Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Author: Official Release

  • CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Christian Lundgaard Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Christian Lundgaard Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
    INDYCAR CONTENT DAYS
    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
    PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
    JANUARY 14, 2025

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, met with members of the media at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Press Conference Transcript:

    THE MODERATOR: Joined now by Christian Lundgaard, who will be in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet this coming season, beginning his fourth full year in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, a podium at the Indy GP for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing last season before making the jump to the new team this year. Papaya is looking okay on you. Are you getting used to it?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I feel seen now, visually. It’s a very bright color, papaya. It’s exciting.

    I think the moment that I knew, it was pretty difficult to not really say anything because you want it to get out because you’re excited. But obviously it’s happening now, so I’m very, very excited for the season.

    Q. How would you describe this transition to the new team?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: It’s been very smooth, to be honest. Obviously we did the test in October. It was exciting for me to try to feel the car on an oval, obviously, going into the Sebring test, as well, I’m just excited to feel it in different circumstances. But the transition with everybody has been very, very smooth. A lot of familiar faces, a lot of new faces, as well, and I think really that’s the challenge.

    It’s the first time in my career that I drive for a different team in the same series. That’s the only thing that really takes some getting used to.

    Q. What’s it been like switching from Honda to Chevy?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: It’s been very smooth, as well. Obviously I received a lot of questions from Chevy at the test at Indy, and I was kind of surprised in some of the differences. There’s obviously a few differences, but there was also some that was not really because of any manufacturer, just because of the car, and a lot of it turns out to kind of translate to just being the philosophy of the cars that were actually different.

    But no, I think looking at where Chevy was in May, it’s something that I’m very excited for, and it’s a challenge that I’m prepared for at other tracks.

    But I think it’s going to be a positive for me there. They’ve given me a lot of information and just resources for me to get up to speed from the get-go, which I appreciated a lot.

    Q. I think you’ve had probably two of the most underrated runs in the 500 coming from the back. You’ve been very consistent in that race. Now being with a team that has consistently been at the front at the Indianapolis 500, I know you don’t want to look ahead of the first couple of races, but obviously the big elephant in the room is always the Indianapolis 500. How important was that test, getting some experience, and do you feel like you’re going to have to get a lot of data information during the April test to set yourself up for a run in May?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I mean, yes. I mean, at the end of the day, having done this for three years, having been in the race, fortunately/unfortunately I’ve had the pleasure of coming from the back.

    In a way, I take that as a positive now because I’ve learned to race from the back with the most turbulent air. Obviously I don’t necessarily have the benefit of the more clean air, but I think from a race craft standpoint, I feel very confident in that.

    The one thing I do believe is at the end of the day, the cars feel very similar but yet very different, but I think for me, it’s more the car has a lot more pure pace than what I’ve had previously.

    I think it’s going to come easier in that sense, but I think the drivers that you race against are going to be battling harder for each position, which is going to be the challenge.

    Q. Is there a track in particular that you say, I need to work a little bit more at or I need to get better at? Obviously there was a couple tracks last year we went to for the first time. We think of you, think of the Indy GP, you think of Toronto, you think of those places. Is it maybe the short ovals? Where do you feel you need to improve in 2025?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Honestly, all of them. I think being in a new car with new people, not having the information from the prior year, any data, it’s going to be tough in that sense. Obviously I know my way around, but there’s a lot of tricks and small little fine tunings that I think we all need to nail at the time, and we achieved that prior in some races and some we didn’t.

    But I think from my own perspective, yes, the ovals are something that I need to improve. Having been in a position where it’s fighting for dear life just to a certain regard just getting the car home, and it’s tough enough to fight other cars out there, I’m excited for that challenge.

    I’m excited to kind of feel more competitive. I did that at the 500 in 2024 when we came from the back. We were leading at some point — yes, we were on a different strategy, but at least you didn’t really feel hopeless or helpless for that matter, and it’s a lot more fun that way.

    But I think all types of circuits, there’s going to be some fine tuning, because at the end of the day I was strong in one street circuit but not so much the other for whatever reason that might have been. I think our main goal for 2025 specifically is to make sure that we’re as competitive as we can be on every single racetrack.

    Q. Obviously with changing teams comes a lot of change. Change of culture; change of learning Honda to Chevy. Do you embrace change? Is it difficult? How do you handle change? Is that something that you tackle or is it just kind of uncomfortable to?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: It’s how life goes, man. There’s always changes. I mean, it’s been a smooth transition so far. I enjoy it. I think change is good at times.

    When things are working, never change them, obviously, but it was time for a change, and we were all up for the challenge. Race engineer, the entire team, me, everybody behind me. I think we’ll make the most of it for sure.

    Q. Obviously you want to improve from year to year. Do you try to improve from the 45 car or do you look at what the 7 car, what Alexander did in that ride last year? How do you balance that as far as looking at a short-term goal for next season?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Well, ultimately I can always use Alex as a reference in that sense, and I can use myself in a different car. Obviously I can use the experience that I have from one car, but bringing it into another, it’s a different philosophy depending on the track, even all tracks might be a different driving style than what I’m used to, and obviously that’s the adaptation that I need to be able to handle.

    I guess we’ll see, but I’ve taken all the information that I’ve been provided to me, and obviously what I don’t necessarily need, I can always throw away. But it’s about learning as much and having the information and then taking use of it.

    Q. It’s not just a driving thing or a difference in the race car at McLaren; this is a team that is internationally famous. You see it with all of the drivers who drive for McLaren. You kind of gain international fame. You look around the racetracks, you see the jerseys and the merch that’s sold, that seems to out-sell every other team. What is it like to have that additional side to this deal, not just you have to learn a new team, a new car, but you also have a lot more maybe social pressure to perform?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Everybody loves papaya. You know, all my friends, they are like, wow, what is all this papaya running around? Who are these guys?

    Yes, it’s in a way a lot of pressure, but I think it’s fantastic. I think what I saw the McLaren F1 team do from where they were a couple of years ago to where they are now, from a performance side, and just seeing the impact from a spectator and a fan side, it’s what we’re seeing here now, as well.

    It was a no-brainer for me to make this transition when the offer occurred because seeing where they’re headed is something that I wanted to be a part of.

    I’ve been a part of another Formula 1 team in the past, so I understand the importance of all the media that we have to do. And that was the big question that I was asked at first, and I’m like, well, I’m used to it, I don’t mind. It’s a part of the world.

    Q. Some of the other drivers who have been a part of this program have gotten an opportunity. Is there any desire or a clause in a contract about a Formula 1 test incentive at some point?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: No. I’ve been a part of that, and in my opinion it’s passed. INDYCAR is where I want to be. Obviously I’ll never say no in the sense that it’s not a possibility, but it’s certainly not where my intentions are. It’s here in INDYCAR.

    Q. You spent the better part of a decade trying to get to F1. You’re going into your fourth INDYCAR season. Does INDYCAR feel like home now?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Absolutely. It did from day one. I don’t really think this has really come out, even though I know I’ve said it multiple times before. INDYCAR reminds me of go-karts, which is what I fell in love with in the sport.

    It’s the atmosphere, the way everything works around. It’s more — it’s about the racing rather than everything else. Yes, everything else comes with it, but it’s ultimately whoever finishes — crosses the start-finish line first is who wins. It’s just pure racing.

    Q. Is that maybe why we’ve seen Callum, Marcus, now Robert Shwartzman all finding a home here, guys that were really successful on the road to Formula 1 but just not quite there? Is it nice to have a place that you can come and find and make a career?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Absolutely. I mean, I think Callum and I, in my opinion, I think Felix was a little ahead of time before people really realized from the European side what INDYCAR really was. I don’t think there was enough attention back then.

    It’s obviously growing a lot more now, but I think me and Callum sort of opened the doors for Europeans to okay, this is an actual option, and because we were followed from Europe, I think it opened a lot of eyes of how amazing INDYCAR actually is.

    I think all the Europeans are kind of stuck in the Formula 1 world and don’t really realize what we are doing, and I hope we’re here to help change that. Obviously even Will coming on board is a big factor for us, as well.

    Q. Obviously with RLL they’ve sort of made clear that their oval package wasn’t as strong as it should be or where they wanted it to be, but McLaren on the know hand have a good oval package and the team have won races. From a personal standpoint we maybe haven’t seen what you can do in ovals, so from your perspective do you believe you’re at the standard where you can compete at the front on ovals?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Of course it is a question, but I think it’s now a time where I can prove that. I think ultimately it’s we’ll see whenever we get to May, but I’m very optimistic. I have high hopes myself.

