Archives for Andretti Autosport

Steinbrenner Racing partners with Andretti Autosport for Indy Lights Campaign

Posted by  on Thursday, December 15th 2016     
The Mazda powered No. 98 Steinbrenner Racing / Andretti Autosport Indy Lights entry that will be piloted by Colton Herta. (photo - Steve Wittich)

The Mazda powered No. 98 Steinbrenner Racing / Andretti Autosport Indy Lights entry that will be piloted by Colton Herta. (photo – Steve Wittich)

Team Release:

STEINBRENNER RACING PARTNERS WITH ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT FOR
INDY LIGHTS CAMPAIGN
Colton Herta to Pilot No. 98 Andretti Steinbrenner Mazda
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2016) – INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2016) – Two names rich in heritage and synonymous with winning have partnered to bring a successful legacy into the world of American-open wheel racing. Newly launched Steinbrenner Racing will join forces in 2017 with racing veterans Andretti Autosport to field an entry in the open-wheel “AAA series” of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires.

This venture will be a maiden voyage in open-wheel racing for the Steinbrenner family, whose name became a cornerstone of America’s favorite pastime when George Michael Steinbrenner III purchased the New York Yankees in 1973.

“I have been around Indy car racing for nearly half of my young life as a fan and enthusiast,” said Steinbrenner Racing team principal George Michael Steinbrenner IV. “Andretti Autosport always seemed to have a prestige in how they operate and present themselves that mirrors that of the Yankees. The legacy of the Andretti name and the success and wide reach of the Andretti brand is as impressive as you will find in the world of motor racing.”

“Partnering with a name as iconic as Steinbrenner is really something I’m looking forward to,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “George Michael (Steinbrenner IV) has a great vision for his race team, just as his grandfather had for the Yankees. We are looking forward to having George Michael join us in our Indianapolis office in a very hands-on role with the team. I think together the partnership can continue to grow in motorsport, and it is only fitting that we begin by entering a car into the Mazda Road to Indy [Presented by Cooper Tires] program with Indy Lights.”

Completing the entry will be second-generation racer Colton Herta as he joins the Andretti Steinbrenner team to pilot the No. 98 Mazda for his rookie season of Indy Lights competition.

The 2013 Pacific Formula F1600 Champion is the son of former racer and now team owner Bryan Herta, and holds an impressive resume finishing third overall in the 2015 MSA Formula championship scoring four wins, three pole positions and 12 podiums. The California-native has brought home three wins and four pole-positions in his 2016 EuroFormula Open Campaign and earned one win and three podiums while racing in just two events in the 2016 British Formula 3 Championship.

This season will mark the first that Herta, 16, has raced on U.S. soil since 2014, where he competed in the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. At the age of 14, the young American moved his talents to Europe to establish a winning reputation competing in the MSA Formula Certified by FIA, Formula Open and the British Formula 3 Championship.

“I’m very pleased to be coming back to race in the States,” said Herta. “IndyCar is my goal, so competing in Indy Lights this year will bring me one step closer. I know I have a good team behind me in Andretti Steinbrenner Racing and we should be fighting for wins right away.”

“Colton set out at a young age to create his own path in racing, and I’m really pleased to see that path bring him here to Andretti Autosport,” added Andretti. “Through our Indy Lights program, we are dedicated to developing future IndyCar drivers, and Colton has shown that he is both determined and talented enough to reach the Verizon IndyCar Series – We’re excited to be a part of his continued development.”

Herta joins Dalton Kellett (No. 28 K-Line Insulators Mazda), Nico Jamin (No. 27 Synova Mazda) and Ryan Norman (No. 48 Flip Side Mazda) as the fourth and final driver announced to Andretti’s 2017 Indy Lights roster.

