For more information:
Brent Maurer
Rahal Letterman Racing
Director of Public Relations
Tel.: (614) 529-7000, ext. 104
Cell: (614) 264-1254
E-mail: bmaurer@rahal.com
and
Linda Mansfield, Andersen Racing/Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Rahal Letterman Racing Partners with Andersen Racing
For Indy Pro Series Program
HOMESTEAD, Fla., Feb. 21 - Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) and Andersen Racing
of Fairfield, N.J. announced today a partnership that will allow the two teams
to field multiple entries in the 2007 Indy Pro Series, the official
developmental series of the IndyCar Series. At the core of the agreement is
an
opportunity for Rahal Letterman Racing to expand its driver development program
and
for Andersen Racing to access on- and off-track support from RLR.
"We feel this program is an important component to our IndyCar Series
program
and we feel it is important for our team to be involved in all levels of the
IndyCar Series," said Bobby Rahal, the co-owner of RLR and the 1986
Indianapolis 500 winner. "We have been involved in developmental series
programs in the
past and that has certainly paid dividends in allowing us to groom the next
generation of driver. I have a lot of respect for Dan Andersen and his
organization. I saw first hand in 2005, when my son Graham ran for his team
in Star
Mazda, their approach to fielding a feeder-system entry. Their team has shown
a passion for the sport and they have the right approach in making sure
things are done professionally and correct the first time. This is the manner
in
which we run our IndyCar and ALMS programs and it was vitally important for
us
to find an IPS partner with the same approach."
"Andersen Racing is delighted to be affiliated with Bobby Rahal, David
Letterman and Rahal Letterman Racing," said Dan Andersen, who operates
Andersen
Racing with his brother, John. "I greatly respect Bobby as a person and
as a
businessman, and his record of success in the sport and outside the sport is
well
documented. This partnership allows me to fulfill a key component of my
vision for Andersen Racing, which is to take young, talented drivers through
our
ladder system and allow them an opportunity to be seen by IndyCar teams in
the
IPS and hopefully land an IndyCar ride," added Andersen. "Rahal
Letterman
Racing's involvement will elevate our program and provide opportunities for
our
young drivers to work with one of the top teams in IndyCar today."
Young American Andrew Prendeville of New Jersey and Australian native Joey
Scarallo will pilot the RLR Andersen Racing Indy Pro Series entries. The 2007
Indy Pro Series opener is slated for March 24 at Homestead Miami Speedway,
the
same day as the 2007 IndyCar Series opener.
About Rahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time
IndyCar champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and CBS LATE
SHOW
host David Letterman, has been competing for more than a decade, compiling
19
victories, 28 poles and one series championship (Bobby Rahal in 1992 in CART),
and an Indianapolis 500 victory (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2007 Rahal
Letterman Racing will campaign two cars in the Indy Racing League's IndyCar
Series
driven by Jeff Simmons, with sponsorship from the Ethanol Promotion and
Information Council, and Scott Sharp, with sponsorship from The Patron Spirits
Company.
It will also partner with Andersen Racing to run two entries in the Indy Pro
Series. Additionally in 2007 Rahal Letterman Racing will make its debut in
the American Le Mans Series by entering a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GT2
category. Bell Microproducts will serve as the primary partner for the ALMS entry,
which will be driven by veteran sports car drivers Ralf Kelleners and Tom
Milner.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing utilizes a unique, three-tiered development program to
nurture future open-wheel superstars. By fielding multiple entries in three
different series — the Hankook Tires Formula Ford 2000 Championship,
the Star Mazda
Championship presented by Goodyear and the Indy Pro Series — Andersen
Racing
guides its drivers systematically through the open-wheel development ladder so
they acquire the necessary skills to reach the sport's highest levels.
Andersen Racing principal Dan Andersen founded the U.S. Formula Ford 2000
National Championship in 1991 and guided it for 10 years. Under his direction
it
became one of the top open-wheel development formulas in the world, producing
many future stars including three Indy 500 winners: Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon
and Sam Hornish Jr.
Two drivers who drove for Andersen Racing's Star Mazda program in 2005,
Graham Rahal and Jonathan Klein, finished second in the Atlantic championship
and
Indy Pro Series, respectively, in 2006.
About the Indy Pro Series:
The Indy Pro Series is the premier ladder series for drivers and teams
striving to compete in the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Primarily
run
in conjunction with the IndyCar Series, the Indy Pro Series' 16-race schedule
features seven races on ovals and nine races on road courses/street circuits,
including both circuits at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Teams
compete for almost $4 million in prize money in cars that are second only in
speed
to the IndyCar Series at most tracks they visit. The complete Indy Pro Series
schedule is telecast on ESPN2 and available through live Web casts. Recent
graduates of this fast and cost-effective series include Jeff Simmons, Ed
Carpenter and Marco Andretti. For more information on the Indy Pro Series, please
visit indycar.com/pro.