    Q. Joining McLaren, you’ve now obviously got the support of Tony Kanaan. Have you learned much from him yet, and is there anything you’re looking to get out of him?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, I’ve spoken a lot to Tony about a lot of different topics. Obviously ovals being one of them. He’s been a mentor from an outside standpoint of view, as well, to other people, kind of covering, as well, because he’s been in the position where he’s won a 500, been in a not-so-good car and knows what it’s like driving a car that doesn’t necessarily handle the way we want or is purely fast enough.

    It’s just tough. He’s been a big part of, one, giving me this opportunity, as well, but also understanding and kind of telling people, hey, wait and see until he’s in this car.

    Q. I was just wondering, your road course results in 2024 were strong compared to your new teammate Pato O’Ward’s. How do you intend to carry that momentum while adapting to McLaren’s different car philosophy?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: That’s interesting. I didn’t even know that. I’ll have to tell him.

    I mean, I’m going to try to improve those stats on the other two types of circuits but sort of keep my road course then, I guess.

    At the end of the day, my previous position has always been — well, for the past three years, have been we know what we had on certain types of tracks and we knew that we were struggling an ovals. Obviously we were trying to improve.

    We didn’t improve as much as we would have liked in the time frame, but we also didn’t improve enough on road and street circuits where I think the potential that Arrow McLaren has is massive. I’m not even in doubt that we will have all of those nailed.

    Q. You’ve mentioned before in this press conference that change is part of life. Considering the previous test that you had in October with the McLaren car, have you changed something from your preparation for this season?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: I think — yes, the preparation has changed, but it’s minor. I don’t really believe that there’s a big reason to turn things upside down because at the end of the day, I was chosen for what I was able to do, so I don’t think there’s any reason to change that.

    I think there’s just been things added on. Obviously a change of team takes time. It takes a lot of effort to get up to speed on certain things.

    We’ve spent a lot of time preparing for that and getting up to speed as fast as we can, but I would say from my specific off-season standpoint, I think it’s been nice to be home with family spending the holidays, and we’re now back, and it’s business time.

    Q. Another thing you’ve mentioned before is that your goal this season is to be as competitive as possible. To be that competitive, for example, is Pato O’Ward, who is the veteran driver of the team, is he a reference to be equally as competitive as him during the season in terms of results, or will a victory or podium be good for you?

    CHRISTIAN LUNDGAARD: Yeah, considering — this is my own standpoint of view, considering I already have podiums, I have a win, funnily enough it’s a P1, P2 and P3. I don’t have multiple of any of them yet.

    But I think what Arrow McLaren and Pato did through the 2024 season, especially in Mid-Ohio with the hybrid being introduced, being the first winner also showed me that they’re up for the challenge and they’re ahead of everybody else.

    For me going into this season, it’s not to take the first couple of races getting up to speed. We want to be ready to fight for podiums and wins from the get-go.

    At the end of the day, I want to win all races. We all do. But I think by doing that, you have to be competitive in every single event and put yourself in the best position to have a good result. Again, by doing that, you need to be competitive from the get-go.

    About General Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • Forte Racing and Huntress Gear Up for the Iconic Rolex 24 at DAYTONA

    Forte Racing and Huntress Gear Up for the Iconic Rolex 24 at DAYTONA

    Monrovia, California (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) – Huntress Founder & CEO Kyle Hanslovan is set to accelerate the cybersecurity game by teaming up with Forte Racing’s IMSA WeatherTech Lamborghini GTD entry at this month’s iconic Rolex 24 at DAYTONA. The Rolex 24 at DAYTONA is a test of endurance and precision, and Forte Racing is ready to push limits with the support of Huntress.

    “Partnering with Forte Racing is an exciting opportunity for Huntress. Success in both cybersecurity and motorsports relies on strategy, precision, and constant vigilance. Just as protecting digital landscapes demands quick thinking and adaptability, so does making split-second decisions on the racetrack. Together with Forte Racing, we’re proud to unite our passions and support a team that embodies our shared values of determination and excellence,” said Kyle Hanslovan, Founder & CEO, Huntress.

    Forte Racing, in partnership with Huntress, is bringing the heat with an all-star lineup. Rolex 24 veteran Misha Goikhberg will be joined by two-time IMSA WeatherTech Champion Mario Farnbacher, Big Machine Racing ace Parker Kligerman, and Lamborghini factory driver Franck Perera. Perera, a former Formula 1 Toyota test driver, who won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2018 and celebrated victory in the GTD Pro class at the 2024 Petit Le Mans. This talented roster will pilot the Huntress-branded Lamborghini, showcasing that innovation and grit drive success both on the track and in cybersecurity.

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Huntress, a leader in cybersecurity. Just as our team pushes the limits on the track, Huntress relentlessly defends against cyber threats, allowing us to focus on winning while they safeguard our data. Together, we share a commitment to precision, speed, and excellence—whether in motorsports or digital defense,” said Shane Seneviratne, Team Principal, Forte Racing.

    In the world of motorsports, where data and technology play a critical role, the partnership with Huntress ensures that Forte Racing stays ahead, both on and off the track. This partnership goes beyond branding—it’s a bold statement that with Huntress, businesses of all sizes can leave cyber threats in the dust. Buckle up, hackers. Huntress is here to win.

    Follow Forte Racing at Daytona on the team’s Instagram and on the live broadcasts. There are multiple ways to watch the action unfold live.

    Coverage begins Thursday, Jan. 23 at 2:05 p.m. ET with WeatherTech Qualifying live on Peacock(U.S.), IMSA.com (Global), and YouTube (International). NBC Network covers the start and conclusion of the race with air times Saturday, Jan. 25, at 1:30 p.m. ET and Sunday, Jan. 26, at 12 p.m. ET, while USA Network coverage is Saturday, Jan. 25, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. For live flag-to-flag coverage, tune into Peacock (U.S.) and YouTube (International), starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 25.

    Stay tuned and don’t miss a moment of the action! If you’d like to meet Shane or Kyle at the race track to learn more about this partnership, please contact Trish at trish@usracetronics.com.

    *Designs by Andy Blackmore

    About Forte Racing (Formerly known as US RaceTronics)

    Forte Racing is a Los Angeles and Charlotte based Motorsport team, supported by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar GTD Championship, the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series.

    While the Forte Racing brand was created in 2023, the team is operated by Shane Seneviratne’s US RaceTronics which was founded in 2005 to compete in the formula car Atlantic Championship. The team finished 5th in points its first year and ultimately amassed a total of 21 podiums, 7 poles, 5 race wins and finishing 3rd in the 2009 Atlantic Championship before the Series was put on hiatus.

    Seneviratne fully returned to racing in 2015 managing entries in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American (LBSTNA) Series. The team won the Team Championship, Dealership Championship, Pro Championship and Amateur Championship that season. That success reignited Seneviratne’s passion for racing and he relaunched US RaceTronics to compete in the 2016 LBSTNA Series. The team has won multiple North American and World Championships since switching to IMSA racing.

    In 2023 the team expanded to include an IMSA WeatherTech GTD entry with their Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 GT3, driven by Misha Goikhberg and Loris Spinelli. The team finished the 2023 and 2024 seasons with four top five finishes in each season and included a 2nd-place finish at Indianapolis and VIR, along with a win at the 2023 season-finale Petit Le Mans and a 2nd-place finish at Petit Le Mans in 2024. The team finished fifth in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship in its first two seasons, further solidifying their reputation as a rising force in the GTD Championship.

    For more information on how to become a driver with US RaceTronics, learn more about the Series, or attend a race, visit www.forteracing.com.

    About Huntress

    Huntress is the enterprise-grade cybersecurity solution for all businesses, not just the 1%. With award-winning products developed by an industry-defining team of security analysts, engineers, and researchers, Huntress elevates underresourced tech teams whether they work within outsourced or in-house environments. A 24/7 human-powered security operations center (SOC) manages its fully owned security tech stack, and the Huntress team covers cyber threats through remediation with a false-positive rate of less than 1%. Huntress is passionate about breaking down barriers to enterprise-level security and giving back more than it takes, sharing tradecraft analysis and threat advisories with the community as they happen. For more information about Huntress, visit www.huntress.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Founded by Lamborghini Charlotte CEO and long time real estate developer, John E. Littlefield, Change Racing is the premier championship winning team. Claiming 18 titles in various classes; Change Racing has competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series since its inception in 2013.

