return to Kansas City since the 2004 season. The race was won by eventual year-end champion Thiago Medeiros.

Sponsor The Kansas Lottery is making Kansas Speedway admission available free to the public on Friday, April 25th.

Matos, Antinucci, Beatriz Set the Front of St. Pete Grid

Indy Lights Points Leader Battistini Knocked Off Form by Collision

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Rafa and AFS AGR crew celebrate pole. Photo: ChrisJonesIRL

Only three seconds separate twenty cars on the Firestone Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg grid.

It's still another second forward, however, to find the top three qualifiers from this morning's thirty minute European-style session.

AFS Andretti Green's Raphael Matos earned the pole for the first of two races here in coastal northwest Florida.

He was followed by Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammates Richard Antinucci and Ana Beatriz in second and third on the timing and scoring board.

Matos time of 1:06.4669 (97.492 mph) bettered by half a second the time posted by the Brazilian in 2006 when he won pole and both races of the Indy Lights double-header.

Antinucci's 1:06.7318 (97.105 mph) set himself and Matos apart from Beatriz on 1:07.5217 (95.969 mph).

Bobby Wilson, Jeff Simmons and J R Hildebrand filled the remainder of the first three rows of cars that will roll off at 4:45 PM EDT today.

Panther Taken Down by Davison's Charge

Panther Racing's Dillon Battistini, winner of the race at Homestead seven days ago, was struck from the rear by SSM's James Davison near mid-point of the session.

Battistini suffered significant damage to the right rear and left front of the Dallara.

He ended the qualifying segment on twelfth-best.

Stewards ruled Battistini contributed to the accident, and he was penalized three positions to fifteenth.

Davison qualified seventh.

Guthrie Racing's Sean Guthrie finished nineteenth-quick.

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Firestone Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Qualifying Results

Panther Racing Signs Dillon Battistini to Indy Pro Series Team

2007 Asian Formula 3 Champion to Drive the Team’s No. 15 Pro Series Entry

by Mike Kitchel
kitch@pantherracing.com

Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini. Photo: Panther Racing

Panther Racing announced today it has signed British driver Dillon Battistini to pilot a second entry for the team’s Indy Pro Series program. Battistini, the defending Asian Formula 3 champion, will join current Panther IPS driver Brent Sherman to solidify the team’s 2008 lineup.

“I’ve really liked Dillon from the first time I met him, and he possesses a lot of qualities you look for in a good driver,” Panther team owner John Barnes said. “Obviously, he’s fast and knows how to get around a racetrack, but he’s also a humble guy, very well-spoken and respectful. We feel like he’s going to fit right in with Panther’s Indy Pro Series program and with his teammate Brent Sherman. We had plenty of options with drivers that could have run a second car for us, but I didn’t want to do it unless we found the right guy, and Dillon is the perfect fit for Panther Racing.”

Brit Passes Rookie Test at Homestead Last Week

Battistini recently passed his Indy Pro Series rookie test with Panther during a one-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval, sight of this weekend’s season opener. Prior to meeting Panther officials, Dillon tested with Champ Car’s Minardi Team USA. He will drive Panther’s No. 15 Indy Pro Series entry.

“I’m extremely happy to join Panther, the guys here have treated me like family and I feel like I’m at home already,” Battistini said. “Right now I’m at the start of a big learning curve because I’ve joined the team so late and there is a lot to catch up on, but there couldn’t be a better team to work with right now.”

Financial support for Battistini’s effort is coming from a number of personal backers, including AlexP, a high-quality automotive photographic and image management company with a client list that includes many major manufacturers.

Multi-Car Team is a First for Panther Racing Team

This is the first time Panther has run multiple IPS entries entering a season, and Dillon’s performance during his recent oval test has left expectations of team officials extremely high.

“On the track, it was fun driving an oval for the first time and the speeds are higher than anything I’ve ever driven before,” Dillon admitted. “The car felt a bit strange at first because of the camber setup, but after just a few laps everything came to me really quickly and I was comfortable in the car. I’m excited to get back to Homestead this week and prepare for my first race with the team.”

Panther won the 2003 Indy Pro Series championship with British race driver Mark Taylor and followed a three-year hiatus from the developmental series with a runner-up result in the championship last season with Hideki Mutoh. The team has won a total of nine races in two years of competition, and has finished with 15 podium and 20 Top Five finishes in its 27 starts.