Hank Steinbrenner, Colton Herta, George Michael Steinbrenner IV and Michael Andretti announce the partnership of two iconic sporting families (photo - Steve Wittich)

Hank Steinbrenner, Colton Herta, George Michael Steinbrenner IV and Michael Andretti announce the partnership of two iconic sporting families (photo – Steve Wittich)

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Herta is the fourth American, fourth Andretti Autosport pilot and seventh over-all confirmed driver for the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire season, joining: Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport), Shelby Blackstock (Belardi Auto Racing), Nicolas Dapero (Juncos Racing),  Nico Jamin (Andretti Autosport), Ryan Norman (Andretti Autosport), and Kyle Kaiser (Juncos Racing)
  • Herta, who will start the season in St. Petersburg as a 16-year old before turning 17 on March 20, 2017, will be making a second turn on the Mazda Road To Indy presented by Cooper Tire. The second generation driver started 12 of 14 events as a 14-year-old during the 2014 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda season, and scored top-10 finishes in half of his starts and also had the quickest lap during the second race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
  • The Valencia, California native spent the 2015 and 2016 racing seasons in Europe, making 54 starts in various Formula 4 and Formula 3 series with Carlin. Herta’s impressive European resume includes nine wins, eight poles, 21 podiums, and 14 quickest laps of the race.
  • TSO had the chance to talk to Herta at the Verizon IndyCar Series finale at Sonoma Raceway in September, and at that time he told us he was “50/50” on whether he would stay in Europe for one more year or move back home to continue his career on the American open-wheel ladder. So, what went into his decision process to move back to the U.S.A.? “The goal was always IndyCar, it was never Formula 1 or NASCAR, or anything other than IndyCar,” explained Herta to TSO. “I’ve always loved the racing, and I’ve always wanted to come back, and it just seemed like the right time. I think I proved what I needed to prove in Europe. I’ve learned what I needed to learn, and I think I come back (to the U.S.A.) as a professional driver ready to run for a professional team.
  • Today’s announcement certainly proves that a love of competition and sports often runs in a families blood. Colton Herta is a second generation driver, while the Andretti family has three generations involved in the sport, and now George Michael Steinbrenner IV follows in his grandfather’s footsteps by taking an ownership role with a team. “It’s such an iconic name, and to have them be a part of the Andretti family is not only good for our team, but also good for IndyCar racing in general,” explained Michael Andretti to TSO. “When was the last times that Indy Lights was mentioned in the New York Times, so that’s what it brings. The Steinbrenners are also really big fans of racing, and they want to learn more about it, and we’re going to help teach George Michael, and hopefully bring this partnership to IndyCar. What’s cool is that the MRTI is a training ground for drivers, engineers, mechanics, AND team owners.
  • The 20-year-old George Michael told TSO the story of how he became interested in racing and it’s an engaging story, but also a story that proves just how connected the racing world really is. We’ll try to keep it straight, as well as short by utilizing bullet points.

    • George Michael’s father Hank Steinbrenner lists Mario Andretti, Jim Clarke, and Don Prudhomme as his heroes. 
    • George Michael’s mother was a cousin of Indy Lights and IndyCar driver Tony Renna.
    • Through Tony Renna, George Michael struck up a friendship with Renna’s Matco Raceworks teammate Chris Simmons, who George Michael uses as a racing resource to this day. (Sidebar – Matco Raceworks was owned by Matthew Cohen, who like George Michael, was in his 20’s when he started his racing team.)
    • The deal between the two iconic sporting families was orchestrated by Sean Jones. Jones, the son of Chuck Jones, a California hot-rodder turned Formula 1 principal with Ensign Racing, is not only George Michael’s stepfather but also a long-time friend and business partner of Bryan Herta.
    • Phew — do you have that all straight? It becomes pretty obvious when talking with George Michael, that his passion for American open-wheel racing runs deep. 
  • The addition of young blood within the team owner ranks is certainly something that both the Mazda Road To Indy presented by Cooper Tire and the Verizon IndyCar Series can benefit from, and hopefully, this is the start of a winning partnership. 
  • You can follow Herta on the following social media platforms: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook 
category: Andretti Autosport
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Ryan Norman named third driver to Andretti Autosport Indy Lights roster

Posted by  on Monday, December 5th 2016     

Andretti Autosport logo

Team Release:

RYAN NORMAN NAMED THIRD DRIVER TO ANDRETTI INDY LIGHTS ROSTER

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 5, 2016) – Ryan Norman will begin his Mazda Road to Indy career competing in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires with Andretti Autosport. The rookie will pilot the No. 48 Flip Side Mazda as part of Andretti’s 2017 stable.

