Archives for Team Pelfrey

Team Pelfrey Indy Lights Re-Locating to Indianapolis

Quick side note from TSO Ladder: I (Steve) had the chance to catch up with Dale Pelfrey in Portland last weekend, and it quickly became clear that the aerospace entrepreneur is committed to being part of the top rung of the American Open Wheel ladder. Pelfrey was also proud of Patricio O’Ward’s Indy Lights victory. The long-time team owner gave the then 15-year-old Mexican a home on his Pro Mazda Presented By Cooper Tire team in 2015.
Team Pelfrey Indy Lights Relocating to Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 7, 2018) – Team Pelfrey is excited to announce that its Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team will be relocating to its Indianapolis headquarters effective immediately.  Having had recent success with its Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires team out of Indianapolis, Team Pelfrey is now focused on re-launching its Indy Lights outfit for the 2019 season, beginning with the Chris Griffis test, September 22-23.

“We are focused on getting the Indy Lights team back on track after a difficult 2018 season,” commented Dale Pelfrey, Founder of Team Pelfrey.  “Having seen the changes Andersen Promotions have put in place for next season, along with consolidating our efforts out of Indianapolis with the Pro Mazda team where we have an exceptional crew, I am looking forward to seeing us back in competition in 2019,” commented Dale Pelfrey.

“It’s a good move for the team, and the push for 2019 starts now,” commented Team Manager, Gary Neal.  “We have had interest for both the Indy Lights and Pro Mazda teams ahead of next season, and it’s our intention to be on track at the Chris Griffis test later this month”.

Team Pelfrey’s Indy Lights and Pro Mazda teams will return to action for the Chris Griffis Open Test, September 22-23.

Hamilton Jr. Returns to Indy Lights with Team Pelfrey for Freedom 100

Indianapolis, Ind. (April 30, 2018) – Team Pelfrey announced today Davey Hamilton Jr. will compete with Team Pelfrey Indy Lights at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Freedom 100, on May 25.

The 21-year-old Idaho-resident returns to Indy Lights after he made his debut in 2016 for the final two races at Laguna Seca. Hamilton’s racing as of late includes the Robby Gordon Stadium Super Truck series, Sprint Carsand USAC Silver Crown series.

“I am extremely happy to join Team Pelfrey and be part of a great operation in my preparation for my first Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said the oval rookie. “We have a rookie test at Kentucky on Monday and I am looking forward toacquaint myself with the car and crew. Huge thank you everyone that is helping me along this journey. ”

“We are really pleased to welcome Davey to the Team Pelfrey Family,” said Gary Neal, team manager of Team Pelfrey Indy Lights. “We have been talking for a couple years and I am happy that we finally put this program together to run the 2018 Freedom 100. We are working on securing more races for 2018 and also the full 2019 campaign.”

Hamilton Jr. will turn his first laps in the Team Pelfrey Mazda this morning at Kentucky Speedway before the series open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 21. The Freedom 100 takes place on Friday, May 25 at 12:30 p.m. ET live on NBC Sports Network.

Road to Indy Veteran Blackstock Ready for New Challenge with Team Pelfrey.

Indianapolis, Ind. (March 6, 2018) – Team Pelfrey announced today Shelby Blackstock will
compete in the signature yellow No. 3 Team Pelfrey Indy Lights Mazda to begin the 2018 Indy
Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season.
The 28-year- old Nashville, Tenn. resident will enter his seventh season on the Road to Indy
alongside his new teammate, Neil Alberico. Lasts season, Blackstock finished a career-best
third-place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. His highest finish on the Streets of St. Petersburg
came last year when he finished fourth in Race One.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend at St. Petersburg. This was a last-minute deal and
I’m very grateful for everybody who helped out in the process of putting it together,” said
Blackstock. “I’m looking forward to working with Team Pelfrey for the first time and hopefully
we come out of the weekend with exceptional results.”
With the announcement of Blackstock, Team Pelfrey will now enter their third season in Indy
Lights fielding a two-car operation at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“The offseason for us has been interesting but adding Neil and Shelby to the team here in the
last week has our team very excited and motivated,” said Gary Neal, team manager of Team
Pelfrey Indy Lights. “Experience anywhere in racing is important, but knowledge and experience
around the street circuit at St. Pete is vital. We’re grateful to have two drivers with exceptional
experience and talent in our cars.”
Blackstock will turn his first laps since the final weekend of the season in September of 2017
when practice for the Mazda Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg begins on Friday at 8:50
a.m. ET. The first race takes place on Saturday, March 10 at 1:05 p.m. ET. You can watch all of
the sessions live on RoadtoIndy.TV.

