2011 Indy Lights Silly Season

[INDY500FAN13]

AFS Racing

# TBA
# TBA

Andretti Autosport

#5 Stefan Wilson
#26 James Winslow

Cape Motorsports (Wayne Taylor Racing)

#?? TBA

Sam Schmidt Motorsports

#3 Victor Carbone
#7 Esteban Guerrieri
#11 Josef Newgarden
#77 Bryan Clausen (Ovals Only)
#77 Conor Daly (RC/SC Only)

Team Moore

#2 Gustavo Yacaman (Xtreme Coil Drilling)
#22 Victor Garcia (Xtreme Coil Drilling)

Davey Hamilton Racing

#?? TBA

Alliance Motorsports

#?? TBA

PDM Racing

#?? TBA
#?? TBA

Star & Stripes Motorsports

#?? TBA

Belardi Auto Racing

#9 Anders Krohn
#4 Jorge Goncalvez

Bryan Herta Autosport

#28 Duarte Ferreira

Team E Racing

#17 Joel Miller

Jensen MotorSport

#12 David Ostella
#16 Juan Pablo Garcia

Team PBIR

#?? TBA
#?? TBA

Brooks Associates Racing

#?? TBA
#?? TBA

O2 Racing Technology/Genoa Racing

#36 Peter Dempsey
#63 Mikael Grenier

Walker Racing

# TBA

[GTRacer]

Who are the guesses for the 3 AFS car drivers?

How many FIL cars will AA be running and who will be the possible drivers?

Will Gary P be taking the USF2000 program with him? I heard he was a major player in the program?

[drdisque]

Other confirmed team

Jensen MotorSport
#TBA David Ostella

Also, O2 Racing Technology/Genoa Racing have confirmed that they have sponsorship for 2011 but have not yet named a driver.

Other teams that participated in 2010:

Andersen - equipment reportedly for sale
Bryan Herta Autosport - I would be surprised if they don't return
Walker - If they get an IndyCar deal I wouldn't be surprised if they parked or sold their indy lights car
Cape Motorsports - No news
PDM Racing - No News
Davey Hamilton Racing - No news but would be surprised if they don't run something as they ran 2 cars at Homestead
Michael Crawford Motorsports- No news
Team E - may be done, not heard from since totaling their tub at Indy
Alliance Motorsports - no news, would be surprised if they don't show up to at least a few oval races
PBIR - no news, ran only one race in second half of the season and I think they only provided the car and hauler (team/support was from SSM)

According to the PR it seems that the USF2000 program will stay with AA.

[TUBORG-fan]

eformulacarnews.com has an updated list for the Indy Lights 2011 season

[drdisque]

well, we can cross Michael Crawford Motorsports off - he just took a job with Jensen and I wouldn't be surprised if that's his equipment there too.

[thehairpin]

Sorry for not doing a Lights list. Maybe after the new year (when IICS starts calming down and FILS picks up) I'll post one.

[Miguel]

Anders Krohn with Belardi Auto Racing to Firestone Indy Lights:

Star Mazda runner-up Krohn moving up: Anders Krohn got a taste of Firestone Indy Lights in 2010. He'll return for a full season in 2011 with series newcomer Belardi Auto Racing.

"Anders Krohn is the kind of driver that inspires team owners, engineers and mechanics to bring their very best to the racetrack," team owner Brian Belardi said. "As an owner, I know that I will get 110 percent and then some from Anders and could not be more pleased to have him on board at Belardi Auto Racing for the 2011 season. We look forward to working with Anders and all of his sponsors in the pursuit of many trips to victory circle."

Krohn, nicknamed "The Viking," made his Firestone Indy Lights debut at Watkins Glen, running among the top five before falling to 10th due to a mechanical issue. The 23-year old native of Norway is a clear example of a driver groomed by the Mazda Road to Indy ladder. Arriving in the U.S. as an unknown, Krohn won the F2000 Championship series in 2008 with Andersen Racing and raced in Star Mazda for 2009-10 with Mundill and Andersen Racing. He finished second in Star Mazda points.