“I’m very excited to join Andretti Autosport for the 2017 Indy Lights Season,” said Norman. “With their great success in IndyCar and Indy Lights, it is the perfect environment for me to learn and grow as a driver. I want to thank Michael Andretti and the rest of the team for this wonderful opportunity and I hope to bring great results to the team this coming year.”

Norman, a native of Cleveland, earned the 2016 Championship title in the Atlantic Championship Series, collecting 10 wins in 16 races and tallying nine total pole positions. The 18-year-old is the third of four drivers confirmed to Andretti’s 2017 roster joining Dalton Kellett (No. 28 K-LINE Insulators, USA Mazda) and Nico Jamin (No. 27 Synova Mazda), the fourth driver to be announced in the coming weeks.

“We have been following Ryan’s achievements in Formula Atlantic and feel he will do equally well, if not better, in Indy Lights,” said J-F Thormann, President of Andretti Autosport. “Ryan has tested for the team several times this offseason and has impressed us with how quickly he has adapted to the car. We are looking forward to seeing what the 2017 season has in store for us and are thrilled to have three of our four Indy Lights entries announced.”

The growth of the Andretti’s Indy Lights program shows the dedication Andretti has to the Mazda Road to Indy program and the promise seen in the future of the development series program. With four full-time entries in 2017 competition, the team is determined to build on last-year’s achievements and work diligently to be in championship contention all-season long.

The 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season kicks off March 11 with a doubleheader weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, and will continue with 16 rounds of competition leading up to the series finale Labor Day weekend at Watkins Glen.

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Norman is the second American, third Andretti Autosport pilot and fifth over-all confirmed driver for the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire season, joining: Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport), Shelby Blackstock (Belardi Auto Racing), Nicolas Dapero (Juncos Racing) and Nico Jamin (Andretti Autosport)
  • Norman, who will turn 19 on the weekend after the Indy Lights season opener in St. Petersburg, won 10 of 16 races on the way to the 2016 Atlantic Championship Series crown. 
  • The native of Cleveland Ohio, also won the the Sports Car Club of America  Formula Atlantic race at the 2016 Run-offs held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and also broke the “Mid-O” Formula Atlantic track record that was set by Graham Rahal in 2005. 
  • Norman started his racing career on two wheels, but got hooked on open wheel formula cars after attending a Skip Barber racing school as a 16 year-old.
  • Norman has raced the previous generation of Indy Lights machinery in Sportscar Vintage Racing Association events. 
  • The current Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a is a high downforce car with 300+hp, so it shouldn’t take Norman long to adapt. In fact, from everything that I’ve heard from sources within the team, Norman was quick out of the gate and has been eager to learn.  
  • Andretti Autosport purchased one of the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Indy Lights chassis and other relevant equipment from the Michael Andretti owned team. 
  • The fourth Andretti Autosport Indy Lights driver should be announced in the very near future. TSO fully expects it to be a second generation driver who has spent the past two years racing in Europe.  
  • You can follow Norman on the following social media platforms: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook 
category: Andretti Autosport
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JAMIN TO JOIN ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT 2017 INDY LIGHTS LINE UP

Posted by  on Tuesday, November 29th 2016     

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Team Release:

Andretti Autosport has announced that Frenchman Nico Jamin will join the team’s Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires roster for the 2017 season. The Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires standout will pilot the No. 27 Mazda for the schedule’s 16 races alongside Canadian Indy Lights sophomore Dalton Kellett.

