Archives for Belardi PR

BELARDI AUTO RACING MOTIVATED FOR MONTH OF MAY AT INDIANAPOLIS

Posted by  on Thursday, May 11th 2017     

Grand Prix road course doubleheader first up on the IMS schedule

BROWNSBURG, IN (May 11, 2017) – The Belardi Auto Racing team has fond memories of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition, having visited the Freedom 100 victory lane on two occasions with Peter Dempsey in 2013 and Gabby Chaves in 2014. The team will spend two of the next three weekends at the ‘World’s Greatest Race Course’ as they take to the facility’s 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course this weekend (May 11-13) ahead of the Freedom 100 on the full 2.5-mile oval on May 26. Belardi’s driving trio of Aaron Telitz, Shelby Blackstock and Santiago Urrutia are all focused on bouncing back from a rough outing at Barber Motorsports Park in late April, and another visit to the famed Indianapolis podium is the only goal.

“After a tremendous opening weekend in St. Petersburg, we were all disappointed with our results at Barber, which has only served to motivate the team to perform to their full potential this weekend in Indy,” offered Belardi Auto Racing owner Brian Belardi. “These back-to-back races at the Speedway will provide us with the opportunity to return to form, and I know that all three of our drivers are itching to get back behind the wheel.”

Aaron Telitz enters the weekend sitting fourth in the championship standings, just one point out of third, thanks to his debut victory in the first race of the year in St. Petersburg, and a much-needed fifth in Alabama after a rough start to the weekend.  The reigning Pro Mazda champion scored a runner-up finish in this Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires event last year, and has four podiums in six starts on the IMS road course in Pro Mazda and USF2000 competition.  Running the Mazda Scholarship ‘Soul Red’ colors this season, Telitz will certainly be fighting for race wins and podiums.

It’s been a tough start to the season for last year’s runner-up Santiago Urrutia, but he has the talent and focus to put his Arrow Electronics / Belardi Auto Racing on the top of the podium in both races this weekend.  Urrutia was involved in a first lap incident in the opening race in St. Petersburg, but came back with a strong second in race two.  At Barber, he was taken out on the opening lap by an over-eager competitor in the first race of the doubleheader, and contact at the start of the second race dropped him down the order again. He is primed and ready for a breakout weekend which would elevate him into the championship fight. Last season, Santi was on the podium in both Indy Lights races on the road course, finishing second in both events. The Uruguayan was victorious at the track in his run to the Pro Mazda Championship title in 2014, scoring a win, two podiums and three top-fives in a tripleheader weekend. He has never finished outside the top-five on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Shelby Blackstock has been the team’s most consistent driver thus far in 2017, finishing all four races in the top-eight, highlighted by a fourth in St. Petersburg.  This run of finishes has put Blackstock in sixth in the championship standings.  The Nashville, TN native has four straight top-10 finishes in his four Indy Lights starts on the IMS road course, taking a personal best of seventh last year, and he was also second in Pro Mazda in 2014.

This weekend’s Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires races are officially titled as the ‘Grand Prix of Indianapolis Presented by Royal Purple Synthetic Oil Supporting Lupus Foundation of America’ in support of Lupus Awareness Month. All three Belardi Auto Racing cars will carry a decal as a means of raising awareness for this mysterious autoimmune disease, and the #RaceToEndLupus hashtag will be used throughout the event. A special donation page has been set up at lupus.org/racing.

The Indy Lights races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway take place on Friday, May 12 at 1:45 pm EDT and Saturday, May 13 at 1:15 pm EDT.  The on-track action from IMS will be streamed live on the Mazda Road to Indy app or through theMRTI.TV website (www.roadtoindy.tv), as will the entire Indy Lights season.

BELARDI AUTO RACING – DRIVER INFORMATION

SANTIAGO URRUITA – #5

Age: 20

Hometown: Montevideo, Uruguay

Residence: Miguelete, Uruguay

Sponsors: ARROW Electronics, BSE, ANCAP, Antel, Ministerio de Turismo, AgroLavalle, SuperMatch, Fadisol, SINTEPLAS, Secretaría Nacional de Deporte, BMW MotorHaus

Social Media:

Website: www.santiurrutia.com.uy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Santiago-Urrutia-Oficial

Twitter: @Santi_Urrutia

Driver Input: “This weekend represents an opportunity to get big points! I like the track very much and we will have a great car. I know that this will be a good weekend.”