"I am now just one step away from the IZOD IndyCar Series. Moving up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder has been such a great experience," said Krohn. "It's a ladder that has already benefitted quite a few, and in the future it will be essential in continuing to feed the very best drivers into what I think is the best racing series in the world. IndyCar and all the sanctioning bodies and sponsors on the ladder, like Mazda and Firestone, have done a tremendous job with supporting their up-and-coming talents, and I am so proud not only to be part of Belardi Auto Racing, but also to be one of the future faces of IndyCar.

Krohn will be reunited with Larry Nash, IndyCar veteran and Belardi general manager and technical director who engineered and called the race for Krohn's first run at an oval, winning at the Milwaukee Mile in Star Mazda in 2009. Krohn will be surrounded by familiar faces as Mike Reggio his engineer from Star Mazda (2010) and Chuck Lessick, his chief mechanic from his championship season in the F2000 Championship Series have also joined the team.

"It is an absolute honor to be part of Belardi Auto Racing as they step into Firestone Indy Lights," Krohn said. "I know what these guys are capable of having already worked and established relationships with several guys on the team. To me, it's not like I'm coming into a new team. Brian Belardi has put a lot of faith in me, and I intend to repay that faith with results.

"Beyond the team, I am fortunate enough to have several long-term partners join me for yet another season of adventures. Trallfa will enter their sixth season as a partner of mine, and Logi Trans/Offshore Express is starting their second. PM International Suppliers also joins me this year in what promises to be an exciting partnership. Right now, I feel like the most fortunate person in the world."

Looking forward to this! Anders was great this year at the Glen. I hope he will do well in 2011.

[drdisque]

Good News. Anders seems to be a nice guy and he clearly really wants to be here in America.

Also, he is the first Norwegian Indy Lights driver since Harald Huysman in 1993 and he could become the first Norwegian to drive an IndyCar since Eugen Bjأ¸rnstadt who drove an Alfa in the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup. The last Norwegian to drive an IndyCar on an oval was Swan Ostewig who competed in a couple board track races and practiced a car for the Indy 500 and Harvest Auto Classic (Indy fall race) in 1916.

The more you know

[Threewide]

Other confirmed team

Jensen MotorSport
#TBA David Ostella

Also, O2 Racing Technology/Genoa Racing have confirmed that they have sponsorship for 2011 but have not yet named a driver.

Other teams that participated in 2010:

Andersen - equipment reportedly for sale
Bryan Herta Autosport - I would be surprised if they don't return
Walker - If they get an IndyCar deal I wouldn't be surprised if they parked or sold their indy lights car
Cape Motorsports - No news
PDM Racing - No News
Davey Hamilton Racing - No news but would be surprised if they don't run something as they ran 2 cars at Homestead
Michael Crawford Motorsports- No news
Team E - may be done, not heard from since totaling their tub at Indy
Alliance Motorsports - no news, would be surprised if they don't show up to at least a few oval races
PBIR - no news, ran only one race in second half of the season and I think they only provided the car and hauler (team/support was from SSM)

According to the PR it seems that the USF2000 program will stay with AA.

Actually, Team E's tub wasn't totaled. They had a lot less damage than that they would originally have. The damage was somewhere around $25K-35,000. They'll need a funded driver or some sponsor money to surface to run of course.

[IndyIsAGas]

I saw the Aerodine bill for the Team E tub repair....... $2,125.00. Far from totaled. Most of it for removing and replacing intrusion panel.

[drdisque]

http://www.jensenmotorsport.com/news/news_stories/101216_news.htm

Juan Pablo Garcia confirmed in second Jensen MotorSport car.

[BlueStang]

I thought I heard on the Don Kay show that Clausen would be driving the #7 for SSM?

[TUBORG-fan]

I thought I heard on the Don Kay show that Clausen would be driving the #7 for SSM?

Yes, I think they are working with SSM, some people are talking about him (Clauson) for the entire season, but that depends on more sponsorship

[drdisque]

From what I can tell Esteban Guerrieri will be in the #7 and if I had to guess Clausen will be driving #39 or #77.

[Mercury]

I believe that Clausen is ovals only, (without more sponsorship).