“We are really pleased to welcome Nico to our Indy Lights team,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “His progress in the MRTI system has been promising so far and he was impressive in recent testing. We’re looking forward to a competitive season for Nico and the No. 27 team.”

Jamin collected two wins, six podiums and one pole position over the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season, earning him third place in the drivers’ championship. In addition to his Pro Mazda statistics, the 20-year-old claimed 10 wins, 12 pole positions and 15 podiums on his route to earning the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

“I am delighted to announce that I will be driving in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires for Andretti Autosport in 2017.” Jamin said, “I remember my first USF2000 race back in 2014, walking by Mario Andretti in the paddock and I asked him to take a picture with me. That day, I was far to think that I was going to drive for a team owned by his son, Michael, a few years later. This is a dream come true and I thank everyone who made it possible – my family, partners, the whole Andretti team and fellow Frenchman, J-F Thormann. We have had extremely positive test days already and I am very much looking forward to seeing the first green flag of the season wave at St. Petersburg.”

Jamin tested for Andretti Autosport at the Chris Griffiths Test held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in early October where the 20-year-old ended the weekend second-fastest overall. The Mazda Road to Indy veteran’s progression to the final step of the INDYCAR ladder, places him one step closer to achieving his Verizon IndyCar Series aspirations.

The 2017 Indy Lights campaign kicks off on the streets of St. Petersburg with Rounds 1 and 2 of competition starting March 10.

Nico Jamin (photo courtesy of Mazda Motorsports)

Nico Jamin (photo courtesy of Mazda Motorsports)

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Jamin is the second Nico, second Andretti Autosport pilot and fourth over-all confirmed driver for the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire season, joining: Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport), Shelby Blackstock (Belardi Auto Racing) and Nicolas Dapero (Juncos Racing)
  • Jamin, who turns 21 on December 5th, has 12 wins, 14 poles and 22 podiums across 46 Mazda Road To Indy presented by Cooper Tire starts in USF2000 and Pro Mazda. 
  • Jamin, the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda champion who is always smiling, has really embraced the American open-wheel scene since moving to the USA after beginning his career in the French F4 and Formula Renault 2.0 Championships. 
  • Jamin, who hails from Rouen, France, will be attempting to become the third Indy Lights Champion from France, following in the footsteps of J.K. Vernay (2010) and Tristan Vautier (2012). 
  • Jamin recently signed on with new management, and will be working with Rick Gorne (who also manages fellow Frenchman Simon Pagenaud). 
  • Jamin has been impressive in testing so far and has been working with two-time Indy Lights championship winning engineer (Cunningham and Newgarden) Doug Zister. 
  • You can follow Jamin on the following social media platforms: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook 
category: Andretti Autosport, Indy Lights News/Results, Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tire - TSO
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Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. Practice Report. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Posted by  on Saturday, September 10th 2016     

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MAZDA INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF MONTEREY PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES
PRACTICE REPORT
Mazda’s home track welcomed the Mazda Road to Indy season finale with race perfect conditions today. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca held two practice sessions for the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship and all three Andretti drivers sit in the top-10 with Dean Stoneman leading the pack, clocking the fastest overall speed. Shelby Blackstock claims the fourth-fastest overall position with Dalton Kellett rounding out the trio in 10th.

Tomorrow will see the last qualifying session of 2016 and the first race of the double-header weekend. The green flag for Race 1 will fly over the mountains of Salinas, California at 6:00 p.m ET and after just 30-laps, we will close in on the final race of the season held at 4:00 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon.
DEAN STONEMAN
NO. 27 STELLRECHT MAZDA
“We were quick in the second session today. We changed some stuff in the car because we struggled a bit in the morning session. The changes we made put us in the right direction and we made improvements. The car felt good but we still need to improve the car a bit in certain area. I think it was good overall. We were on new tires to see where we would be but I’m not sure where everyone else was on new tires. It was a good afternoon practice and we are developing the car in the right direction.”