Neil Alberico Set to Drive for Team Pelfrey in St. Pete

Neil Alberico Set to Drive for Team Pelfrey in St. Pete

Neil Alberico Set to Drive for Team Pelfrey in St. Pete
Indianapolis, Ind. (March 5, 2018) – Team Pelfrey announced today that 25-year-old Indy Lights driver Neil Alberico will drive the No. 2 Team Pelfrey Indy Lights Mazda for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Weekend.

“I would like to thank Rising Star Racing (RSR) and Team Pelfrey for granting me this opportunity. I have been working hard over the course of the offseason, both in the United States and in the Philippines to generate support and awareness for my career and the sport of open-wheel racing,” Alberico said. “The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the next step in my career as a professional driver in the premier sport of open-wheel racing in North America.”

(Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

The Los Gatos, Calif. driver returns to the Indy Lights field for his third season. Last season, Alberico achieved career-best finishes of third-place at St. Petersburg and at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. He will be entering his seventh season on the Mazda Road to Indy.

“It is going to be fantastic to have Neil in a Team Pelfrey Indy Lights car at St. Pete next weekend,” said Gary Neal, team manager of Team Pelfrey’s Indy Lights operation. “Having watched Neil’s progress over the last two seasons I expect to be at the sharp end of the field and can’t wait to get back on track.”

RSR’s founder and CEO, Art Wilmes is encouraged by the opportunity.

“Rising Star Racing is proud that Neil is teaming with Team Pelfrey. I want to especially thank Dale Pelfrey and Gary Neil for their efforts,” Wilmes said. It has been a pleasure to work with both of them, over the course of our deliberations.”

Alberico will turn his first laps since the final weekend of the season in September of 2017 when practice for the Mazda Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg begins on Friday at 8:50 a.m. ET. The first race takes place on Saturday, March 10 at 1:05 p.m. ET. You can watch all of the sessions live on RoadtoIndy.TV.

Team Pelfrey Signs Brazilian Talent, Rafael Martins

Homestead, Fla. (February 23, 2018) – Team Pelfrey announced this morning that Brazilian driver Rafael “Rafa” Martins will begin the 2018 season with Team Pelfrey in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

The 19-year-old was a standout rookie with TRS Arden in the 2016 F4 British Championship, winning at Oulton Park and tallying two podium finishes during the season. Martins comes to the United States for the first time, seeking to become a professional race car driver via the Mazda Road to Indy and Team Pelfrey.

Rafael Martins will be joining the 2018 Pro Mazda Presented By Cooper Tire series with Team Pelfrey (Photo Courtesy of Team Pelfrey)

“My goal is to become a professional driver and to be the best I can be,” said Martins.

“This whole process started when my manager, Luigi Di Nizo, had another driver he was managing that drove for Team Pelfrey and had a good year and a great experience here (Team Pelfrey). We feel this is a great opportunity to take the next step in my career.”

“Tony Kanaan has kept an eye on Rafa’s steps for the last few years and is helping Rafa transition to North American open-wheel racing and the Road to Indy,” said Di Nizo.

When asked about the rookie’s talent and signing, General Manager of Team Pelfrey, Jonny Baker said, “Rafael is an excellent addition to Team Pelfrey and the Mazda Road to Indy. He’s a proven race winner in Europe, and we have been impressed with his all-around performance both in and out of the car.  I’m sure making the move to North America is an exciting one for him, and Pro Mazda is definitely shaping up to be competitive in 2018.”