 

 AARON TELITZ – #9

Age: 25

Hometown: Birchwood, WI

Residence: Minneapolis, MN

Sponsors: Mazda, Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Rising Star Racing, Morrie’s Chippewa Valley Mazda, Fred Thomas Resort, Cooper Tires, Bell Helmets, Sparco, Team USA Scholarship

Social Media:

Website: www.aarontelitz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaron.telitz

Twitter: @aarontelitz

Instagram: @aarontelitz

Driver Input: “I can’t wait to get back on track at the IMS road course to start the month of May off right. It’ll be great to fully put a tough weekend at Barber behind us and to go full steam ahead to get back on the top step. The Belardi guys are as motivated as I am to get back on the form we started the season on.”

SHELBY BLACKSTOCK – #51

Age: 27

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Residence: Charlotte, NC

Sponsors: Starstruck, Sparco, AMPED Apparel/Optics, Arai Helmets

Social Media:

Website: www.shelbyblackstock.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyBlackstock

Twitter: @shelbilly

Instagram: @shelbyblackstock

Driver Input: “Starting the greatest month in racing, I’m very excited to get back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! The first focus is on the road course for the IndyCar GP. Different than other weekends, we have a lot of track time to figure out the cars. Of course, with it being May in Indy, I hope the weather cooperates so we can get some good testing in before the weekend starts.”

EVENT INFORMATION:

Series: Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires

Event: Rounds #5/6 – Grand Prix of Indianapolis Presented by Royal Purple Synthetic Oil

Supporting Lupus Foundation of America

Date: May 11-13, 2017

Website: www.indylights.com

WEEKEND SCHEDULE (all times Eastern Time Zone):

Friday, May 12

  • Practice 1: 10:15 am – 11:00 am
  • Qualifying 1: 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
  • Race 1: 5:50 pm – 6:50 pm

Saturday, May 13

  • Qualifying 2: 9:20 am – 9:50 am
  • Race 2: 1:15 pm – 2:25 pm
category: Belardi PR

Mazda release and our notes: Aaron Telitz Signs With Belardi Auto Racing for 2017

Posted by  on Wednesday, March 1st 2017     

Manufacturer Release:

Aaron Telitz Signs With Belardi Auto Racing for 2017

 – Pro Mazda Champion Moves Up to Indy Lights –

IRVINE, Calif. (March 1, 2017) – Aaron Telitz will compete in the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires series with the Belardi Auto Racing team, driving the No. 9 car in Mazda’s iconic Soul Red livery at the top level of the Mazda Road to Indy program. Telitz, 25, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, earned the Mazda driver development scholarship as the champion of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires last year and will compete for the Indy Lights title and rookie-of-the-year honors. The season-opener for all three categories of the Mazda Road to Indy takes place March 10-12 at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mazda awards scholarships to championship-winning drivers to advance up the ladder in professional racing, and this is the second scholarship for Telitz. (He won a Mazda competition in 2013, which earned him a ride in the 2014 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda series.) He has eight victories and 11 pole positions in the Mazda Road to Indy, and ranks 10th in all-time Pro Mazda race wins. He is the fifth driver to win multiple Mazda scholarships since 2006.

“It’s a total honor to represent Mazda in 2017,” Telitz said. “I had the honor in 2014, and it’s an incredible feeling.”

Telitz explained how he and the Belardi team came together.

“John Brunner, the team’s general manager, and [team owner] Brian Belardi invited me to the IndyCar/Indy Lights race at Watkins Glen last fall before the Pro Mazda season ended,” he said. “I had a head-start in knowing the guys and seeing how the team works and knowing their cars are fast. They won that weekend and then again at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. I just really enjoyed how the Belardi guys worked. They were really professional and Brian is from Wisconsin. It’s great to have that home-state connection, as most of my personal supporters are from Wisconsin.”

The three-car Belardi team aligns Telitz alongside two experienced teammates, past Mazda scholarship winner Santiago “Santi” Urrutia and Shelby Blackstock.