SHELBY BLACKSTOCK
NO. 51 STARSTRUCK MAZDA
“Right at the end of Practice 2 we were able to put on tires for the last run and saw a better speed. Overall, it was a decent day. We still have to find some extra time – I’m not truly happy with the car yet, but were getting closer, so at least were headed down the right path. Hopefully we can make some changes overnight, come back and have a good run for qualifying – get a good staring spot and go into Race One.”

DALTON KELLETT
NO. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS USA, INC. MAZDA
“It’s always great to be back here at Mazda Raceway for the final rounds of the championship – our ‘Soul Red Finale’. I love being here, its definitely one of the classic road courses in America, a beautiful setting. It’s been a good day so far; we had two practice sessions. The contrast between this track and Watkins Glen, where we just came from, this track is sandy and dusty and the track is really polished. Whereas Watkins Glen with the fresh track has so much grip, so we’re just trying to get used to the car that’s sliding around a little bit more. I think we made some good changes between Practice 1 and Practice 2 and we’ll convene with the engineers tonight and the other teammates and see what we can get done for qualifying tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. I think our road course package has really developed well over the season and we should be competitive tomorrow. So, I’m looking forward to qualifying bright and early.”

category: Andretti Autosport
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Andretti Autosport – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. Mazda Raceway Season Finale Preview

Posted by  on Friday, September 9th 2016     

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WHAT THEY’RE SAYING.
INDY LIGHTS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES

NOTES.

  • Shelby Blackstock will start his 33rd and 34th Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires race this weekend for the season finale at Mazda Raceway.
  • Dean Stoneman still remains in championship contention, sitting in third overall, just 23 points away from the leader with only two races remaining.
  • Canadian driver, Dalton Kellett, has announced that he will again be competing in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship next season; driving the No. 28 K-LINE Insulators USA, Inc. Mazda for Andretti Autosport.

MEET THE TEAM.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Autograph Session
Saturday, September 10 @ 11:30 a.m. (local time)
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Mazda Display in the Paddock area

CATCH THE ACTION.
Follow along with live timing and scoring at racecontrol.indycar.com and catch the taped broadcast on NBC Sports Network Friday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

category: Andretti Autosport
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Dalton Kellett Returns to Andretti Autosport Roster for 2017

Posted by  on Thursday, September 8th 2016     

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INDIANAPOLIS (September 8, 2016) – Twenty-three year old Dalton Kellett will change his Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires ‘Rookie’ status to ‘Veteran’ after signing an extension to remain in the No. 28 K-LINE Insulators USA, Inc. Mazda at Andretti Autosport for the team’s 2017 campaign. The re-signing of the Canadian marks the third consecutive year driving for the Andretti stable and second season running in the Indy Lights championship.

The K-Line Insulators USA, Inc. sponsored No. 28 of Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport) (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

The K-Line Insulators USA, Inc. sponsored No. 28 of Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport) (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Kellett, who participated in a Verizon IndyCar Series test in early August, plans to use the next year to continue to grow and focus on his ultimate goal of driving an Indy car.

“Returning to Andretti Autosport for the 2017 Indy Lights season is a great opportunity, ” said Kellett. “This will mark my third season with Andretti and I am happy to continue that relationship. Thanks to the expertise and wealth of knowledge of the team, I have grown greatly as a driver over the last two years and look forward to continuing that progression. Working with Michael [Andretti] and the rest of the team is very enjoyable and I know their drive and commitment to success will enable us to field a competitive program. Returning to Indy Lights for a second season, I will have the advantage of the experience from my rookie season. I look forward to coming back to some familiar venues and using that experience to my benefit.”

Michael Andretti, CEO and team owner of Andretti Autosport, is excited to keep Kellett in his Mazda Road to Indy roster.