Impressive Maiden Run by Battistini Turns Heads

Henri Durand, Panther’s Technical Director and a veteran of 20-plus years in Formula One, has been impressed by how quickly Battistini has adjusted to his Indy Pro Series car.

“Dillon is acclimating himself very quickly to the nature of oval racing and the particulars of the Indy Pro Series car,” Durand said. “He has shown us, early on, that he has the consistency and the ability to judge and analyze every situation and transmit the right message to engineers to make sure he maximizes his performance. It’s early, but it’s safe to say we are extremely encouraged by his start.”

The Indy Pro Series season opens this Saturday, March 29th at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a track where Panther has won two IndyCar Series events and the 2003 Indy Pro Series race.

Prendeville's Racing Laps for Best Friends Program Expands

'PetStops' Will be Staged at Local Animal Shelters Prior to Races

by Linda K Mansfield
lindakmansfield@cs.com

Andrew Prendeville. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

Race car driver Andrew Prendeville, who instituted a very popular promotion last year for the Best Friends Animal Society centered around his Indy Pro Series races, announced today that the program will expand dramatically for the 2008 season.

The Background

"Racing Laps for Best Friends" raises exposure and funds for the Best Friends Animal Society, a not-for-profit animal welfare organization that strives for a day when there will be no more homeless pets. Best Friends assists animal shelters around the world with their individual programs, as well as operates its own animal shelter in Kanab, Utah.

Last year Prendeville donated signage for Best Friends on his Indy Pro Series race car, the Best Friends Animal Society No. 5. It appeared in races across America that were covered on ESPN2. Through a special Web site at racinglapsforbestfriends.com, fans made donations to Best Friends based on the number of laps Prendeville completed in each race. Fans also participated in a raffle for 2008 Indy 500 tickets courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A tent manned by Best Friends volunteers was erected at several Indy Pro Series tracks as an additional outreach venture. Prendeville also made numerous media appearances to detail Best Friends' mission, and visited several animal shelters across the country.

Although the program didn't start until last May, approximately $50,000 was raised for Best Friends through the Racing Laps for Best Friends program last year. Donations to the program are tax deductible.

What's New

Today Prendeville said that all of that will not only continue this year, it will be expanded. A special red-and-black, 20-foot Racing Laps for Best Friends trailer has been created that will make appearances at racetracks, animal shelters, animal rescue facilities and special events near the 12 tracks that will host the 16 Indy Pro Series races slated for 2008.

Through racinglapsforbestfriends.com, fans can pledge a specific amount of money for each lap that Prendeville completes in each of his races, with the donation going totally to Best Friends. They can also make flat donations through the Web site, in person at the track, or by mail.

Fans who make per-lap pledges for the entire season will receive a paw print with either their name of their pet's name affixed to the Racing Laps for Best Friends trailer. When that season pledge reaches $1,000, the name and paw print will also appear on Prendeville's helmet.

Information on a special raffle that benefits Best Friends is also available on the racinglapsforbestfriends.com Web site. The prizes are sessions at the famed Bertil Roos Racing School.

PetStops at Local Shelters

Indy Pro Series events are short enough that pitstops aren't usually necessary. If Prendeville makes one, it's usually because there's a problem.

So although a pitstop isn't usually good for him, nothing but good can come from the "PetStops" Prendeville will make at animal shelters across the country in 2008.

The PetStops are free and open to the public. Fans attending them will have the opportunity to meet Prendeville, get his autograph, and see his race car up close. Tours of local shelters and adoption events are planned depending on the wishes of each particular participating shelter. Fans will also have the opportunity to pick up free animal welfare materials and to purchase Best Friends merchandise.

The first four free "PetStops" for 2008 are scheduled for:

* Thursday, March 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Miami Dade Animal Services, 7401 NW 74 St., Miami, prior to Prendeville's season-opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. on Saturday, March 29;
* Thursday, April 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave. N., Largo, Fla., prior to Prendeville's races Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, on the street circuit at St. Petersburg, Fla.;
* Wednesday, April 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., prior to Prendeville's race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. on Sunday, April 27; and
* Tuesday, May 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Indianapolis Animal Care & Control, 2600 South Harding St., Indianapolis, Ind., prior to Prendeville's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. on Friday, May 23.

Subsequent dates will be announced later.