    Most recently claiming the 2021 Amateur World Championship in Misano, Italy. Change Racing also claimed all SIX 2020 North American Championships, including the Pro, Pro-Am, Am and LB Cup class championships as well as the Team and Owner championships.

    About O’Gara Motorsport

    O’Gara Motorsport was founded in 2014 by owner Tom O’Gara and celebrated winning the 2015 North American Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver and team Championships. The team goal is to achieve victories in the Series as well as showcasing the brands of their sponsors both on and off the track. With a vertically integrated platform that starts at the dealership and accelerates to the top levels of professional sports car racing, everyone at O’Gara is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program for anyone, from the casually curious to the dedicated racer.

  • CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Santino Ferrucci Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Santino Ferrucci Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
    INDYCAR CONTENT DAYS
    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
    PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
    JANUARY 14, 2025

    SANTINO FERRUCCI, driver of the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, met with the media at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Press Conference Transcript:

    MODERATOR: Continuing on, joined now by Santino Ferrucci, back with the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, beginning his eighth year in the NTT INDYCAR Series, an NTT P1 award winner in Portland and two top 5s last season, looking to build on that a little bit more. I know you’re anxious to get back in the car.

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I’m anxious to get back in the Chili Bowl car, too, in like three days.

    Q. You’re busy this week, huh?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, as well as a lot of drivers from INDYCAR go to do Daytona 24 and I’m out, ripping it, slinging mud, man.

    Q. What do you like most about that?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: It’s old school racing, super grass-roots. A lot of fun. It’s probably one of the most competitive events for racing, 390 entries, boils down to 24 at the end on Saturday.

    It’s a good challenge. It’s a different discipline. I feel like a lot of people can go and drive a prototype or GT car with all the aids and assists, and this is tough.

    Q. I assume it doesn’t take a while to convince you to do something like this. AJ is not that one.

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, and Larry (Foyt) is coming out for Friday, for Freedom Night, so it’ll be exciting to have the boss there.

    Q. Santino, in some ways you and David are a little bit similar. You’re kind of like birds of a feather. You both have a sense of humor, always look at the fun side of life. How cool is it going to be to have him as a teammate?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I think it will be really nice. It’s nice to spend some time with him here on content days. Definitely change of pace for me to learn a new teammate. Everything that’s been going on has been a good time. I haven’t hung out with him outside of work yet, so we’ll fix that, I’m sure, throughout the year. But yeah, it’ll be a good year together.

    Q. Also FOX is knocking it out of the ballpark in terms of promotion and marketing and getting the word out about INDYCAR and they’re the home of INDYCAR and making you guys recognizable athletes. How cool is it to be part of that?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Man, the fact that Tom Brady is in our commercial is pretty stout. I’m not gonna lie.

    The fact that FOX has taken this on and is doing what they’re — even their set here today with all the tracks and the time, money and effort they’re putting into this is incredible for the series, for the sport, for us as drivers.

    It’s going to build our brands. It’s going to make us known and hopefully back to that level to where we can compete with Formula 1 and NASCAR on a weekend basis for viewership and audience.

    Q. Obviously you had a really strong year last year. What can you do to build on that for this season?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, so towards the end of the year we definitely picked up the pole, the two top 5s, really strong run in Nashville with another — I think we qualified in the top 5 if it wasn’t for the engine penalty.

    But all of that is just building on the success that we had throughout the year, building setups, building books. Our engineering staff last year was almost completely brand new, so it took a while for us to learn, and the Penske alliance, as well, for us to learn that, and we started to figure out towards the end of the year. Not having an off-season, a lot of sim time with Chevrolet and continuing to work all under one roof now since our shop is now in Indy. My shop is not based in Houston. It’s going to be game changing, and I think we can just expect more success, just more time 5s, hopefully some more poles, and that maiden win.

    Q. It’s been a couple of years since you’ve had a teammate to push you a little bit and that you might be able to learn from. How much are you looking forward to that?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Trust me, the last two teammates that I had were pretty awesome in that regard. My first year Sebastien Bourdais was awesome to say the least, and then working with Palou who I had known from Europe was also really, really good, and it was a challenge for us both to push each other in the right way.

    Having someone like David, it should be no different. Just keep pushing each other, trying to make each other better, the same with every teammate that we’ve had. Just keep trying to push each other in the right direction.

    Q. Big change in the off-season, the departure of Michael Cannon, someone you’ve had a great working relationship with. Obviously he’s a big part of the secret sauce of why the Foyt team has risen up, but I’m sure he’s not the entire part of it. What is the expectation for this year with that relationship going away?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Trust me, I’ve known Cannon since I came into the sport. In 2018 I got and still have a fantastic relationship with him. He’s someone that I call to chat and BS with from time to time.

    Yeah, obviously it’s a bummer. Sometimes the stars just don’t always align. I drive the car, and I’m very, very confident in our engineering staff this year. We have Mike Armbrester who’s going to lead my car; James Schnabel who’s going to move over to Malukas’s car; and with Adam Kolesar and CJ Nielsen and Collin Hendershot, we have a very, very solid engineering program going right now.

    A lot of that I do believe is thanks to Mike, and I wish him very much the best of luck at PREMA. They’ll be a force at Indy, I’m sure. A little concerned racing against them. It’s always tough.

    Q. We’ve heard a lot of drivers talk about getting in the sim and not having a lot of time in this off-season to get behind the wheel of something. You’re doing that this weekend with the Chili Bowl. When I spoke with you at Milwaukee or Iowa, you said you learned a lot of things in that Chili Bowl that you used on the ovals as far as sliding around and how to work a car. How much is this week doing the Chili Bowl prep for some of these ovals we’re going to see this year?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: A lot. You look at Milwaukee, all the slider passes that we made, all the positions gained, and the two cars that were doing it the most were Daly and myself, both of which have NASCAR experience, dirt experience.

    So understanding those lines where the track can move, it was a big advantage, especially for people that hadn’t raced there. It definitely showed, he got himself a podium and we had two top 5s.

    The Chili Bowl for me, it’s probably the only time I get out of a car after an event and I’m kind of shaking because it’s just so unnatural and it’s such a challenge for me that my nerves and my body is just very much like it is at the speedway here when you’re qualifying. Everything is just dialed up to 10.

    So it’s nice to kind of be practicing that and working on stuff like that mentally before I get back in the INDYCAR because everything slows right back down once I get behind the wheel of the 14.

    Q. Last season we were talking a little bit and you said you felt like 2025, you have a legitimate shot at a championship. Now we’re in 2025. Still feel like a championship potential season?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Oh, yeah. I think when I said that, I think a lot of people kind of laughed at me. You look at where we would have finished in oval points, and then you look at how we did at the end of the year for the last leg of the season. I wasn’t messing around when I said I think we can run for a championship.

    Yeah, there’s a lot that goes into it, but the biggest part is consistency, and that’s one thing that I know we have, and that’s something that you can’t teach.

    Finishing almost all but two races last year, just one mechanical and one I’m not sure from Toronto, I think that shows. I think if we put that to this year and what we had going at the end of last year plus the development all winter long being under one roof, we’re going to be a force.

    Q. How do you temper those expectations and also championship is a culture, and how has that evolved in maybe even the off-season with AJ Foyt Racing and holding people accountable and being sure that you don’t lose anything from last season but take that next step?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I think one of the biggest things in motorsports is, one, I’m very thankful I’m in this position. Very lucky to be here. Very lucky to be driving the 14. You’ve got to have fun. The most fun I’ve had in this car were at races in Milwaukee. We’re joking on the road. We’re having a good time, we’re passing cars. Pull up Portland, I mean, going down the backstretch, just remembering those types of emotions is why we do it.

    Racing is 99 percent disappointment. Just the nature of the game, unfortunately.

    I think having that very positive, happy, we-love-what-we-do mentality and that small-team mentality is what’s going to propel us to keep those expectations at bay and to keep pushing every weekend to want to make ourselves better.

    Q. Back to the Chili Bowl. How mindblowing is that event? Talking about unnatural, you’re racing indoors at an exposition center. By the time you go through all those elimination rounds, it really is the best of the best of the best of the best racers in the world competing for that. When you look at that as an event, how mindblowing is it?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: It’s incredible. I mean, it’s kind of strange to me that I’m still the only INDYCAR driver other than — well, Katherine now this year — that really competes in it. I think part of the reason is because it’s humbling, man. It’s tough to go into a building and just get rocked by some of these kids because they’ve been — they’re also kids, too.