“It’s a huge advantage to have veteran drivers on your team in your first year,” said Telitz. “You know when you’re in the ballpark because those guys have a better idea of how the car should work and the changes that need to be made. We’ll all learn as the season goes on, but to have them there to lead in the early stages is going to be a big advantage for me.”

Based in Brownsburg, Ind., the Belardi team has been a part of the Indy Lights series since 2011. The team won the 2014 driver’s championship with Gabby Chaves. In 2016, Belardi won more races than any other team with six Indy Lights victories.

“We’re extremely excited to have Aaron on the team for 2017, and it’s a thrill to have the Mazda Soul Red colors under our tent this year,” said Brian Belardi, Belardi Auto Racing team owner. “Mazda has done so much for the American open wheel ladder system and this will be our second opportunity to work with such a passionate manufacturer. I know that we share their deep passion for winning, as does Aaron. To have a quality young man, and talented race car driver, like him as part of our family, I know that we’ll all be dedicated to achieving great success this year.”

“All of us at Mazda are thrilled to have Aaron carrying Mazda’s Soul Red color in 2017 with Belardi Auto Racing,” said John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports. “To see a talent like Aaron achieve success in the Mazda Road to Indy is ultimately what the program is all about. When he pulled into victory lane after winning the Pro Mazda Championship last fall, I told Aaron that he needed to savor the moment and remember all of the challenges he faced getting there. We cannot play favorites in the Mazda Road to Indy, but we wish Aaron the very best as he opens this new chapter in his racing career and is one step closer to the Verizon IndyCar series.”

2016 Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire champion Aaron Telitz will spend the 2017 Indy Lights season in the Soul Red Mazda powered No. 9 for Belardi Auto Racing (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Telitz is the third Belardi Auto Racing pilot and 15th over-all confirmed driver for the season opening race 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),  Kyle Kaiser (Juncos Racing), Colton Herta (Andretti Autosport),  Santiago Urrutia (Belardi Auto Racing),  Matheus Leist (Carlin),  Juan Piedrahita (Team Pelfrey),  Zachary Claman DeMelo (Carlin), Neil Alberico (Carlin), and Pato O’Ward (Team Pelfrey)
  • Teltiz has made a total of 46 Mazda Road To Indy presented by Cooper Tire starts, collecting eight wins, 10 poles and 30 podiums (an astonishing 65% of his starts). 
  • If history means anything, expect Telitz to be very competitive this season. The final Indy Lights championship positions of the past five Pro Mazda championships: 2011 – Tristan Vautier (2012 Indy Lights Champion), 2012 – Jack Hawksworth (Fourth in 2013 Indy Lights series), 2013 – Matthew Brabham (Fourth in 2014 Indy Lights series), 2014 – Spencer Pigot (2015 Indy Lights Champion), 2015 – Santiago Urrutia (2016 Indy Lights Vice-Champion). 
  • O’Ward’s addition for the Streets of St. Petersburg, will bring that entry list up to 15 cars. 
  • You can follow Telitz on the following social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
category: Belardi PR
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BELARDI AUTO RACING CONFIRMS URRUTIA FOR 2017 INDY LIGHTS RETURN

Posted by  on Friday, December 30th 2016     

Belardi Auto Racing logo

 

Team Release:

BELARDI AUTO RACING CONFIRMS URRUTIA FOR 2017 INDY LIGHTS RETURN

Series runner-up returns to Mazda Road to Indy with winningest team from 2016

BROWNSBURG, IN (December 30, 2016) – The driver line-up at Belardi Auto Racing continues to come together, and the team is thrilled to make its second confirmation with the announcement that 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires runner-up Santiago Urrutia will be joining the squad for the 2017 campaign. The team is riding high on the momentum fueled by a six-win season last year, one that included a run of performances in the second half of the season that out-scored the competition. Urrutia will join new Belardi Auto Racing recruit Shelby Blackstock under the tent and will drive the team’s #5 Dallara IL-15.