“Dalton has showed a tremendous amount of work ethic and growth over the past year competing in our Indy Lights program.” Andretti said, “he has worked well along side his teammates to help evolve the team’s three-car effort and we are very pleased to continue working with him for the 2017 season. It is our goal to help develop our drivers and we are optimistic about the growth we will continue to see over the next year.”

The driver of the No. 28 K-LINE Insulators USA, Inc. Mazda finished third at this year’s Freedom 100 held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and currently sits 11th in championship standings. The Toronto-native has competed at all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy Program, beginning his American open-wheel career in 2012 driving in the USF2000 championship. Prior to his time in the Mazda Road to Indy Program, Kellett began his resume competing in the Ontario Formula Ford Championship as well as multiple karting championships.

No. 28 - Dalton Kellett - Andretti Autosport

No. 28 – Dalton Kellett – Andretti Autosport

The Mazda Road to Indy program consists of three ladder series leading to the Verizon IndyCar Series. The Indy Lights series champion is award a scholarship to participate in three events on the subsequent year’s IndyCar schedule. The final two races of 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition will be held this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Northern California.

category: Andretti Autosport
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COOPER TIRES INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO RACE 2 REPORT

Posted by  on Sunday, July 31st 2016     

COOPER TIRES INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO RACE 2 REPORT The sun was shining and the cars were fast for today’s Race 2 of the Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio. Dean Stoneman started today’s race from the fourth position and landed on the podium for the second time this weekend finishing in…

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category: Andretti Autosport

COOPER TIRES INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF MID-OHIO RACE 1 REPORT

Posted by  on Saturday, July 30th 2016     

Round 14 of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition is complete with Race 1 of the Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio in the books. Both Dean Stoneman and Shelby Blackstock battled with other drivers maintaining and fighting to gain positions. Dalton Kellett used today’s Race 1 as a learning experience for…

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category: Andretti Autosport

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. Race Report. Toronto Race 1

Posted by  on Saturday, July 16th 2016     


COOPER TIRES INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO
RACE 1 REPORT

The Andretti Indy Lights trio saw the green flag from the back of the field, but Stoneman, Kellett and Blackstock quickly moved their way through the pack to see the checkered flag in fifth, eighth and ninth positions, respectively.

Tomorrow, the drivers will begin Race 2 from better track position and have the opportunity to cross the finish line in first when the 45-lap race goes green at 11:15 a.m. ET. Follow along with live timing and scoring at racecontrol.indycar.com, watch the live stream on the Verizon IndyCar Series Facebook page, or listen to INDYCAR Radio on Sirius212 and XM209

DEAN STONEMAN
NO. 27 STELLRECHT MAZDA

• The rookie started today’s race from the 11th position and finished in fifth
• Suffered damage to the right rear wishbone after contact on Lap 9; set his fastest lap on Lap 32
• Will start tomorrow’s race from seventh

“We made some drastic changes over the lunch break to see how we could improve the car for the race. We went in a direction that was much better than qualifying and practice sessions, but still not the best it can be. But, in the end of the day we finished the race in the fifth position after starting 11th with a damaged right rear wishbone. Myself and another driver made contact in Turn 3 early in the race, so I think we did well to finish with a bent wishbone. Overall it was a good race and hopefully we can improve the car for tomorrow.”

DALTON KELLETT
NO. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS USA, INC. MAZDA

• Saw the green flag from 14th position
• Took the checkered flag at his hometown race in eighth after impressive passing
• Will take the green flag for Race 2 from 14th

“Considering where we were this morning and in practice, coming home P8 from P14 isn’t a bad climb. We stayed out of the incidents and we made a couple passes so it was a decent comeback for the first race of the weekend. We made a lot of changes between qualifying and the race and I think we have the car going in a direction we are a little happier in. Looking forward to seeing where we’re at tonight and where we are going to be tomorrow. It’s great to see so many fans out here this weekend. I have really enjoyed seeing a lot of my hometown friends and family and I really hope we can bring them home a win or podium tomorrow!”