    You have like 15 and 16 year olds out there that they race every weekend, are very, very good at the midget stuff. For someone that comes in gets six laps of practice and runs it once a year, it’s a hard transition to manage.

    But I love it. It’s the best of the best. The A feature on Saturday night is always one of the coolest races to watch. You have Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, all these big NASCAR names, Kyle Busch going this year.

    I think that goes to show what that race means in the oval world, in the grass-roots, NASCAR world in general. And yeah, I hope to make A Main on Friday night. That’s my goal. If I can do that, I would be incredibly happy. It would be like a win.

    Q. Speaking of kids, do you expect to see Brexton in that race someday soon?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I’m not sure how old he is –

    Q. He’s got a few years to go.

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, I mean, even with the micro stuff, yeah, that’s primarily why I don’t run the micros is just the age range is a little bit different. Just the maturity in the Chili Bowl and the midgets, you’ve got to have a lot of respect for those guys because they’re not — it’s not like you’re getting in the 24-hour cars with the full body cage and fenders and everything. These things, when they go — trust me, I know, I’ve hit the fence. It’s not fun.

    The respect level and maturity level of the Chili Bowl is also part of the reason why I keep going back, too. You get a lot of respect going there, and I try to show it, too, but I also try to stay out of my own way sometimes because that happens.

    Q. Santino, just kind of curious, what is the next step that you’d like to see AJ Foyt Racing make in development to take that next step, and then how do you get that development when you have this technical partnership with Penske?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Honestly, our next step is just going to be finding that rhythm like we did last year. That’s the biggest key. We have our setups in our books. It’ll just be really breaking into that top 5 rhythm. You’ve got the top 10 rhythm down pretty good; I’m sure of that. So it’s just taking that next chink of armor off, and to do that, everything has to go right.

    Every weekend you can’t be missing time on tests, you can’t be missing practice time. Every second out there will count for us, especially when you want to make a championship run. Last year we weren’t exactly the cleanest in the pits and in the garage with trying to get changes done, and same at testing, we lost a lot of time and we lost a lot of time at the speedway. That’s going to be a big change for this year is that type of seat time and track time and being precise and correct on all those behind the pit lane changes that are going to be the biggest challenge.

    Q. You kind of touched on it about your NASCAR experience. Been a lot of rumors floating around about you possibly doing the double or possibly running Daytona. Is that true? And if it is an opportunity, what type of ride would it take to get you to do Daytona or the Charlotte 600?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I think the double is something I looked into, and I talked to Larry about this. It’s one thing for the NASCAR drivers to come to INDYCAR. You look at Larson, he can jump from a top ride in the Coke 600 in NASCAR into a top ride at the speedway and have a really good fighting chance.

    It’s another to go the reverse route to find a top NASCAR ride that’s open because the equipment over there really, really matters.

    Running something like Daytona would be a bit more appealing. I’ve never thought about it just because of the new car and all that stuff. I do like my time in Xfinity, though. I love those cars. They’re old school. They race well on the mile-and-a-half tracks. I very much enjoyed my time driving those and would not mind getting back into — getting behind the wheel of one of those cars again in my future, probably after the INDYCAR season because it’s tight this year.

    But yeah, I don’t know, never looked at Daytona. The Coke 600 I think is just too difficult of a race to jump into a Cup car and do from the reverse side of things. But maybe one of those days, you never know.

    Q. Your personality, we talked about this last season. Your confidence level is through the roof. Does the personality come out of the confidence, or does the confidence come out of the personality?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Oh, man, trick question there. A little bit of everything. I’ve always been very true to who I am, especially being in INDYCAR. I’ve been very fortunate that the fans and the people of INDYCAR and everyone here has accepted me for me, which is awesome, and it gives me that confidence to push myself to be better and to continue being true to who I am as a human being.

    Yeah, so it goes hand in hand.

    Q. Over the off-season, I believe I’m right in saying that the team moved all their operations into Indianapolis instead of splitting it between Indianapolis and Texas. Is the centralization something you can see benefiting the team?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Oh, that was the next step. That was one of the things from the ’24 season to the ’25 season that will help us — like I was saying, getting that track time, minimizing mistakes. Now you have the engineers overlooking the car here in Indy, making sure that the mechanics are doing everything correct and as guided.

    It’s just all the meetings are now in house. There’s no one playing telephone tag or if there’s a quick question you don’t have to try and get a hold of somebody and wait and delay. You just walk and switch rooms. Having that is going to be huge.

    The Texas shop in Houston, I loved it because it was a three-hour drive from my house, so I was at that shop all the time and I loved going down there. I loved the Waller shop. AJ is always down there, so I got to spend a lot of time with him.

    So I’m going to miss that side of things now that everything is in Indy, but as far as performance goes, this was a very much needed thing.

    Q. Have you been able to see the new car yet?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: The new INDYCAR?

    Q. Yeah, 2027.

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I saw one render for it back in the drivers’ meetings about a month ago.

    Q. You got any thoughts on it?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Not in particular. I trust that the series is going the right direction. I trust that Penske Entertainment, they’ve done so many things right since they’ve taken ownership. I believe in what they’re doing and believe in the product that they’re trying to create. I believe in them pushing Dallara correctly to build a good-looking, very fast and competitive race car because the product that we currently have right now, it’s going to be hard to beat. It’s good.

    Q. Relating a little bit to Chili Bowl, obviously AJ comes from a midget background, very well-known down here in New Zealand along with Mel Kenyon when they used to come down here together. How does AJ feel about you being in Chili Bowl? Does it make him kind of get back to those roots of how his original racing took place?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, I feel like that’s one of the big things or the big draws that AJ had towards me as a driver when I started was that I’ve done dirt racing, done NASCAR. I want to continue to pursue it.

    Trust me, if I could channel my inner AJ this week, that would be awesome. I’d like to have 1/1,000 of his dirt knowledge. It would be better than what I’ve got. Yeah, I’ve been in his office and he’s pulled earnings back from the ’50s when they paid out like a dollar for winning races in like this little Manila envelope. It’s so cool. He has so much history with the dirt racing and him being able to share those experiences and stories with me is something that I’ll forever cherish.

    I cannot take for granted spending time with him. He is the GOAT. He is the greatest of all time of any driver in my opinion, one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in racing.

    Yeah, I hope that he appreciates it. I do it partly because of him. Yeah, it’s a great sport, and I think it’s a great discipline to have.

    Q. You just touched on it briefly before, but the tension at Chili Bowl is one thing, but you talk about that and the comparison to the Indy 500. First of all, this is making you mentally fit for the season. I was amused by the comparison of maybe the whole day at Indy versus Chili Bowl. This is mentally a very tough event, both of those, but you go into it that much smarter come St. Pete because you’ve had these racing miles under you?

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: Yeah, for sure. You guys also definitely have some good Kiwis in the race there, without a doubt, so I got to meet Pickens who’s one of them. He’s a good dude.

    Yeah, it’s weird, you get out of the car after going 240 miles an hour around qualifying and you’re on the ragged edge and the hair is up on the back of your neck, your legs are shaking, everything is kind of dough. It’s not my favorite time to be in the car, and it puts you out of your comfort zone, and that’s where you learn the most about yourself.

    The Chili Bowl car is no different from that. I get out of the car, I wish my friends had a video of me getting out of the car after the first practice on Sunday. I literally, my feet almost couldn’t touch the ground, they were just vibrating from the adrenaline.

    Like I said, you learn the most about yourself when you push yourself to your own limits, and that’s what really the Chili Bowl is doing for me.

    Q. You may have some karma going into the Chili Bowl seeing as how it’s AJ’s 90th birthday on Thursday.

    SANTINO FERRUCCI: I may need him to send me a prayer. Oh, my gosh.

    About General Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • RFK Racing Names Derrick Finley as Crew Chief for No. 60 Ford in 2025 NASCAR Cup Series

    RFK Racing Names Derrick Finley as Crew Chief for No. 60 Ford in 2025 NASCAR Cup Series

    CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) – Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) has announced that NASCAR veteran Derrick Finley will serve as the Crew Chief for the organization’s third NASCAR Cup Series entry, the No. 60 Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Preece, in the upcoming 2025 season.

    Finley, who joined RFK in 2022, brings over 20 years of experience as a NASCAR crew chief. In addition to leading as a crew chief on multiple occasions, his career within the NASCAR ecosystem includes roles such as Director of Operations, Technical Director, and Competition Director with various organizations. RFK will rely on his strategic insight, leadership skills, and technical expertise to ensure that the No. 60 is fully integrated into RFK as it expands to a three-car organization in 2025.