"The main purpose of the PetStops will be to encourage adoptions and volunteerism at local shelters, to help people become more aware of the work of their local shelters and Best Friends, and to provide exposure to the Racing Laps for Best Friends program," said Prendeville. The PetStops will be staffed by Best Friends employees, the staff of the local shelters involved, and local volunteers.

Everything Pets in Cincinnati

Prendeville, his race car and the Racing Laps for Best Friends trailer are also signed up to appear at the Everything Pets show at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati April 11-13 in conjunction with a display by Kentucky Speedway.

Best Friends volunteers will man the Racing Laps for Best Friends trailer all three days of the show.

Prendeville will be on hand to meet show-goers that Saturday and Sunday following testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that Friday. Show hours and admission prices can be found on the show's Web site at everythingpets.org. Prendeville will race at Kentucky Speedway, which is near Cincinnati in Sparta, Ky., on Aug. 9.

For more information on Prendeville, see racinglapsforbestfriends.com, bestfriends.org, andrewprendeville.com, andersenracingteam.com and indycar.com/pro.

AFS Andretti Green Fills Driver LineUp with Arie Luyendyk Jr

Veteran Indy Pro Series Driver will Pair with Raphael Matos

From Indy Pro Series media reports:

Arie Luyendyk Jr (R) at A1GP Sepang, Malaysia. Photo: A1GP

AFS/Andretti Green Racing announced Wednesday (March 19th) that Indy Pro Series veteran Arie Luyendyk Jr. has joined its two-car Indy Pro Series team.

Luyendyk, who will join Raphael Matos at AFS/Andretti Green Racing, will drive the No. 26 Automatic Fire Sprinklers Dallara/Firestone.

"Arie has proven in the past that he can be a successful driver in the Indy Pro Series," said Andretti Green Racing chairman Michael Andretti. "He finished second in the championship in 2002 and Kim (Green), Kevin (Savoree), Gary (Peterson) and I believe in his ability. We feel we've assembled quite a team and driver lineup in a short period of time. Just like in the IndyCar Series, we expect to win races and compete for the Indy Pro Series championship."

Arie Jr Leads IPS for Top-10 Career Finishes

Luyendyk, the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, is the Indy Pro Series career leader in top-10 finishes and ranks third in series history with 18 top-five finishes. In 2002, Luyendyk finished second in the driver championship with four second-place finishes in seven races.

During the 2003 season, Luyendyk recorded two Indy Pro Series pole positions (Texas and Michigan) and eight top-10 finishes in 12 starts. In 2004, he finished third at the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and third in the Indy Pro Series championship on the strength of six top-five finishes in 12 starts.

Most recently he has backed up A1 Team Netherlands' Jeroeme Bloekemolen in A1GP competition, competing for Luyendyk's native family country as its "rookie" driver, and turning laps on Friday practice helping set up the Lola/Zytec for qualifying and both Sprint and Feature races in that series.

"This is a very big opportunity for me, and I'm very thankful that Andretti Green Racing and Automatic Fire Sprinklers have given me the chance to compete again in the Indy Pro Series," Luyendyk said. "I've driven in many Indy Pro Series races and I feel like this is my best opportunity yet. Obviously, my goal is to win races and win the championship and I feel like I have a very good chance at doing that.

"Like any driver, my goal is to get into the IndyCar Series and I think joining AGR and AFS is the best route to take. Winning races in the Indy Pro Series means a lot more now than it did a few years ago. I want to show that I can win and prove to teams that I'm a contender for an IndyCar Series seat."

Guthrie Racing ReUnion: Tom Wieringa ReJoins for Homestead Opener

Amiable Indy Pro Series Veteran Inks One-Off Deal on Oval

From Indy Pro Series media reports:

Indy Pro Series veteran Tom Wieringa has signed a one-race deal with Guthrie Racing for the season opening Homestead-Miami 100 on March 29th.

“I feel like part of the family again with Guthrie Racing,” Wieringa said. “They’re the best people I’ve ever been in contact with, and I’ve been on a lot of teams over the years."

"They’ve all known each other for 20-plus years and are good, honest, hard-working guys. I can’t wait to get on the track again because we have a great setup for Homestead.”

Wieringa made 12 starts for Guthrie Racing in 2007 with a best finish of 12th at Homestead. He hopes to put together a program with the team to run the remaining oval events.