“We’re extremely excited to being adding Santi to our stable of drivers for the 2016 season,” commented Brian Belardi, Team Owner. “We’re coming off a really strong season and our staff is highly motivated to make 2017 even better. Signing a driver of Santi’s caliber will once again put us into the fight for a championship. The entire team is fired up with the announcements of Santiago and Shelby and we’re hoping to confirm a third driver early in the new year.”

Urrutia came within a single on-track position of scoring the Indy Lights crown as a series rookie, coming off a title-winning season in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2015. The 20-year-old from Uruguay won four races in his freshman Indy Lights season, scoring at Barber Motorsports Park, Road America and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Santiago battled wheel-to-wheel with the red-and-white Belardi Auto Racing entries throughout 2016, fighting for wins with both Felix Rosenqvist and Zach Veach, who each won three races for the team. He’s very excited to get back on-track and with the team that challenged him so aggressively this past season.

“We have a really strong crew and I believe that we are going to have one of the greatest teams in the paddock,” Urrutia commented, who is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel when the team returns to testing in early January. “I am very happy to sign with Belardi, as I was fighting with the team’s drivers all year in 2016. I have only one goal, and that is to win the championship, and I am going to try to win every race for the team. If I can’t win, I’ll be aiming for seconds and thirds, whatever I need to win the title. What happened at Laguna Seca in the finale is now in the past, and I am looking at the future. I have to thank all of my fans, my engineer, my sponsors in Uruguay and I want to thank Brian Belardi for believing in me.”

The team will head back to the track after the holidays to resume their testing program ahead of the 2017 Indy Lights season. The opening battle of the 10-event / 16-round Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires schedule will be the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10-12.

Belardi Auto Racing's newest Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire signee Santiago Urrutia (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Belardi Auto Racing’s newest Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire signee Santiago Urrutia (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Urrutia is the second Belardi Auto Racing pilot and ninth 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),  Kyle Kaiser (Juncos Racing), and Colton Herta (Andretti Autosport)
  • Motorsport.com reported earlier this year that 2016 Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire champion Aaron Telitz will be utilizing his $1million Mazda Motorsports Advancement Scholarship to join Belardi Auto Racing, meaning that the Brownsburg, Indiana based squad will be at least a three-car Indy Lights team. 
  • Urrutia will be joined at Belardi Auto Racing by his fellow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports refugee and 2016 engineer, Tim Neff.  Neff had been part of Sam Schmidt’s team since 2001 before being laid off when Schmidt Peterson Motorsports shuttered it’s Indy Lights program, and is one of the most experienced (and successful) Indy Lights engineers in the paddock. 
  • Belardi Auto Racing, between drivers Zach Veach and Felix Rosenqvist, won six races last year (including four of the last seven races), the most of any Indy Lights team. The Brian Belardi owned and John Brunner led team were last Indy Lights champions with driver Gabby Chaves in 2014. 
category: Belardi PR
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Belardi Auto Racing Signs Blackstock for 2017 Indy Lights Campaign

Posted by  on Wednesday, November 23rd 2016     

Belardi Auto Racing logo

BELARDI AUTO RACING SIGNS BLACKSTOCK FOR 2017 INDY LIGHTS CAMPAIGN

 Race-winning team confirms first driver for coming season

BROWNSBURG, IN (November 23, 2016) – After winning six races during the 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship, Belardi Auto Racing has by no means lifted off the throttle as they focus on the upcoming year.  The 2014 championship winning squad has been aggressive in post-season testing and has put a trio of drivers through the paces, all while also working with Cooper Tires to develop next year’s spec tire compounds and construction. Based on this aggressive testing effort, the team is now pleased to confirm the signing of their first driver for the 2017 season. Nashville, Tennessee’s Shelby Blackstock is a Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires veteran and will bring his considerable experience and engaging personality to Belardi Auto Racing for the coming season.  The talented American will be gunning for podiums and his first series win.

“We tested Shelby during the summer of 2015 and he responded by immediately scoring his best finish of the year for the team he was with,” offered team owner Brian Belardi, speaking of Blackstock’s podium finish at Mid-Ohio. “He worked extremely well with our engineers back then, and we were impressed in our recent test at Barber Motorsports Park as well. It’s exciting to have him signed to the team for 2017. He’ll be a great addition to our family.”