    Notably, Finley served as the crew chief for the #Stage60 program throughout the 2024 season, leading the No. 60 team in three races with drivers David Ragan (Daytona), Cam Waters (Sonoma) and Joey Hand (Chicago).

    “We’re thrilled to have Derrick lead the No. 60 team,” said RFK driver/co-owner Brad Keselowski. “His experience and technical knowledge of the sport will play a crucial role in the initial development and growth of the No. 60 team.”

    “I am incredibly excited to lead the No. 60 team,” said Finley. “I’m looking forward to working with Ryan (Preece) and the entire team. It’s a great opportunity to help start up a new team as we continue to grow at RFK Racing.”

    “Derrick will be a big help in getting the team integrated in the RFK processes” added Preece. “His experience with the procedures the organization has in place will help lay the foundation for the No. 60 car.”

    Finley, who holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Mexico, provides a unique blend of hands-on technical and engineering experience that will be of great benefit to the young team.

    The No. 60 team will kick off its season with the Busch Light Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Feb. 2) before heading to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the famed Daytona 500 (Feb. 15).

    About RFK Racing
    RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

  • CHEVROLET INDYCAR: David Malukas Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET INDYCAR: David Malukas Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
    INDYCAR CONTENT DAYS
    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
    PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
    JANUARY 14, 2025

    DAVID MALUKAS, No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, met with members of the media at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Press Conference Transcript:

    THE MODERATOR: We continue this afternoon’s session, joined now by David Malukas, driving the No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, beginning his fourth season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, his first with AJ Foyt Racing after a couple of top 10s in the races you were in last year, 2024, brand new year. We all follow you on social media. We know you kind of enjoy that arena. What’s been going on?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Well, I just finished up all the FOX stuff, which was so cool. They have a drone, and I even watched the guy, and he’s got these goggles on and he’s just flying around. He’s doing his own Indy 500. It’s just crazy. He’s doing like 10 donuts per person. I can’t believe it.

    But it was so cool. We’re doing some cool poses, cool shots. They had the smoke machine, good music. I honestly was having a good time. I was so tired because I only slept five hours because of the early day, but that like my — that was a natural coffee boost over there. I was having a good time. That was awesome.

    Q. New team, new year. I’m sure you can’t wait to get back on track.

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, I can’t wait. Last year was chaos, definitely a year of learning and maturing, and at the end of the season I had actually another surgery on my hand to clean up all the scar tissue because the movement was very limited, so I had to still do some PT for a few months until Christmas time.

    Now the hand is doing really well. We did the seat fit, got the grip strength back up, and I’m excited to go out there and perform and forget this injury ever — well, it’s not perfectly back, but it’s a lot better, so I’m really excited.

    Q. David, this is a chance to have a complete season with the same team after last year’s saga. How important is that going to be for you to really get a chance to get off the ground running? I imagine you’re probably going to be pretty careful in the next couple of weeks.

    DAVID MALUKAS: Oh, 100 percent. I’ve been so careful. I think the craziest thing I’ve done this off-season is go zip lining with my nephews and the drop was only like two feet. I had to lift my knees up the just do the zip lining. That was the most chaotic thing I’ve done.

    But no, like I said, I’ve matured a lot, and not just from individuality and outside of the car, but also in the car I’ve matured a lot. I’m excited to take that maturity, be consistent, have a full season, and actually build with the team that I have and the crew is incredible and I’m very excited to get some very good results. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

    Q. Also, FOX is gearing a lot of their telecast to the Generation Z, the younger generation audience, a lot of good young talent in the INDYCAR Series. Do you see INDYCAR at a tipping point here where there’s a lot of young faces, a lot of exciting drivers, and it may be a chance to really excite some of the younger crowd that may not be INDYCAR fans?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, I think you hit it spot on. I think the next generation definitely is starting to come in, and I think those fans are starting to come.

    I’ve had a lot of experiences last season where fans would come up to me and tell me that they’re watching INDYCAR and they’re there because of me, and that made me feel incredible. It’s an incredible feeling.

    I’m just really excited to actually be able to connect with my generation into racing and get them in. And I think with everything that FOX is doing, it’s incredible, because I am also Gen-Z, so it’s my generation, so it’s good.

    Q. You’re one of the youngest drivers in the series dealing with one of the oldest people in racing, AJ Foyt. That’s got to be a little bit of a — are there times when the two of you kind of look at each other and try to figure out what the other is thinking?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, actually it was a pretty good — I met him at the Indy test a few months back, and he was telling me all of his stories. He’s got so many cool stories. It was a really cool experience. It was a good time.

    But I think with what we’re doing at AJ Foyt, being with AJ and being the new generation, I think it’s a perfect setup going into this season. We have a lot of cool ideas and content with how we’re going to mix all that together and mixing the new generation with history. It’s going to be awesome.

    Q. Obviously you’re going into a team who have a lot of momentum behind them coming off a really strong season last year. Do you have any expectations going into the new year?

    DAVID MALUKAS: I think just from all the chaos, for sure 100 percent just having that consistency being up there. I think with the way the team’s success has been, especially this last season, I think it’s very, very strong. Expectations are definitely very high.

    I think with the team that we have, we definitely want results. I think with my teammate as well, Santino, on the ovals we’re going to be a pretty strong suit.

    Expectations are high going into it. But at the end of the day, it just feels good to do a full season and have a consistent season.

    Q. We saw you’re going to have car No. 4.

    DAVID MALUKAS: That is correct.

    Q. How cool is that for you?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, it was a little bit last minute. I mean, I knew for a while. I wanted to say it really badly, and then I decided to just sneakily just do a post, just DM 4. I think that has a good ring to it and I’m really excited. I am just excited from constant side of things because I can just replace the “a” in Dave and just No. 4. I think it will be really cool. It’s good merch.

    I’m just really excited because then I can wear it. Imagine little Dave but then the A is a 4. It’s pretty cool. I’m not gonna lie.

    Q. Last year you didn’t really have a chance to get the season started like you wanted. You just kind of had to watch from the sidelines and everything. How important is that to have a defined start point and just do it as you planned from the beginning?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, sitting on the sidelines watching, that was really tough. That was hard. I definitely had to keep some emotions in watching everybody go around.

    It was good. I learned a lot, especially being on the sidelines, just seeing what the engineers have to deal with, all the screens, the strategy. There’s a lot that I learned that as a driver you don’t really know much of what’s going on, so I think it was good by the time I got in the car I didn’t get angry at the engineers or the strategy on what’s going on because they can see a lot more than the driver can see.

    So I think that was the No. 1 thing that I learned and that I will take going into this next season.

    Q. The transition going from a Honda to a Chevy, I know you don’t have experience inside the cockpit yet, but what’s that transition in a simulator been like and how excited are you to join the Chevy family?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Well, I did a lot of off-season testing just when the hybrid system was coming out with Arrow McLaren, so I did have a lot of Chevy testing done. I think that was their previous version before the hybrid came in, so it definitely was different.

    So I have some familiarity with some of the Chevy engineers, as well. So going it, it’s not completely going fresh. I think we have something to already start going off of.

    But as of what I remember and going into it, I think it’ll be fine. I know there’s some talks about the engines being a bit different, but from when I went into the car they felt very similar. I couldn’t tell major drastic changes.

    Q. I don’t think the results, especially at Gateway last year, showed what you’re capable of doing with obviously running up front. I know you’re going to take it a race at a time and talk about the race that’s coming up, but you’ve got to be champing at the bits with Santino, with how fast the Foyt cars have been at Indy to get back to IMS, and that starts in April at the test.

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, anytime I start thinking about it, the nerves and the excitement starts building up. I’m really excited, man. The car is going to good. Good teammates, good engineers, good crew. Everything is lining up, so a little bit of luck, who knows, it’s going to be really exciting.

    Q. I’m excited to see what Santino and you can do at AJ Foyt Racing. You may not have been in the car with the team yet to figure out if both of you are similar in setups or different; how do you anticipate getting along with Santino?

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, I’m very excited and interested to see how the setups and things are going to be. We did do some simulator work together, but as of now the driving doesn’t seem too far off.

    Of course it’s not going to be until the Sebring test we’ll know the driving styles and how to compare. But talking with the engineers, it seems that we are in some form similar in some ways, especially on the ovals.

