2008 IRL Indy Pro Series Thread.............................

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:06 am

With the 2007 Indy Pro Series season in the rearview mirror, it is time to look ahead to what is expected to be an exciting 2008 IPS season....first things first, though, is the expected 2008 IPS schedule................

note.....this is only a rough sketch of where they'll likely race......
Homestead(oval)-1 race
St. Pete(street circuit)-2 races
Indy(oval)-1 race
Milwaukee(oval)-1 race
Iowa(oval)-1 race
Watkins Glen(road course)-2 races
Mid Ohio(road course)-2 races
Kentucky(oval)-1 race
Infineon(road course)-2 races
Chicagoland(oval)-1 race

The main difference is the loss of the 2 Liberty Challenge @ the Brickyard races during the USGP weekend; all assumptions are that IPS officials will add one additional race to the Mid-Ohio weekend

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:31 am

2008 IRL Indy Pro Series Schedule..................................

Rd. 1--29 March 2008, Homestead-Miami Speedway
Rds. 2, 3--5 April and 6 April 2008, St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Rd. 4--27 April 2008, Kansas Speedway
Rd. 5--23 May 2008, Indianapolis Motor Speedway(oval)
Rd. 6--1 June 2008, The Milwaukee Mile
Rd. 7--21 June 2008, Iowa Speedway
Rds. 8, 9--5 July 2008, Watkins Glen International
Rd. 10--12 July 2008, Nashville Superspeedway
Rds. 11, 12--19 July and 20 July, 2008, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Rd. 13--9 August 2008, Kentucky Speedway
Rds. 14, 15--23 August and 24 August, 2008, Infineon Raceway
Rd. 16--7 September 2008, Chicagoland Speedway

8 ovals, 6 road course and 2 street circuit races...............
~~Additions, same-day doubleheader at the Glen and a second race at Mid-Ohio
~~Losses, both Liberty Challenge races during USGP weekend

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:18 am

Several teams recently tested drivers in the off-season run to the 2008 IRL Indy Pro Series season.........................

~~at Kentucky Speedway**
--Richard Antinucci, Cheever Racing
--Bia Figuerideo & Matt Lee, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts
**--in addition to testing, all three drivers passed their IPS rookie test

~~at Sebring International Raceway(short course)
--James Davison and Cole Morgan, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:24 am

Some brief news items concerning the IRL Indy Pro Series over the past week or so................

~~Relocation for RLR/Andersen Racing.....for years, Andersen Racing was located up in "Yankee-Land", I mean, New Jersey....

......well, they have decided to relocate to Florida; team officials confirmed the move earlier this week, citing the need to consolidate their three series' efforts(Andersen Racing runs teams in the Indy Pro Series, Star Mazda Series and US Formula 2000 series.); the move will also allow to evaluate drivers currently running w/them in one location

~~Some new faces for '08? Brian Stewart Racing, one of the stawlart teams in the IPS, recently tested several Canadian drivers at Nashville Superspeedway, all of whom passed their IPS rookie tests.....among them were Canadian Formula Ford champion Matt White and Canadian karting champion Michael Mora, both of whom passed their rookie tests with flying colors

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:37 am

2008 IRL Indy Pro Series Driver Lineup...........................
note........driver lineup subject to change prior to season opener

~~American Spirit Racing} Cyndie Alleman
~~FuZion Racing} Adam Andretti
~~RLR-Andersen Racing} Andrew Prendeville, J.R. Hildebrand
~~Sam Schmidt Motorsports} Ana Beatriz, James Davison, Richard Antinucci, Jon Brownson
~~Andretti-Green Racing} Raphael Matos, Arie Luyendyk, Jr.
~~Playa del Racing} Al Unser, III
~~Team Enerson} Bobby Wilson
~~Michael Crawford Motorsports} Jake Slotten, Nathan Freke
~~Panther Racing} Brent Sherman
~~Brian Stewart Racing} Juan Manuel Polar, Mitchell Cunningham
~~Guthrie Racing} Sean Guthrie, Logan Gomez
~~Alliance Motorsports} Chris Festa
~~SWE Racing} Pablo Donoso
~~Apex Racing} Mike Potekhen, Ken Losch
~~Mile High Motorsports} Micky Gilbert