“It’s great to have Tom back," team owner Jim Guthrie said. "He brings a unique perspective to the team and his fun-seeking spirit is contagious, but he is quite a competitor with a desire to win."

"Tom showed moments of brilliance last year running in the top 10 in many of the test sessions, and I’m looking forward to putting him in the top five this year.”

Guinness Book Record-Holder Gomez Aims for Faster on Return to IPS

Nineteen Year-old Hoosier Ace Joins Guthrie Racing Stable

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Logan Gomez. Photo: JimHainesIRL

It’s not every day you get a chance to meet with a Guinness World Book record-holder.

Crown Point, Indiana’s Logan Gomez isn’t sure who submitted his world’s-closest 0.0005 second finish at Chicagoland Speedway from last September to the fabled publication, but he certainly doesn’t mind the distinction.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said at a media luncheon on Tuesday (March 18th) held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “You get a nice certificate you can hang on the wall. I also have a hardboard picture from the Speedway of the finish, enlarged where you can see the nose of the two cars.”

Indeed, a photograph was the only way the closest-ever finish of a professional auto race could be appreciated; as it looked for all the world like Gomez and 2007 Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammate Alex Lloyd had actually combined for a ‘tie’.

“I thought it was a dead heat when we finished,” said Logan. “It was only after I saw the picture later that I knew for certain I’d won. If the Indy Racing League didn’t measure down to the fourth decimal point (the only organizing body to do so), we would have had a tie for certain.”

New Team Gives Gomez Edge on Ovals

The nineteen year old driver takes his considerable skill with him to a new team in 2008: Guthrie Racing. He was sporting a logo’ed polo shirt with the distinctive team emblem and his name on Tuesday, ready to talk about the fast start he and teammate Sean Guthrie must make when the Indy Pro Series season commences on Saturday, March 29th.

“I think Raphael Matos and AFS Andretti Green Racing are going to be top contenders for the Firestone Firehawk Cup,” Gomez said, “but Rafa doesn’t have a whole lot of experience on ovals. That’s something I noticed in the Homestead test (February 28th).”

“It’s very important to come out of the gate fast,” he continued. “Sean and I have some advantage in that we’ve got experience racing on ovals from last year (and even the year before). We have to work together to put that practice to good use.”

Experience and Preparation Prove Vital to Fast Start

The Guthrie team migrated from its Albuquerque headquarters to their Brownsburg Indy Pro Series shop earlier than in the past to help achieve that jump ahead for the coming season.

“I think Jim has been up here for several weeks now,” said Gomez of IndyCar star and team owner Jim Guthrie.

Gomez has previous experience working with the Guthrie team, earning his very first Indy Pro Series start at the 2006 Liberty Challenge while only 17 years and 6 months of age.

Old School Approach Proves Successful for Indiana Native

Chief among the offseason activities has been the never-ending search for sponsorship to keep the wheels turning.

"It's important to get out of the gate fast," says Logan Gomez of new season

The overall seventh-place finisher in the 2007 Indy Pro Series, Gomez attended prestigious Culver Academy--the alma mater of another well-known Indy Racing League figure by the name of Roger Penske.

For all of that, though, the reality remains that you can't race without money--something that's always in the back of Logan's mind.

“Ideally I could find a situation where an IndyCar sponsor was interested in working with me in the Pro Series,” Logan said. “Or perhaps a sponsor might grow with me in that direction.”

Part of Gomez’s preparation for the coming season includes video reacquaintance of the various courses that make up the sixteen race Indy Pro Series schedule. In this regard he is as “old school” as you can be.

“I have an old PlayStation 2 that I use,” he said. “I think that works about as well as anything. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anyone other than the IndyCar teams that have the actual simulators” that recreate the circuits in virtual reality.

Alliance Motorsports Selects Chris Festa

Indy Pro Series Regular Returns for 2008 Season

Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Chris Festa. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

Indy Pro Series veteran of three seasons Chris Festa returns for the 2008 campaign aboard the Alliance Motorsports Dallara.

The announcement from the Brownsburg-based Indy Pro Series team came Monday (March 17th).

In his short Pro Series career, Chris has earned thirty-nine career starts and finished in the top ten twenty-four times. He won the pole at last year's season-opener at Homestead Miami Speedway aboard the Chip Ganassi Racing machine.

The Atlanta native recorded his best-ever finish in the accident-shortened race, coming home second when the race was red-flagged.