    I think it’ll be pretty good. I think we’ll be good teammates and definitely be able to pick on each other and be able to do two different setups. I think that’s the main goal is having two drivers with the same driving style so we can use two different setups with the limited practice sessions that we have so we can clear two birds with one stone. I like to put it that way.

    Q. I’m just curious on how much time you’ve spent with AJ Foyt and can you talk about what that experience has been like?

    DAVID MALUKAS: I mean, it hasn’t been too much. It’s been short. I’ve probably had two conversations with him so far. But each conversation has been amazing.

    Obviously for me it was a little bit hard because I’m going into it as, like, it’s AJ and you’re trying to have a normal conversation, but the entire time it’s like I’m talking with AJ, so I’m kind of trying to act normal, act normal, you’re not acting normal, and I think he could sense like what is wrong with this kid, what is he doing. I think he could sense it a little bit.

    But he was very chill. It almost felt like we were good friends and he started talking about the stories and the past and the history. To say that he’s had me on the team, that meant a lot, too. Both conversations we’ve had have been great, so I just hope to give him some results in return.

    Q. What did you get AJ for his birthday?

    DAVID MALUKAS: I don’t know, can we say what we did? Unfortunately we can’t.

    Q. An Indy 500 win would be the perfect gift.

    DAVID MALUKAS: Yeah, a little bit delayed but I don’t think he would mind. I think he would take it. That would be very cool.

    About General Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Alexander Rossi Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET INDYCAR: Alexander Rossi Press Conference Transcript

    CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
    INDYCAR CONTENT DAYS
    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
    PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
    JANUARY 14, 2025

    ALEXANDER ROSSI, driver of the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, met with the media at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Press Conference Transcript:

    MODERATOR: Switching to the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet in 2025, Alexander Rossi, beginning his 10th season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Of course eight-time winner in the series with a bit of a new look team, a lot of changes for Ed Carpenter Racing heading into 2025.

    I know you’re ready to get back on the track. You’ve got to wait a couple weeks before you do that, but are you looking forward to getting started?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: For sure. I think the team is changing at a rapid rate, which is pretty exciting to witness and be a part of, and I think that there’s a lot of excitement internally about the things that are going on. It’s certainly a busy time for everyone involved, and I think we’re all still trying to find our place a little bit in somewhat of a totally new organization. But it’s going really well, and experience that I’ve had so far has been nothing short of awesome. Looking forward to getting on track in February at Sebring and then seeing where that takes us for the first week of March.

    Q. You did have an opportunity to hop on the Indianapolis oval with the team. Did that help break the ice a little bit as you look into this off-season?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, for sure. That was a good one to get under our belt kind of right before the super long break kicked off. The car and team operated at a level that you would expect based on their previous results and past performances at Indianapolis, so that was a pretty seamless day and an exciting day for everyone, to have our new partners in Splenda and Java House on board and represented. As I said, it’s growing and changing every day, so what you saw in October, it’s going to be a very different look come February and March.

    Q. What is a successful season for Alexander Rossi this year? What does it look like at the end of the year?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: You know, it’s being in the conversation and having an opportunity to win at Indy, which I think is to be expected of ECR and myself. I don’t really have an expectation quite yet because I haven’t driven the car, so I don’t really know what I don’t know at this point. I’ll be able to answer that question a little bit better after the test in February.

    Q. Kind of a related question, this is a very different challenge, a different team dynamic than what you’ve been a part of, I imagine, since you joined INDYCAR, an Andretti team that was used to being at the top of the sport, an Arrow McLaren team that wasn’t quite there but had high aspirations, and now you join ECR where this team has won races, been towards the top of the championship a time or two but maybe haven’t quite been, from a consistent performance standpoint, at a level that you’ve competed at the last couple years. Is this an intriguing, exciting new chapter for you, joining a team that’s a little bit different and trying to maybe take it to a different place than what you’ve been doing the last couple years?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: That’s a good question. I don’t really look at it that way so much as I think if you ask everyone at the organization where they’ve been the past couple years is not where they want to be, where they expect to be, so there was the effort and the search, I guess is the right term maybe, for how do they and we now as an organization change what the past couple of years have been.

    This series is so competitive, and there is every year more cars and drivers that are capable of winning. Like what do we need to do from a staffing, investment, procedure, mindset standpoint to bridge the gap and make the step that everyone else is making.

    That’s a work in progress. That doesn’t happen overnight. But I certainly think that steps are being made in the right direction, steps that are very cool to see.

    I think there’s the potential to surprise a lot of people at points in 2025. Obviously, as I said, nothing happens overnight. We’re not going to go from the results that have existed the past couple of years to all of a sudden winning every race sort of thing, but I do think that everything in this sport is very small margins.

    We’ve often talked about this car has been around for so long. It’s not that there’s some magic thing out there. It’s about putting puzzle pieces together correctly and executing efficiently, and that can add up to results pretty quickly.

    We have the tools and resources and are gathering the tools and resources that didn’t necessarily exist in the past, and that’s opening doors and opportunities for what should be a step forward for the organization in ’25.

    And then obviously to answer the first part of your question, yeah, this is a long-term thing that I’m a part of and something that’s very exciting to be a part of, to contribute to, and to do it alongside someone that I have a very good working and personal relationship with Ed, something that I feel like we as a group, Ed (Carpenter), myself, Christian (Rasmussen), Ted Gelov from Heartland Food Products Group, we can all do as this kind of foursome and push things forward and get the results that we want.

    Q. This may be a tough question to answer because you were onboarded at ECR as Ted was coming on, as well. With the influx of support from him and Heartland, as best you know, how much — how big of an improvement can funding and new ideas and a partnership like that bring to this team and what you guys can do in ’25 in the future versus where they have been the last couple years?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, it’s a little bit of a hard question. I think that what we’ve seen in this sport and we’ve seen in other championships, funding and money isn’t the solution to everyone’s problems. It certainly gives you the capability to have a better rate of development. It gives you the opportunity to maybe entice people into your organization and that sort of thing.

    But it’s still about the people, and I do think that a lot of the main people that have been at ECR — sorry, that are at ECR currently have been there for a very long time.

    There’s a lot of loyalty in that organization, and there’s a very close-knit group of individuals that, in their own right and together, are very, very good at what they do. They’ve maybe just not had all of the tools, resources and people to help them deliver the results that they are capable of.

    I think number one is people; number two is growing the good people and creating that environment; then number three is having the available funds to go do the projects and build the things that you need to do.

    Q. I imagine you may have seen the commercial that FOX put out on Sunday with Josef. A lot has been said and celebrated on that type of marketing and the angle they took in trying to promote Josef and lift the sport up as this new relationship gets going. What were your thoughts on what you saw on Sunday and what you’ve seen over the last couple of months as this momentum has built toward FOX airing INDYCAR for the full season in ’25 and beyond?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: I didn’t know Josef was — I just thought it was a Tom Brady commercial. (Laughter). My guy. No, I thought it was great. I think is a commercial with Josef or a commercial with Pato or Alex going to change the perception of INDYCAR racing? No. Is it a huge step in a direction that we’ve all been looking for in terms of out-of-the-box thinking and cool, trendy marketing and all of the buzz word stuff that you want to be a part of and be doing? Yeah, 100 percent.

    So I think this partnership with FOX has been talked about at length in terms of the positivities that it’s going to bring from a TV viewership standpoint, but I think the thing that’s possibly the most impressive/most important in my mind and I think a lot of the drivers’ minds is the kind of push that they’re putting behind it with their other properties, bringing in people like Tom Brady who are FOX employees, pushing it during the biggest sporting weeks of the year in the NFL playoffs and really using their other avenues of promotion to elevate the NTT INDYCAR Series is what we’ve needed and wanted.

    Obviously it’s going to take more than a couple commercials, but this is a huge step in the right direction and something that is very, very awesome to be a part of. I don’t think any of us could be more excited and thankful for what they’ve done, and can’t wait to see what they do in the future.

    Q. You touched on this, I think when you got here in 2016 you probably didn’t know a lot of people and had to learn three or four different teams when you went to McLaren as far as all those employees. Do you feel you’re maybe a little bit ahead of schedule? You have that test from October, you and Ed are close friends, live down the road, the close-knit community that ECR has. Do you feel like you’re closer to having those results earlier? Sometimes for drivers they go to a new team and it takes a half season or full season to start seeing results. Do you feel like that camaraderie is there because it is such a small group?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, I think we have a couple things going for us. Number one, it’s as you mentioned, I’ve known Matt Barnes for a really long time, as well, so having the relationship on the engineering side right out of the box is huge. We already kind of speak the same language in a lot of different ways. But also I think the other big thing is, yes, in 2023 going to Arrow McLaren was a big transition, but the bigger transition was really Honda to Chevy. So being able to stay in the Team Chevy family and not have to go through that driving style transition that I kind of had to do from ’22 to ’23 I think is really the thing that’ll put us on the front foot more than anything else.