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:38 am

In what has to be a major stunner in the NA motorsports community, 2007 Atlantic Championship series titleist Raphael Matos, saying at a press conference that "it was the best thing for my career", walked away from the $2 million series prize for winning the Altnatic Championship(which would've been used for a ChampCar ride in 2008) and has signed with Andretti-Green Racing to run the full 2008 Indy Pro Series schedule(and possibly a 5th AGR entry at the Brickyard in May....).......

During the press conference today at AGR's Indianapolis headquarters, it was also announced that the team will work with AFS Racing on a combined IPS team for 2008; Matos, as part of that effort, will drive the #27 Automatic Fire Sprinklers Dallara/Infiniti IPS car in 2008.......

Here's a link to the above info...........
Atlantic Champion Matos switches to Indy Pro Series

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:33 am

During the past week, several incoming and prospective Indy Pro Series drivers passed their required rookie tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway; the list included...........

Brent Sherman w/Panther Racing
Cyndie Allemann w/American Spirit Racing*
Mark Olsen w/Panther Racing
Jake Slotten w/American Spirit Racing
Raphael Matos w/Andretti-Green Racing*
James Davison w/Sam Schmidt Motorsports*
Dan Brode w/Panther Racing
*--already signed for 2008

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:11 am

Over the past week or so, several driver announcements and tests were made/confirmed.......................

~~Michael Crawford Motorsports has signed 21yo sprint car driver Jake Slotten to drive for the team on the ovals this season w/a full season in 2009; Slotten, who hails from Wisconsin, has made it his intent to race at the Brickyard someday and believes that racing in the IPS will help get him there; the team will announce a driver for the 8 road/street races on the IPS schedule(expecting a vet for St. Pete and a third driver for the other 6 races)
~~Sam Schmidt Motorsports announced over the weekend that they will run IPS driver Jon Brownson in a fourth SSM entry at selected events on the 2008 calendar
~~3 teams tested over the weekend at Phoenix International Raceway..........American Spirit Racing w/Cyndie Allemann, Sam Schmidt Motorsports w/Jon Brownson, Ana Beatriz and James Davison and Brian Stewart Racing w/Ryan Lewis and J.C. Ravier

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:15 am

Homestead Test Entry List.....................
~~Brian Stewart Racing(1): Juan Manuel Polar
~~Guthrie Racing(1): Sean Guthrie
~~RLR/Andersen Racing(1): Andrew Prendeville
~~Michael Crawford Motorsports(2): Jake Slotten, Nathan Freke
~~Sam Schmidt Motorsports(4): Richard Antinucci, James Davision, Ana Beatriz, Jon Brownson
~~Panther Racing(1): Brent Sherman
~~Team Enerson(1): Bobby Wilson
~~American Spirit Racing(1): Cyndie Allemann
~~Andretti-Green Racing(1): Rapahel Matos
~~SWE Racing(1): Brandon Wagner
~~Apex Racing(1): Mike Potekhen
~~Mile High Motorsports(1): Micky Gilbert

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:20 am

Homestead IPS Test Morning Session top-10...............
1} Bobby Wilson, Team Enerson.................................28.593 sec/186.971 mph
2} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing....................28.601 sec/186.917 mph
3} Sean Guthrie, Guthrie Racing................................28.624 sec/186.784 mph
4} Cyndie Allemann, American Spirit Racing...............28.712 sec/186.193 mph
5} Jon Brownson, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts......................28.715 sec/186.176 mph
6} Brent Sherman, Panther Racing.............................28.792 sec/185.766 mph
7} Andrew Prendeville, RLR/Andersen Racing..............28.830 sec/185.434 mph
8} Logan Gomez, Guthrie Racing................................28.831 sec/185.427 mph*
9} Ana Beatriz, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts.........................28.831 sec/185.426 mph*
10} Ken Losch, Apex Racing......................................28.840 sec/185.369 mph
*--IPS timing and scoring dials out to the 1/10,000th; Gomez' fastest time was a 28.8307, Beatriz' fastest time was a 28.8309