SHELBY BLACKSTOCK 
NO. 51 STARSTRUCK MAZDA

• The American began the 35-lap race from 13th
• Came in on Lap 24 for a tire change for better grip and the chance to clock a faster qualifying lap for tomorrow’s race
• The veteran will see green from 11th

“Still working on the car. We don’t think the car is where it should be yet. We took a gamble to come in and put on newer tires and it definitely helped – we moved up a couple qualifying positions for tomorrow’s race. We’ll take the points we could get from this one. I’m not sure where we will start but it is definitely better than where we started today. I think we went a second faster than our qualifying time today which is improvement by the team, but we’ve got to keep working on it. So, thanks to the crew for all their hard work and commitment. Tomorrow we’ll give it another shot and hope to finish even better.”

category: Andretti Autosport

MAZDA INDY LIGHTS GRAND PRIX OF ROAD AMERICA RACE 1 REPORT

Posted by  on Saturday, June 25th 2016     

The Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship resumed under beautiful racing conditions this afternoon as the Andretti trio lined up on the starting grid for Race 1 of the Mazda Indy Lights Grand Prix of Road America. On the opening two laps of the 14-turn track, Dean Stoneman had already jumped to second position from his fifth place start. Shelby Blackstock saw the green flag from the 11th position and made the ultimate pass to run as high as sixth. Dalton Kellett began the race from 14th and had jumped up to 12th position before having to retire early.

The fun is not over yet! Tomorrow holds a whole new round of racing as the drivers take the track for Race 2 of the Mazda Indy Lights Grand Prix of Road America. The green flag will be in the air at 9:45 a.m. ET and you can follow along live on the Road to Indy TV app or atindylights.com/results/live-timing. Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network at 3:30 p.m. ETtomorrow for coverage of the weekend.

DEAN STONEMAN
NO. 27 STELLRECHT MAZDA

• Collected fifth consecutive podium with today’s second place finish
• Remains second in championship point standings; narrowing the gap to only 22 points behind leader, Ed Jones
• Will start tomorrow’s race from the fifth position

“We knew it was going to be difficult at the beginning of the race. The Carlin cars are fast and we knew we needed to get around them to be able to go for the win, so I used my push-to-pass quite early in the race to try to take the lead. We had a good restart after the yellow flag and I knew I had a five-second penalty, so I had to make up some time. But, it was a great race. I used the tools we had in the car and we were able to roll the car into second.”

SHELBY BLACKSTOCK 
NO. 51 STARSTRUCK MAZDA

• After an unfortunate spin off track, saw the double checkers in 13th
• Will see the green flag from 11th for tomorrow’s 20-lap race

 “Today was an up-and-down race. The team worked really hard over night to make the car better for qualifying. The car has been a handful all weekend long- not really doing one thing at a time. The car was very good in the race. We went from 11th to sixth and with the penalties given out, I think we would’ve been in fifth. Still moving forward, had the car underneath me and the confidence to drive through the field. Our car was a lot better race-wise than most of our competitors. It could’ve turned into a good day and we may have finished right behind our teammate. Unfortunately after making a pass in Turn 3, the car snapped loose and I bottomed the tub out on the exit curb which sent it into a spin that I couldn’t recover. Very happy with the team and very happy with the car, so I am ready to get the car out there tomorrow.”

DALTON KELLETT
NO. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS USA, INC. MAZDA

• Spun off course on Lap 7 retiring in 14th
• The Canadian will grid in 14th for Round 10

“I got a little loose coming out of Turn 6 while battling with Garrett Grist and unfortunately backed it into the wall. This is a pretty tough track, but it’s a lot of fun. The good thing is you have a mix of high speed and low speed corners, so you’ve got to be pretty varied in your techniques. I would’ve liked to finish the whole race because we missed a lot of practice yesterday, but we still managed to get some good laps in on the K-Line Insulators car and I’m glad I was able to get some experience under my belt today for tomorrow’s race.”

category: Andretti Autosport
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