Martins joins his two Pro Mazda rookie teammates, Sting Ray Robb and Andres Gutierrez, for the Road to Indy Spring Training event at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday and Sunday. You can follow the timing and scoring system by downloading the Road to Indy TV app, or by going to RoadToIndy.TV.

DUPELL CONFIRMED AT TEAM PELFREY

Indianapolis, Ind. – Team Pelfrey is delighted to announce that Kyle Dupell has signed with the team for the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda season. Dupell will team up alongside teammates Julian van der Watt and Bruna Tomaselli.

“It is with great pleasure that we can confirm Kyle will be on the team with us this season in USF2000”, Jonny Baker, General Manager of Team Pelfrey commented. “Kyle has shown his exceptional talent in the karting ranks, earning a ticket to the Grand Finals last year and when he tested with us, his outright speed and potential were extremely evident. We are proud and excited to name him as a Team Pelfrey driver.”

The Salem, Oregon-native will make the transition from karting to open-wheel racing with one of the most successful junior open-wheel teams in the Mazda Road to Indy with 10 championships, 96 race wins and 206 podium finishes. Dupell will pilot the No. 81 Opal Creek Capital / Team Pelfrey Mazda.

“I’m excited to be driving with Team Pelfrey on the Mazda Road to Indy because I immediately felt comfortable the second we arrived at MSR Houston,” commented Dupell. “Jonny (Baker) and Jeremy (Grenier) took me under their wing and helped me make great strides during our test. I think we can do great things together with their support in 2018. Thank you to Pro Race Management for making everything possible this year.”

TEAM PELFREY ADDS BRUNA TOMASELLI TO THEIR 2018 USF2000 ROSTER

Indianapolis, Ind. – Team Pelfrey is very happy to announce that Bruna Tomaselli has signed with the team for the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The 2018 season begins at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 9-11.

“I am very excited to welcome Bruna to Team Pelfrey,” noted Team Pelfrey General Manager Jonny Baker. “We have been talking for a while, and the more and more we spoke it became apparent that not only will Bruna be a good fit with Team Pelfrey, but we will also provide a positive environment and infrastructure that will allow her to flourish in her sophomore season. We have plenty of track time between now and St. Petersburg and I can’t wait to see what the season has in store for us as a partnership.”

The 20-year-old Brazilian made the transition to the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires in 2017 after finishing fourth in the Formula 4 Championship in South America where she notably collected five podiums and top-10 finishes in 18 of the 20 races in 2016. Tomaselli joined the USF2000 National Championship Class for 2017, before she immediately transitioned to the Tatuus USF-17 after the opening rounds at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The rookie progressed throughout the course of the season and is ready to make a statement in 2018 piloting the No. 82 Bruna & Bia / Team Pelfrey Mazda.

“During my rookie season, I learned a lot and this year I’ve aligned myself with Team Pelfrey, which is a team of great tradition on the Mazda Road to Indy with an excellent structure,” commented Tomaselli. “As a team, I believe we will be competitive and we’ll do our best to always be fighting for the podium.”

Team Pelfrey is looking to add to their ongoing stat sheet in 2018, which includes 10 championships, 96 race wins and 206 podiums. Visit PelfreyPower.com for more information as the team looks to finalize its driver line-ups, and follow @TeamPelfrey on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with all of the off-season action.

Team Pelfrey signs van der Watt for 2018 USF2000 campaign

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Indianapolis, Ind. – Team Pelfrey is thrilled to announce Julian van der Watt has signed with the team for the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

“Julian came over and tested with us in October, his first outing in a USF2000 car, and we immediately saw why he dominated the South African F1600 Championship,” stated Team Pelfrey General Manager Jonny Baker. “Not only was he fast, but his consistency and work ethic were all on display for us to see. Julian’s decision to move to the Mazda Road to Indy is fantastic news for Team Pelfrey and the series and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on throughout the 2018 season.”

Cape Town, South Africa native van der Watt has made the transition to race on the first step of the Mazda Road to Indy after winning numerous South African Championships. Van der Watt was most recently crowned 2017 South African F1600 Champion where he collected 13 wins from 14 races.