“I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of Alliance Motorsports,” Chris said. “The Indy Pro Series appears to be gaining momentum in participation and popularity, and I believe that we have the tools to win.”

Popular Tyce Carlson of IndyCar Fame will Spot for Festa

Team co-owner Tyce Carlson expressed delight at the signing of the Indianapolis-based driver.

“This is a great day for our organization,” said Carlson. “Chris is one of the most poised and experienced drivers in the Indy Pro Series, and we intend to compete for race wins at the drop of the green flag.”

“We have built an incredible group of talented people that will surround Chris to ensure his success.”

The team will begin its chase of the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup when the IPS teams convene in little more than a week for the Miami 100 on the oval at Homestead Miami Speedway.

All sixteen events will be aired on ESPN2, and can be seen via live streaming on indycar.com/pro/.

Playa Del Racing and Al Unser III OnTrack for 2008 Start

Ethos forEarth Livery Brightens PDR Pit Stall

by Ryan Smith
ryan@playadelracing.com

Playa Del Racing’s Al Unser III. Photo: SteveSnoddyIRL

After a long off-season Playa Del Racing is ready to get back on track with Al Unser III behind the wheel of the Ethos forEarth car No.21.

Playa Del Racing will make its 2008 Indy Pro Series debut at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday during testing with several other teams. Al Unser III will return to the driver’s seat for the first time since the 2007 Nashville race.

“It’s been a long and cold off-season, but we’re ready to go racing,” says Susan Schafer, co-owner of PDR. “We have had our share of off-season issues, but we’re extremely excited about getting back on the track this week at the test in Homestead.”

Experienced PDR Crew Aiming High in 2008

PDR’s team will feature a new face this season with the hiring of veteran engineer Doug Forker. Forker will bring over a decade of experience in motorsports engineering in hopes of elevating PDR to the team’s first victory in 2008. Team veteran Rick Duman will return for the second straight year as crew chief.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I feel like this is a great place to call home,” says Duman. “There are a lot of great teams in this league, but I feel this program is one of the best growing programs out there.”

The Homestead test will be the first time that Unser III and Forker have worked together, but they expect a smooth transition.

“I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am to get back on the track,” says Unser III, who finished in the top ten in all but one race he entered in 2007. “I’ve been working out all winter, so I’m physically and mentally ready to go racing. We’re going to have some new guys working on the car this year, but I think we’ll be strong out of the truck at Homestead.”

Ethos forEarth Makes Green Connection

The No.21 Playa Del Racing machine will take on a unique look this season as the team debuts the new green Ethos forEarth livery that is sure to turn heads at the race track.

“The PDR car, which was given special recognition at this year’s SEMA show, is going to be an eye catcher this season,” says Gary Sallee, co-owner of PDR. “We’ve been working hard to secure sponsorship that will allow us to further develop our team."

"We enter this season hopeful that this will be our best season in the league. We have worked hard during the off-season to hire the best personnel possible, and we hope to see positive results from those efforts on the track at Homestead.”

"We've worked hard, gotten the best people," says PDR's Gary Sallee

In 2007, PDR entered the Indianapolis 500 with Phil Giebler driving the Ethos Fuel Reformulator car No.31, and Jaques Lazier driving the Indiana Ice/Venture Logistics car No.21.

Giebler won the Chase Rookie of the Year award and Lazier won the Hard Charger award for passing the most cars during the race.

Giebler also shared driving duties in PDR’s Indy Pro Series car in 2007 when the team finished tied for 10th in the season-ending entrant’s points race.

For more information on PDR, Ethos forEarth and all the PDR drivers please visit www.playadelracing.com, or email Ryan Smith at ryan@playadelracing.com

Mitchell Cunningham Signs with Brian Stewart Racing

Younger Brother of Wade Cunningham Joins for Road Course Campaign

From Indy Pro Series media reports:

Brian Stewart Racing has signed New Zealand's Mitchell Cunningham to contest the eight road course races on the 2008 Indy Pro Series schedule.

Cunningham, 21, is the younger brother of 2005 Indy Pro Series champion Wade Cunningham, who drove for Brian Stewart Racing in 2005 and again in 2006, when the team claimed its two series entrant titles.

"I think Mitchell will have great success in the Indy Pro Series," team owner Brian Stewart said. "I'm confident that he will do a good job for us and I know we'll do a good job for him."