    Q. Have you set yourself any targets for the upcoming season?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Probably should. But no. Let me work on that.

    Q. 10th season, hard to believe. Now that you evaluate your previous nine, have you accomplished what you’d like to accomplish? I know you’ve won the Indy 500, but I’m sure a championship would be on the line, too. How would you evaluate the first nine years? Just your thoughts on nine years in the series and now you’ve got No. 10 coming this season.

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yeah, it goes fast. I think that it’s very easy to look back on — I think, any athlete looks back on the missed opportunities more than the success. That’s just the nature of the business. But, you also have to remind yourself that you’re entering 10 years, a decade of driving race cars, and being able to have a pretty good understanding of what my future is going to be for quite some time, it gives you the foundation to really have an unlimited view of what is possible.

    I think that there’s certainly challenges ahead. I’ve certainly dealt with my share of challenges the past couple of years. But to be able to do it with ultimately friends is a pretty unique opportunity and one where I think it’s going to be able to push each other forward to go do the things we want to do.

    I think there’s a lot of lessons learned. I think there’s some good times. I still lose sleep over the bad times. But it’s all motivation for what we have coming up in the future.

    Q. Speaking of lessons learned, it could be nothing, but I noticed you went to a lot of IU football games this year. You’ve got a horse. Is that kind of the underrated story and coming to ECR could be the underrated story. Any lessons learned from watching IU football, seeing that culture, owning a horse?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Interesting. That’s a very good question. Owning a horse, probably not. I don’t think so.

    Motorsports and horse racing are very similar, though. There’s so many variables that exist, right. In racing we all know about you add into that racing plus an animal, there’s obviously a lot you can’t control, but it still takes a team and a common goal and a common culture, which ties in very well to the next part of your question with IU football.

    I didn’t really go to traditional college, so my knowledge of college sports was none, and then my friend group got very excited about IU football this year for obvious reasons, so I went to my first two college games this year, and not knowing anything about really IU’s college football past but seeing and understanding what the power of one person can do — we often talk about culture.

    We often talk about it’s the people that are the most important element, and all of those things are true, but it really only takes one person to offer a new approach, a new way of thinking, and getting people to buy into that, and you can see the results that come from that.

    That’s an inspiration, I think, for anyone that is either an athlete or looking to do something in business or in life, that it just takes one to make a difference.

    I’m now a Hoosier fan for, I guess, life because that’s how college football fandom works, and look forward to next year.

    Q. Season tickets?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: My buddy already has them, so I think we’re locked in there.

    Q. Do you have a sweatshirt?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: I do have a sweatshirt, yeah.

    Q. Do you tailgate? What’s the experience?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: So we were supposed to tailgate — the one time I went down to Bloomington, we were going to tailgate and it was the hurricane that ran through Nashville when we were there, had Helene, so we didn’t tailgate, but we still went to the game. Then I went to IU playing Ohio State, and that was really underwhelming because I was sold that that was this amazing magical place, and it’s just fine.

    Q. I think a few people have asked this today to various drivers, but I’d like to get your take on the discussion of maybe a new car in 2027 —

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: It’s not a maybe, man. It’s happening.

    Q. What do you believe are kind of the keys that they kind of need from this new car compared to what there has been for the last however many years?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: I have to weigh my answer to not get in trouble.

    Here’s the thing. I’ve actually talked to quite a few people at length about this. There’s some people that have the belief that it needs to be this super futuristic crazy looking ultra modern car. There’s other people that are like, okay, it needs to be this super light, high-horsepower thing that does track records everywhere.

    Ultimately what I think needs to be done is we already have, and I don’t think it’s a debate, we already have the best product on track that exists globally, so to reinvent the wheel I don’t think is something that in my mind that needs to be done. I think it needs to be an evolution of the car we’ve had.

    Obviously technology has developed, materials has developed. We have added a lot on to the DW12. So integrating all of that is going to have benefits from a cost standpoint, from a safety standpoint, from a workability standpoint for the mechanics to have things that fit and flow and work a bit better together.

    But ultimately I don’t think we need to do anything that’s beyond what we already do because I think what we already do is pretty good. It just needs to be an updated version of what we have. So that’s my opinion.

    Q. Have you seen the initial plans —

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Yes.

    Q. Are you allowed to share any thoughts on that?

    ALEXANDER ROSSI: Probably not. You’ve got another 20-odd drivers to ask that question to, so I’m not going to be that guy.

    About General Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • Young’s Motorsports Signs Anthony Alfredo for 2025 Xfinity Series Campaign

    Young’s Motorsports Signs Anthony Alfredo for 2025 Xfinity Series Campaign

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 14, 2025): Young’s Motorsports announced today that Anthony Alfredo has joined the organization for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season.

    The Ridgefield, C.T. native will pilot the team’s flagship No. 42 entry full-time with support from Dude Wipes and RANDCO Industries. The 2025 season will mark Alfredo’s fourth full-time Xfinity Series campaign.

    The 25-year-old finished the 2024 Xfinity season 15th in the championship driver standings, collecting an Xfinity Dash 4 Cash win at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and adding two more top-fives and seven top-10s to his impressive statistics in 118 career Xfinity Series starts.

    “I am very excited to join the Young’s Motorsports team this season,” Alfredo said. “I certainly respect what Tyler and his team are building.

    “It’s clear they are determined to become a serious contender in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and I look forward to being a part of that. I am grateful for the opportunity and am ready to make the most of it.”

    Set for their sophomore season of Xfinity Series competition, Young’s Motorsports is looking forward to building on their career-best fourth-place performance at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last April.

    “This is huge for us,” Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young said of Alfredo. “Anthony is a wheelman. The Xfinity Series competition is stout, he absolutely has what it takes to win in this field. I am pumped we get to keep growing our Xfinity program with him this season.”

    Longtime organization crew chief Andrew Abbott will continue to direct the work of the team’s Xfinity Series program. Since 2019, Abbott has had 130 Xfinity starts, including four top-’s and 13 top-10’s to his credit.

    Alfredo will make his debut in the No. 42 Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, on CW Network.

    Established in 2009 and a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular since 2012, Young’s Motorsports owns 508 truck starts and two victories. The team expanded to full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series competition in 2024, recording one top-five and two top-10 finishes in its inaugural season.

    Connect with Anthony Alfredo by visiting AnthonyAlfredo.com, liking on Facebook (Anthony Alfredo Racing), follow on Instagram (@anthonyalfredo) and X | Twitter (@anthonyalfredo).

    For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

  • Spire Motorsports, Michael McDowell Partner with B’laster for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign

    Spire Motorsports, Michael McDowell Partner with B’laster for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 14, 2024) – Today, Spire Motorsports announced B’laster Holdings will join the team’s family of partners and serve as the primary sponsor for 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell in two NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025. B’laster will also maintain an associate sponsorship presence with McDowell and the No. 71 Cup Series team across the 2025 season.

    The B’laster livery will be showcased aboard McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet for the April 27 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and again when NASCAR’s senior circuit makes its debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City June 15.

    Founded in 1957, B’laster’s portfolio of products includes penetrants, lubricants, cleaners, solvents, removers, grease, protectants, and refrigerants. The Ohio-based company first partnered with McDowell for multiple races during the 2024 season and has maintained a presence in NASCAR since 2019.

    “B’laster and NASCAR go hand-in-hand,” said B’laster Products President & CEO, Randy Pindor. “It was a no-brainer for us that we wanted to continue to have a presence in the Cup Series. Michael McDowell really made some waves in 2024, and we are excited to be able to continue working with him and the Spire Motorsports team for 2025.”

    McDowell, a native of Glendale, Ariz., is a veteran of 501 starts and a two-time Cup Series race winner. He made his series debut in 2008 and has since recorded six pole positions, 11 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s premier division.

    “I’m thrilled to have the B’laster team join me at Spire Motorsports in 2025,” said McDowell. “B’laster was with me last year and I am thankful to have them partner with our No. 71 team. B’laster is so important to both the automotive and powersports spaces and their products are second to none. I hope I can take the B’laster colors to Victory Lane and make the most of our partnership.”