Blackstock tested with the team in Birmingham in early November, coming off a season in which he finished eighth overall in the championship standings.  Shelby posted 13 top-10 and five top-five finishes, carding a best result of fourth at Barber Motorsports Park and in the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 26-year-old has worked his way up the entire MRTI, beginning in USF2000 in 2012 before graduating to Pro Mazda in 2013, scoring a win at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Canada.  Shelby advanced to the Indy Lights series in 2015 and has spent that last two years running with Andretti Autosport in the top rung of the ladder.

“Going into the 2017 season, there are going to be many changes and challenges to overcome,” Blackstock enthused. “One of the biggest changes and, something I’m very excited about, is that I’ll be joining Belardi Auto Racing for the 2017 Indy Lights season! I have a brief history with the team from 2015, which made the move from Andretti Autosport a bit easier. Belardi has proven to have quick cars and I really like how the team is organized.  There will be a lot of different challenges in the 2017 season. The field will be very stout, as it has in the past, so I’m really excited to see how the team pushes me and how we tackle each challenge together! I’m very thankful and excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to get to work!

The team will continue to focus on testing, as the opening round of the season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is just over three months away.  The 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires schedule kicks off on March 10-12.

category: Belardi PR
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Belardi Auto Racing victorious in Indy Lights at Road America

Posted by  on Friday, July 1st 2016     

Belardi Auto Racing logo

BELARDI AUTO RACING VICTORIOUS IN INDY LIGHTS AT ROAD AMERICA

Veach scores win and third place finish, French impressive in Indy Lights debut 

ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 30, 2016) – Belardi Auto Racing returned to the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires victory lane at Road America on Saturday (June 25) when Zach Veach scored his first win of the 2016 season.  The Stockdale, Ohio driver put his #5 Dallara IL-15 on the pole during Friday qualifying and proceeded to dominate the Saturday action, overcoming challenging conditions to cross the line 7.984 seconds ahead of Andretti Autosport’s Dean Stoneman.  Veach backed up the crucial triumph with a third place finish in a wet weather race on Sunday (June 26), advancing him to sixth in the championship standings, just one point out of fifth and only 45 points out of the lead.

Veteran Zach Veach won his first Indy Lights race of the year on Saturday at Road America and followed it up with a podium on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

“It was a huge win for all of us at Belardi Auto Racing; for myself, the crew and for Zach and his dad Roger – we needed this,” offered Team Owner Brian Belardi. “Zach has been on the losing end of luck several times this year, so it’s a positive to see him finally get to show his true potential. He pushed hard to stretch his lead on Saturday, handled the restarts well, and brought us a big win. As we turn the corner for the run to the championship finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, we now have the confidence and momentum we need.”

Wisconsin native James French joined the Belardi Auto Racing crew on his home track, making his Indy Lights debut in the car that was driven by Swedish racer Felix Rosenqvist during the first half of the year. Driving the re-badged #45 entry, French turned in a stellar performance all weekend as he came up to speed, learning the characteristics of the car and how to drive it to its potential.  James was in the mix from the first session of the weekend on and brought home a pair of eighth place finishes in varying conditions.

“We couldn’t have asked for much more from James,” Belardi continued. “He knows that track well, so that variable was not a factor. We just kept asking him to explore the limits of the car, which he did, especially its tremendous braking abilities. He was right in the middle of the fight with veteran drivers, and we were all very impressed with his performance. We’d love to have him back in the car as soon as possible.”

In Friday qualifying, Veach made a late run for the pole position and dropped a 1:52.941 to secure his spot on the inside of the front row for the first race of the weekend. French was focused on pushing his comfort level with the car, and timed in 12th during the short 30-minute session.

In the opening race on Saturday, the temperatures were high and the sun was out, which worked the series’ Cooper tires to their limits.  Veach got out front early and handled a lap eight restart with ease, eventually pulling away to a dominant victory.  His run was not without excitement however; as Zach ran the car on the ragged edge and was forced to manage some precarious oversteer drifts through the challenging downhill off-camber Carousel turn.  French drove a smart and steady race and steered clear of the on-track excitement, bringing home an eighth place finish in his debut.