Success in Karting Boosts Cunningham Brothers into Pro Series

Mitchell Cunningham made his debut in formula cars last year after following his older brother into European karting.

He finished fifth in the Pacific Formula Ford 2000 Series scoring a win at Willow Springs in California in just his third start in the series. He finished sixth in the recently concluded Toyota Racing Series point standings in New Zealand.

"I see this as a way of getting experience in the bigger, more powerful (Indy Pro Series) cars before tackling a full program in 2009," Cunningham said.

"It's a big jump from the cars I have been driving like the FF2000 and the Toyotas, which are four cylinders and produce up to maybe 200 horsepower, and the IPS car which is a V8 and produces 450 horsepower, but by doing it this way I can focus on one thing at a time."

2008 Indy Pro Series Field Rounding Into Form

Teams, Drivers, Sponsors Shuffle in Last-Minute Start to Season

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

A too-brief ten days remain before the 2008 Indy Pro Series season kicks off at Homestead/Miami Speedway and here’s what we know of the field: no fewer than twenty car/driver combinations have been announced, and are likely to line up on the grid come March 29th.

Standing in the wings are at least six more possible entries, whose situation remains in flux as negotiations continue with drivers, sponsors and teams for the best fit of man to machine to sidepod.

Starting with last year’s championship-winning Sam Schmidt Motorsports team are the certainties of Richard Antinucci (expected to contend for the Firestone Firehawk Cup) sharing garage-space with Brazilian star Bia and ultra-fast rookie James Davison. Colorado’s Jon Brownson will fill-in with oval-racing duties at SSM during the season as well.

Raphael Matos at AFS Racing Andretti Green counts as the man to beat this year after his strong showing at the February 28th Homestead oval test, while a teammate remains both unnamed, and very likely, before the first green flag waves.

RLR/Andersen has Indy Pro Series veteran Andrew Prendeville on tap alongside former Atlantics driver J R Hildebrand; while Guthrie Racing has identified IPS regulars Sean Guthrie and Logan Gomez as entries for the new year.

Mid-Winter Announcements Appear Solidly on Track

Panther Racing has former stock-car driver Brent Sherman under contract, and American Spirit’s Swiss Miss Cyndie Allemann has been training in Florida and turning heads in oval testing since her January announcement.

Playa Del Racing’s Al Unser III continues to work out in Las Vegas in anticipation of his full-time ride with the team, while Enerson Racing has put accomplished Indy Pro Series race-winner Bobby Wilson into the cockpit of its first-year entry.

Wilson’s former team, Brian Stewart Racing, will field Juan Manuel Polar in his maiden season aboard the Dallara; while Micky Gilbert will return with his Mile-High Racing operation and Michael Crawford Motorsports begins its 2008 campaign with Kidderminster, England’s Nathan Freke and Cleveland’s Jake Slotten behind the wheel.

Mike Potehken and Ken Losch look solidly in line to begin the year as teammates at Apex Racing again as well.

Confirmation Awaited on Filling the Grid Further

Adam Andretti in the Fuzion Motorsports car announced very early last fall an attempt on the Cup in 2008; and (even though Chip Ganassi Racing will not contest the series this year) it’s difficult to imagine Atlanta’s Chris Festa on the outside looking in when the wheels first turn in anger the weekend after next.

Alliance Motorsports has yet to name a driver for the season, while Allemann’s team at American Spirit is actively seeking a second racer to fill a seat alongside her for the sixteen-race schedule.

Leilani Munter and P J Chesson took off-season tests with Panther at Sebring; while rookie Matt Lee was impressive, running fifth in the Homestead test on the oval, in an RLR/ Andersen machine last month.

Brandon Wagner also participated in the test at Homestead, driving the Speedworks car; and Mark Olson earned his rookie driving license there on January 30th.

As “silly season” draws to a close, and the anticipation of another year of top-flight competition grows, the Indy Pro Series field looks set to assume its final shape very shortly.

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2008 Indy Pro Series Printable Schedule

French Endurance Driver Earns Indy Pro Series License

Jean Christophe Ravier Readies for Seat in USA's Premier Feeder Series

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Jean Christophe Ravier at Phoenix. Photo: Richard Jouvin

French endurance racer Jean Christophe Ravier made his Indy Pro Series debut last week with a successful test to earn his racing license at Phoenix International Raceway.