    McDowell comes to Spire Motorsports from Front Row Motorsports where he was the organization’s leader in wins, starts, and top-five finishes. In addition to his victory in the 2021 Great American Race, the father of five proved his versatility with a road-course win in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He earned NASCAR Cup Series Playoff berths in 2021 and 2023.

    The 67th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will be the first NASCAR event streamed live on Amazon Prime. The first of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

    About B’laster Holdings…
    B’laster Holdings has a portfolio of strong brands that consumers rely on to get the job done. With a legacy going back to 1957, B’laster prides itself on serving its customers with flexibility, while being a fun, people-focused place to work. Its brands include B’laster, AC Avalanche, Casite, Gunk, Liquid Wrench and Titeseal.

    About Spire Motorsports …
    Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

    In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

  • Registration is now open for the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track

    Registration is now open for the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track

    Feb. 27th 5K coincides with the free INDYCAR Party in the Park community event in North Straub Park

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2025) – Runners and walkers have a special opportunity to “race on track” as one of the kickoff festivities for the 2025 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend. The 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track is set for Thursday, Feb. 27, and online registration is now open at gpstpete5k.com while supplies last.

    The Police Athletic League (PAL) of St. Petersburg continues as the beneficiary from the 5K Run to support its many programs positively impacting local children. PAL will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from registration fees collected.

    “The Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg is honored and excited to again be involved with this fun, family-friendly run/walk event and race week tradition,” said Heather Robb, executive director, Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg. “Since 2017, contributions from the Firestone Grand Prix and proceeds from this 5K have totaled $333,265, helping PAL provide beneficial activities and experiences to hundreds of children living in our area. We are deeply thankful to our partners for their continued support, and we can’t wait to see everyone on the track next month!”

    The 5K for runners and walkers will start and end on Bayshore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, and will join the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race course at Turn 9 on Central Avenue, where participants will proceed onto the track. The route is fully paved for the entire duration of the 5K distance.

    The 5K Run will coincide with the INDYCAR Party in the Park community event which is open to all and free to enter. The party will take place in North Straub Park from 4-7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 27 and provide fans the opportunity to see race cars up close, get driver autographs and more. After completing the 5K, participants are encouraged to join the gathering as the top finishers will be recognized on the INDYCAR Party in the Park stage.

    “At last year’s 5K, we saw 1,200 participants take to the circuit in a sold out event. We encourage all interested runners and walkers to sign up early at the advance pricing to reserve your spot!” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. “This is a terrific Grand Prix tradition giving race fans and locals the unique opportunity to run or walk the track. We are very proud of the lasting impact on our local youth by supporting the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg through this community event.”

    An advance price of $40 is offered through Feb. 26, 2025, then the fee increases to $50 for race day signups if openings still remain on Thursday, Feb. 27. Additional charitable contributions are also accepted on the registration website to further the event’s impact in supporting the PAL mission.

    5K Run Fast Facts

    Event:

    5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track benefiting the Police Athletic League

    Date:

    Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025

    Time:

    5:00 p.m. ET start (approximate)

    Fee:

    $40: now through Feb. 26, 2025

    $50: Feb. 27, 2025 (race day)

    Registration includes race entry with chipped timing bib, commemorative finisher’s medal, T-shirt and a voucher good for two Friday General Admission tickets to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.

    Partners:

    Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital

    Tampa Bay Times

    Valpak

    Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

    Michelob Ultra

    Keel Farms

    Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

    Visit St. Pete-Clearwater

    Registration Website: gpstpete5k.com

    The 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track and INDYCAR Party in the Park on Thursday, Feb. 27 will commence an action-packed Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend. The schedule includes high-speed racing from five different series headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race on Sunday, March 2.

    The complete racing and activities schedule for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will be released soon. For additional ticket pricing, grandstand seating and festival information, visit gpstpete.com.

    About Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg:

    The Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg (PAL) – in partnership with the St. Petersburg Police Department – provides a safe, affordable place for children to go after school and during the summer where caring adults offer thoughtfully designed activities to help them succeed academically, make healthy lifestyle choices, and grow to be productive adults. For more information visit our website at www.stpetepal.org.

    About Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding:

    The 21st annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is a race event held during Florida’s spring break season. Traditionally the site of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race, St. Pete is a destination city hosting this annual motorsports tradition and offering a festival atmosphere with its downtown location. The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration that uses the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extending onto the runway at Albert Whitted Airport, and borders the waterfront of Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding airs live on a national broadcast on FOX. FOX Sports named the race one of its “50 Events You Can’t Miss in 2025.” The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is owned and operated by Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC. Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC is owned by Green Savoree Racing Promotions 2, LLC whose other subsidiaries also promote three additional NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 4-6, 2025), Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto (July 18-20, 2025) and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 8-10, 2025).

    For more information, visit gpstpete.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at @GPSTPETE or follow the event on X at @GPSTPETE and Instagram at @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.

  • Jonathan Woolridge Joins MLT Motorsports for VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Series Season

    Jonathan Woolridge Joins MLT Motorsports for VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Series Season

    Woolridge to pilot the No. 6 Ligier JS P3.

    Braselton, GA (January 14, 2025) – MLT Motorsports announced that Canadian driver Jonathan Woolridge will join the team for the 2025 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Series. Racing in the No. 6 Ligier JS P3, Woolridge’s first outing with the team will be at Daytona.

    “I am thrilled and excited to join MLT Motorsports for the 2025 season,” said Woolridge. “Having observed the impressive program quality developed by Michael and Eric from the paddock, I feel a tremendous amount of confidence heading into the first round of the championship. I’m eager to contribute to the team’s success and learn from everyone’s expertise. Here’s to making great memories and achieving big wins together!”

    “All of us at MLT Motorsports are excited to welcome Jonathan to the team for the2025 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season,” said team owner Dr. Michael Thompson. “This team was built to nurture and develop the next generation of drivers, and Jonathan is an exceptional fit for that mission. We’re eager to support his growth as a driver and see his potential shine behind the wheel of the LMP3 this season.”

    Woolridge’s racing career began in 2009, with the Ontario, Canada native competing across Canada and the United Kingdom. He’s seen success in Formula 1600 and took home the title of Emzone Radical Cup Canada Champion in 2022 after winning all ten rounds in Canada’s premier championship for Radical sportscars. He’s no stranger to the LMP3 class. Woolridge captured his first career VP Racing SportsCar Challenge win at CTMP in the LMP3 class in 2023. With three race weekends (St. Pete, Mid-Ohio, and CTMP) under his belt in 2024, Woolridge finished seventh in the LMP3 point standings including a third-place finish at St. Pete and a second-place finish at CTMP.

    This week marks Woolridge’s first race at the famed Daytona International Speedway, but he did test at the track in 2022. The MLT Motorsports team is no stranger to the winner circle at Daytona. In 2024, the team took home the pole and both race wins with driver Steven Aghakhani behind the wheel. A weekend that Woolridge and the team are looking to repeat in 2025.

    “Going into the ROAR, our aim is clear – and of course, everyone wants to win.” Woolridge continued, “Leveraging the experience from both myside and the team’s, we are highly motivated for this weekend and the championship ahead. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the new GTDX category, where navigating through traffic will surely make for some entertaining races.

    When the team takes the green flag in 2025, it will mark their third season in the series.

    Be sure to follow MLT Motorsports on Instagram @mltmotorsportsfor race updates!

    About MLT Motorsports:

    Founded in 2018 by Dr. Mike Thompson, MLT Motorsports has established itself as a premier team amongst the IMSA paddock in the LMP3 category. Based near Road Atlanta, the team has easy access to some of the best road courses in the country and, importantly, Florida, where the sportscar racing world kicks off every winter at Daytona and Sebring. Constant investment and maintenance have seen the team arrive at each race weekend with top-notch race cars and state-of-the-art equipment.

    MLT Motorsports’ early success is a testament to the team’s dedication and expertise, with their first victory coming in just their second start at Mid-Ohio in 2019. In the 2021 season, MLT showcased consistent excellence, finishing off the podium only once and clinching a double championship win, earning both the IMSA Prototype Challenge Team’s and Driver’s Championships with Dakota Dickerson and Josh Sarchet. Building on this momentum, MLT made its debut in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship at Mid-Ohio in May 2022, competing among the top sportscar teams in the world. In 2024, MLT celebrated another milestone, securing the VP Racing SportsCar Driver’s Championship with Steven Aghakhani in the LMP3 class.