TOP STAR MAZDA TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN MAZDA ROAD TO INDY TEST ON THE F1 COURSE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 28-29
Top young drivers from around the world interested in competing in the 2012 Mazda Road to Indy will get a jump start on the season when INDYCAR hosts a two-day test open to USF2000 National Championship, Star Mazda Championship and Firestone Indy Lights teams at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course on Oct. 28-29. Oct. 30 is reserved as a rain date.
Testing will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) both days with each series receiving a 60-minute session in the morning and a 75-minute session in the afternoon. Top Star Mazda teams participating in the test include JDC Motorsports (winner of the 2011 driver championship with Tristan Vautier), Team Pelfrey (winner of the 2011 team championship), Andretti Autosport (winner of the 2011 Rookie of the Year with Sage Karam), Juncos Racing (the 2010 driver championship winner with Conor Daly) and AIM Autosport (2008 driver championship winner with John Edwards). Also on track will be Linares Racing and The Racing Company.
Drivers interested in testing with one or more of these teams are urged to contact the teams directly as soon as possible to make arrangements. Each team will negotiate directly with individual drivers as to the cost and specifics of the test agreement. Drivers who do not have a current INDYCAR license will be required to pay $150 for a special testing license (click here for the entry form).
“Many of our top teams will be at the test with multiple cars and full crews, including engineers," says Star Mazda Championship founder and President Gary Rodrigues. "This is a great opportunity for drivers interested in competing in the Mazda Road to Indy to experience the cars, decide what level is appropriate and get an early start on the 2012 season. And the format, with two sessions each day for two days, makes it possible for drivers to test with different teams and find the one where they feel most comfortable. Time is short, so drivers interested in participating are urged to contact teams as soon as possible."
This test is a fantastic opportunity to showcase what the Mazda Road to Indy has to offer to prospective drivers and teams,” said Tony George Jr., manager of business development for the Firestone Indy Lights and a key figure in the creation of the Mazda Road to Indy. “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the perfect location for all three series to start preparations for the 2012 season.”
The Mazda Road to Indy was created to provide career-minded drivers a path from karting to the top level of Indy car racing. As the title partner of the Mazda Road to Indy, Mazda provides scholarships to the champions of the three series in INDYCAR’s development ladder system to graduate to the next level.
In 2012, Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda champion Petri Suvanto will receive a scholarship to compete in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Star Mazda champion Tristan Vautier will receive a scholarship to compete in Firestone Indy Lights, while Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden will receive a scholarship to race in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a magical place,” said John Doonan, Director of Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations. “We're thrilled that the Mazda Road to Indy, and especially the Star Mazda and USF2000 racers, will have an opportunity to test on the track made famous by their heroes."
INDYCAR and Mazda’s strong support of the ladder series extends beyond the racetrack with an expansion of the highly successful Mazda Road to Indy Summit program this year, which offered media, social media and business/sponsorship training amongst other topics as well as networking and promotional opportunities to its drivers. In addition, the first Mazda Road to Indy Oval Clinic was held in May.
For specific information on each series participating in the test, please contact:
Firestone Indy Lights: Tony George Jr. – Tjr@indycar.com
Star Mazda: Gary Rodrigues – gary@starmazda.com
USF2000 National Championship: Michelle Kish – mkish@usf2000.com