“I am really excited about racing in the 2018 USF2000 Championship,” noted van der Watt, “especially with a top team such as Team Pelfrey. We will be working hard throughout the year to ensure we are battling for the top step of the podium.”

With 10 championships, 96 race wins and 206 podiums, Team Pelfrey is one of the most successful junior open-wheel teams in North America. The 20-year-old rookie will make his first start with the #PelfreyPower squad at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where the team secured its first USF2000 victory in 2017, on March 9-11. Visit PelfreyPower.com for more updates throughout the off-season or visit @TeamPelfrey on social media.

Sting Ray Robb Pairs with Team Pelfrey for the 2018 Pro Mazda Season

Indianapolis, Ind. – Team Pelfrey are delighted to confirm that Sting Ray Robb will pilot their first Tatuus PM-18 chassis for the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season. The Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires will commence at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 9-11.

“It’s hugely exciting to welcome Sting Ray back to Team Pelfrey,” commented General Manager Jonny Baker. “I say back, because he tested with us a few years ago in F1600 and we immediately saw how much potential he possessed then. We have had Sting Ray in the new PM-18 for a couple of tests now, and we are convinced he will surprise a lot of people next year. He’s still only 16, and we will work hard together not only to keep developing the car, but also to get the most out of him. We are looking forward to an exciting year!”

With 10 championships, 96 race wins and 206 podiums, Robb secures his sophomore season with one of the most successful junior open-wheel teams in the Mazda Road to Indy. The Payette, Idaho native will the pilot the No. 82 Trademark Dental, Munk Family Dental, Intervention.com / Team Pelfrey Mazda.

“After my rookie season in Pro Mazda, Team Pelfrey is the proper progression for me to take advantage of the Mazda Road to Indy in my sophomore season,” stated Robb. “As a team, we are well underway with the new car and the chemistry within the Pelfrey organization is fantastic. When I was transitioning into cars at age 14, Pelfrey was instrumental in helping me with my decision to go open-wheel racing. We did our homework this off season and Pelfrey was the perfect fit. We have some work to do, but no doubt 2018 is going to be great year! I look forward to driving that Pelfrey Power and rewarding the team that has put their trust in me.”

Team Pelfrey Signs Julian van der Watt for 2018 USF2000 Season

Team Pelfrey Signs Julian van der Watt for 2018 USF2000 Season

Indianapolis, Ind. (December 19, 2017) – Team Pelfrey is thrilled to announce Julian van der Watt has signed with the team for the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda.

“Julian came over and tested with us in October, his first outing in a USF2000 car, and we immediately saw why he dominated the South African F1600 Championship” stated Team Pelfrey General Manager, Jonny Baker. “Not only was he fast, but his consistency and work ethic were all on display for us to see. Julian’s decision to move to the Mazda Road to Indy is fantastic news for Team Pelfrey and the series and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on throughout the 2018 season.”

Cape Town, South Africa native van der Watt has made the transition to race on the first step of the Mazda Road to Indy after winning numerous South African Championships. Van der Watt was most recently crowned 2017 South African F1600 Champion where he collected 13 wins from 14 races.

“I am really excited about racing in the 2018 USF2000 Championship,” Noted van der Watt. “Especially with a top team such as Team Pelfrey. We will be working hard throughout the year to ensure we are battling for the top step of the podium.”

Newest Team Pelfrey USF2000 signee Julian van der Watt in testing (Photo Courtesy of Team Pelfrey)

With 10 championships, 96 race wins and 206 podiums, Team Pelfrey is one of the most successful junior open-wheel teams in North America. The 20-year-old rookie will make his first start with the #PelfreyPower squad at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where the team secured its first USF2000 victory in 2017, on March 9-11. Visit PelfreyPower.com for more updates throughout the off-season or visit @TeamPelfrey on social media.

Source: Team Pelfrey PR

 

  • van der Watt is the first Team Pelfrey driver and third USF2000 driver to be confirmed with a team, joining Darren Keane (Newman Wachs Racing) and Darren Keane (Newman Wachs Racing).
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