On Sunday, rain pounded the facility and the Indy Lights drivers started the 20-lap event on the treaded Cooper rain tires.  The track would dry significantly in the latter stages of the race, so those who had track position and remained on the wets needed to tread lightly to preserve their tires. The strong start for both Belardi drivers put them in this situation. Veach ran second in the early going, while French took up station just outside the top-10.  Midway through the race, a spin on the exit of turn five dropped Veach to sixth but he continued to push and then benefitted from an incident involving his competition to advance to third in the final results.  It was the best weekend of the year for the talented young American.  French performed flawlessly in the difficult conditions and he, too, avoided the aggressive driving in the front of the field and scored another eighth place finish.  It was a tremendous debut display from the 24-year-old.

Following their Road America success, the team headed straight for Iowa Speedway for an official series test on Tuesday with Veach behind the wheel.  The Indy Lights series will race on the fast 7/8 mile oval on the July 9-10.

 

BELARDI AUTO RACING – DRIVER RESULTS AND QUOTES

Zach Veach – #5

Qualifying: 1:52.941

Race #1: 1st

Race #2: 3rd

Driver Quote: “After Road America, I feel on top of the world. To be able to go up there, break the track record, grab the pole, win and finish third, I feel like the old ‘Zach Veach’ is back. I’ve matured into this new Indy Lights car and it’s finally starting to make sense to me. Another highlight of this weekend was getting the win for my team owner Brian Belardi at his home track. This win was for them. Belardi Auto Racing has given me a second chance to chase my dream and I expect to see us back towards the top next weekend at Iowa!”

 

James French – #45

Qualifying: 1:55.011

Race #1: 8th

Race #2: 8th

Driver Quote: “I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to race with Belardi Auto Racing. There was a lot of learning in a very short amount of time, but I think it was all very positive. My coach JJ (Jonatan Jorge) and engineer Len (Paskus) were very good at showing me where I needed work, but they also were encouraging in the sections where we were close. The changing weather and new competition made for two challenging races, but I think we were able to end with two good results. Of course, I’d like to finish more towards the front, but I really wanted to make the best of this opportunity without making any big mistakes.  The Belardi crew was a pleasure to work with, and I can’t thank them all enough for making me feel right at home. It was really amazing to have IndyCar back at Road America, and I think the thousands of fans and all who participated would agree. I’m happy that so many of my friends and family were able to come to the event, and got to enjoy the awesome show put on by Road America and IndyCar. I hope it’s on the calendar for years to come, and that one day I can find a way to be part of it.”

category: Belardi PR
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BELARDI AUTO RACING CONFIRMS FELIX ROSENQVIST FOR INDY LIGHTS

Posted by  on Tuesday, February 23rd 2016     

BELARDI AUTO RACING CONFIRMS FELIX ROSENQVIST FOR INDY LIGHTS

European Formula 3 champion to team with Zach Veach for championship attack

 

Felix Rosenqvist will join Zach Veach at Belardi Auto Racing for a potent two car attack on the 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire championship. (Photo Courtesy of Belardi Auto Racing)

Felix Rosenqvist will join Zach Veach at Belardi Auto Racing for a potent two car attack on the 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire championship. (Photo Courtesy of Belardi Auto Racing)

BROWNSBURG, IN (February 23, 2015) – Belardi Auto Racing is pleased to announce that they have added another extremely talented pilot to their driver roster for the upcoming 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires program, teaming reigning European Formula 3 champion Felix Rosenqvist with multi-time series race winner Zach Veach to form an impressive one-two punch on the Mazda Road to Indy’s top rung.  Rosenqvist tested with the operation at Homestead-Miami Speedway in January and topped the time charts, coming up to speed quickly as he became more comfortable with the car and the team.  Felix and Zach will be back in their trademark red and white Belardi Dallara IL-15s this Thursday for an oval test at Phoenix International Raceway, ahead of the official MRTI test at Barber Motorsports Park on March 5.

“We’re thrilled to have a driver of Felix’s caliber to pair with Zach, as we were determined to provide him with a strong teammate,” offered team Principal Brian Belardi. “After winning the championship with Gabby (Chaves) in 2014, our whole squad has raised its game and our expectations and I’m confident that with these two talented young men in our cars, we’ll contend for both wins and the title itself. I’m very impressed with Felix and I’m excited for the season to begin.”