Ravier drove a Dallara racecar prepared by Brian Stewart Racing and completed his rookie test on the oval with the second-best time of the multi-driver session.

"I demonstrated my determination and my ability to drive fast during the tests in Phoenix," said Ravier afterwards. "I prepared physically and mentally very well for the opportunity, and I am determined to win a place in American open-wheel racing."

"I am looking for the best team and car I can find to promote my career," he concluded.

Ravier is a former Karting Formula A world champion and reigned as 1998 French Formula Ford and Formula 3 titlist. He's also been a regular participant in the World Series of Nissan program.

The drive marks a definite step up in class for Ravier, who has previously tested for Jenson Motorsport of the Champ Car Atlantic series in this country.

Ravier will take his seat in the Epsilon Zytec LMP2 machine this weekend at Sebring, Florida's 12 Hour Endurance Race alongside veteran roadracers Juan Barazi and Michael Vergers.

"I am very happy to be able to take part in this prestigious race with the team with which I already worked for several years," said Ravier.

Change and Chance for Title Occupy J. R. Hildebrand's Mind

RLR Andersen Racer Eager to Self-Test on Oval Curriculum

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

RLR Andersen’s J R Hildebrand. Photo: JimHainesIRL

If you want to know who the 2008 Indy Pro Series champion is going to be, you could do worse than speak to one of the smartest guys on the track and a twice-champion himself. IndyProRacer.com went right to the source and found the thinking of RLR Andersen Racing's J. R. Hildebrand to be perfectly aligned with what we think too.

"It's always hard to say (who will claim the Firestone Firehawk Cup)," said Hildebrand on Friday (March 7th) during a phone interview from Indianapolis, "but Rafa (Raphael Matos) has to be at the top since he did very well last year (in the Champ Car Atlantic Series)."

"Richard (Antinucci) will be right up there, too; but it'll be interesting to see what happens on the ovals as neither has experience," he said.

"And I think we'll be a factor too."

Hildebrand Matriculates to Second RLR Andersen Seat

The unification of American open-wheel racing played no small part in J. R.'s decision to join Andrew Prendeville for the season that commences on March 29th over the oval at Homestead Miami Speedway.

As J. R. began the thought process that ultimately put him aboard the RLR Andersen No. 25 Dallara he found a paucity of information to guide his decision.

"We had no information about the merger," he said of his tenure in the Newman Haas Lanigan garages in 2007.

"The last six weeks were uncertain, and it was unclear what would happen. Even though my background is in Atlantics, it was apparent that 2008 was not going to be a strong year."

Hildebrand takes a conservative approach to a timeline on how soon he'll adapt to his new surroundings in the Indy Racing League; and for that matter, for the former Champ Car teams in general to ramp up to speed.

"There will be some setbacks," he said. "It will be a hard two or three years, but long term it's a big step (in the right direction). It creates a clear path of how to get to the highest level of American open-wheel racing."

From someone who won 12 of 14 races and posted 11 poles in one formula season, that's the most-educated assessment of the coming IndyCar and Indy Pro Series seasons that we can imagine.

Oval Challenge Offers New Opportunity

Hildebrand, who owns the 2004 Formula Russell series title and the 2006 Formula Ford championship, earned his oval-racing license only ten days ago. He put the RLR Andersen Dallara racecar around the Nashville SuperSpeedway's mile and a third oval quick enough to please the IPS' officials.

"It was great," he said of his maiden trip around the circuit where the IPS will return on July 12th for the Nashville 100.

"It was great," says J R Hildebrand of first Nashville Speedway oval trial

"I'd never run on the oval before and was glad it was a slightly shorter (1.3 mile) circuit because it was not as difficult to go around flat-out," he added. "The track is not as steeply banked as some others, so I was able to get a better feel of the car than I might have otherwise."

Though he doesn't foresee an attempt on the famous Indianapolis 500 in the coming twelve months, J. R. does have his sights set on making his mark in racing circles (no pun intended).

"We'll give it some time and see how things play out," he said of his future. He has a place held for him in the next incoming class of freshmen at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology whenever he's ready to claim it.

"At some point I'll have to sort it all out and decide," he said of his deferred academic opportunity. "I can also go to school in the off-season, but it's a lot to handle."

"Even though the professors at MIT have been very helpful and interested, there's still no course that can teach you how to drive a racecar."