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:55 am

Homestead IPS Test Afternoon Session top-10...........
1} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing......................28.553 sec/187.232 mph
2} Bobby Wilson, Team Enerson...................................28.593 sec/186.971 mph
3} Logan Gomez, Guthrie Racing..................................28.594 sec/186.962 mph
4} Sean Guthrie, Guthrie Racing...................................28.624 sec/186.764 mph
5} Cyndie Allemann, American Spirit Racing..................28.712 sec/186.193 mph
6} Jon Brownson, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts.........................28.715 sec/186.176 mph
7} Richard Antinucci, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts....................28.726 sec/186.102 mph
8} Chris Festa, Target/Ganassi Racing...........................28.774 sec/185.795 mph
9} Brandon Wagner, Brian Stewart Racing.....................28.790 sec/185.693 mph
10} Brent Sherman, Panther Racing..............................28.792 sec/185.677 mph

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:37 am

2 more driver/team announcements came down the wires from Homestead this afternoon......................
~~SWE Racing has agreed to run A.J. Foyt Racing driver Pablo Donoso in a driver development deal for 2008 in the newly renamed Firestone Indy Lights Series
~~Defending Asian Formula 3 champion Dillon Battisini has signed with Panther Racing to drive in the Firestone Indy Lights Series for 2008, joining incoming Panther Racing driver Brent Sherman

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:55 am

Homestead Practice Session #1 top-5......................
1} Andrew Prendeville, RLR-Andersen Racing.......................28.678 sec
2} Dillon Battistini, Panther Racing.......................................28.831 sec
3} Sean Guthrie, Guthrie Racing..........................................28.853 sec
4} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing.............................28.861 sec
5} Arie Luyendyk, Jr., Andretti-Green Racing........................28.971 sec

Homestead Practice Session #2 top-5......................
1} Bobby Wilson, Team Enerson..........................................28.803 sec
2} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing.............................28.824 sec
3} Logan Gomez, Guthrie Racing.........................................28.853 sec
4} Ana Beatriz, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts...................................28.875 sec
5} Andrew Prendeville, RLR-Andersen Racing........................28.960 sec

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:00 am

Homestead Qualifying Top-10....................................
1} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing......................186.899 mph
2} Dillon Battistini, Panther Racing................................186.541 mph
3} Sean Guthrie, Guthrie Racing...................................186.089 mph
4} Andrew Prendeville, RLR-Andersen Racing.................186.054 mph
5} Richard Antinucci, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts....................185.993 mph
6} Ana Beatriz, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts............................185.802 mph
7} James Davison, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts.......................185.786 mph
8} Bobby Wilson, Team Enerson...................................185.776 mph
9} Wade Cunningham, Brian Stewart Racing..................185.480 mph
10} Pablo Donoso, SWE Racing.....................................185.312 mph
note.....qual. speeds are based on the 2-lap average during each qual. run

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:33 pm

Homestead Indy Lights top-10......................................
1st} Dillon Battistini, Panther Racing.....................................67 laps
2nd} Richard Antinucci, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts........................-1.685 sec
3rd} Brent Sherman, Panther Racing....................................-4.094 sec
4th} Arie Luyendyk, Jr., Andretti-Green Racing.....................-4.184 sec
5th} Chris Festa, Alliance Mtrspts........................................-4.199 sec
6th} Andrew Prendeville, RLR-Andersen Racing....................-4.923 sec
7th} Ana Beatriz, Sam Schmidt Mtrspts................................-5.227 sec
8th} Raphael Matos, Andretti-Green Racing..........................-5.275 sec
9th} Wade Cunningham, Brian Stewart Racing......................-5.304 sec
10th} J.R. Hildebrand, RLR-Andersen Racing.........................-5.430 sec

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