Rosenqvist, 24, has won everything there is to win in international Formula 3 competition, so a transition to the Indy Lights program is a solid career move for the accomplished Swedish driver.  Victories in the Masters of Formula 3 and Macau Grand Prix marquee events add prestige to his resume, which is headlined by his European F3 championship in 2015, which came on the strength of 13 wins and 24 podiums in the 33 races that were held.

The Swede’s rise through the open wheel ranks has been punctuated with wins and championships.  Before adding the Euro F3 title last year, Felix won the Formula Renault 2.0 Asia crown in 2008 and backed that up with the championship effort in the Formula Renault 2.0 Sweden series. Rosenqvist moved to the German F3 series in 2010 and won two races en route to fifth in the championship, and then advanced into the Euro F3 series in 2011 finishing fifth overall with his first win in the series coming at Hockenheimring.

“I’m really excited about racing in the US this year, and doing so with Belardi Auto Racing,” said Rosenqvist. “Testing went very well and I got to grips with the car pretty much straight away. I like the way the team operates, and the racing seems a lot of fun with a wide variety of circuits and pure driving. Racing on this side of the world will be very different to what I’m used to, but certainly a challenge I’m already relishing.”

The opening round of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires is set for March 11-13 as part of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida.

category: Belardi PR

BELARDI AUTO RACING READY FOR INDY LIGHTS HOMESTEAD TEST

Posted by  on Friday, January 22nd 2016     

BELARDI AUTO RACING READY FOR INDY LIGHTS HOMESTEAD TEST

Race winner Zach Veach to be joined by Felix Rosenqvist on Florida road course

BROWNSBURG, IN (January 22, 2015) – Belardi Auto Racing is ready to break cover at Homestead-Miami Speedway next week to begin their quest to regain the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship that they won in 2014 with Gabby Chaves. The team announced the popular signing of series race winner Zach Veach back in November and the young American will be joined by reigning European F3 champion Felix Rosenqvist on the 2.21-mile 14-turn road course on January 26-27. This is the first official test of the 2016 season and the Mazda Road to Indy technical staff will be trackside to make sure the cars are legal and the drivers are primed and ready to go.

Veach will be making his return to the Indy Lights circuit after taking a year off pursuing an IndyCar seat, and his re-focus on the top level of the Mazda Road to Indy has put him behind the wheel of the new Dallara IL-15 that debuted last year. Veach was back up to speed quickly in his initial off-season tests with the Belardi operation in south Florida, and he is itching to return to the seat to continue preparing for the season, which will kick off on March 11-13 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, an event that Veach won in 2014. An opportunity to win the Indy Lights championship and the lucrative scholarship that includes three IndyCar races, including the Indianapolis 500, is certainly the prime motivator from the young 21-year-old Ohio native.

Rosenqvist, an extremely talented 24-year-old Swedish driver, comes to the Homestead test with Belardi Auto Racing having impressed with Team Pelfrey at Palm Beach in December. The reigning European Formula 3 champion tested with GP2 outfits Status Grand Prix and Prema Powerteam in Abu Dhabi last fall. A move to the Mazda Road to Indy looks imminent for the quick Swede, and he would be a powerful edition to the Belardi Auto Racing stable. Rosenqvist’s resume is stacked, and includes prestigious F3 wins in Pau, Macau and the Masters of Formula 3 events.

“We’re thrilled to have Felix in our second car alongside Zach for the Homestead test and we’re very keen on his running in Belardi red and white this season,” offered Team Principal Brian Belardi. “They both have race-winning pedigrees. Zach has in-depth knowledge of the Mazda Road to Indy venues, and he knows how to win. I know that first-hand, as we had to fight him all year to take the title in 2014. Felix is equally as talented and has a well-developed understanding of the sport and the racecar itself. His resume speaks for it. If we can firm up this team, we’ll be gunning to bring the title back to Brownsburg at the end of 2016.”

The drivers will be on-track at Homestead on Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27. Living timing from the sessions will be available on www.indylights.com.

Source: Belardi Auto Racing press release

category: Belardi PR
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