For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Cell: 317-201-0729
 
 
 
Andersen Racing Continues
Extensive Testing Schedule
 
PALMETTO, Fla., Dec. 2 - Ireland's Peter Dempsey took advantage of one perk 
of Andersen Racing's groundbreaking open-wheel development program recently by 
testing one of the RLR/Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights cars at 
Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.
 
The Palmetto, Fla.-based team awards tests at the next level for each of its 
full-season Star Mazda and F2000 drivers.  Dempsey finished third in the 2008 
Star Mazda driver point standings in a year that saw Andersen Racing win the 
team championship in that series as well as the F2000 Championship Series, and 
place sixth in the Firestone Indy Lights team standings.
 
Jonathan Summerton (third place this year in the Atlantic series), Jeff 
Westphal (2008 Pacific F2000 champion) and Alistair Jackson (British F3 driver) 
also tested the team's Firestone Indy Lights cars on the short course at Sebring, 
Fla.  recently. 
 
"I am very impressed with the talent level of the drivers testing with us," 
said John Andersen, team co-owner and manager of the RLR/Andersen Firestone 
Indy Lights effort.  "I have been able to attend most of our test days this fall, 
and was really impressed. Hopefully we'll be able to make some driver 
announcements soon."
 
The two Team USA scholarship winners who represented America so well this 
year, Conor Daly (2008 Skip Barber National champion) and Josef Newgarden 
(runner-up in 2008 Skip Barber National), tested Andersen Racing's Star Mazda cars on 
the short course at Sebring as well as part of the team's contribution to 
that program.  In addition, Richard Kent, who won the Star Mazda season finale at 
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. in an Andersen Racing car, also 
tested the same type of car there. 
 
Michelle Kish, the overall team manager as well as the team manager for the 
organization's Star Mazda squad, was also pleased with the Star Mazda testing. 
 
"We know Conor, as he has tested with us in the past, and the team members 
all love him, but it was also great getting to know Josef," she said.  "The test 
went very well, and both drivers showed why they had such great results in 
the UK.
 
"Conor and Josef adapted quickly to the higher-horsepower Pro Mazda cars, and 
will be competing at the front in 2009 if they choose to do the series," she 
added.
 
The latest round of drivers testing with the team followed earlier testing at 
Sebring. Jonathan Bomarito and Joel Miller tested the RLR/Andersen Racing 
Firestone Indy Lights cars and Anders Krohn and Nathan Silva tested the team's 
Star Mazda cars in early November there.
 
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corporation. For 
more information see andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.
 
Quotes from some of the participants follow:
 
Peter Dempsey (tested Firestone Indy Lights car): "The test went extremely 
well. I had never driven a car like this before so it was all about getting seat 
time. It was great to get the opportunity to test the car, and I would like 
to thank Dan and John Andersen for giving me the opportunity. I really enjoyed 
driving the car, and considering the program we ran we were a lot closer to 
the pace than expected. We never got to run new tires and if we had everything 
100 percent I feel we would have been right on pace with the front runners. I 
am really looking forward to driving in the series next year, so hopefully I 
can raise the budget."
 
Mike Reggio (Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights engineer): "It was a good 
test for the team, and being able to work with Peter, who I worked with all 
season in Star Mazda, made the test run very well.  He was up to speed quickly, 
and seemed at home in the car after only a few laps.  In the limited amount of 
actual testing we were able to do, his feedback was able to help the team 
further understand the car. Given another day and some new tires, our times would 
have been significantly lower. But this was a good, solid test for us."
 
Jeff Westphal (tested Firestone Indy Lights car): "I know I could get more 
out of the car with a bit more seat time. The differences in weight, wheelbase, 
downforce and horsepower demanded a different approach that I feel like I have 
grasped, but you can always go a bit faster and find a little more time. The 
engineers were instrumental with their feedback and use of data to work with 
me on specific tasks as the day progressed.
 
"The test went well for me. It was my first time driving anything more than 
the 2.0-liter Zetec car I competed in this year, so naturally adjustments were 
necessary for me to properly go about the day, but we finished off in good 
shape. We were starting to make setup changes and feedback towards the end of the 
day.  It was a pleasure to work with everyone at Andersen Racing. They are 
extremely professional, and gave me a car that ran with no issues throughout the 
day.
 
"The track was way more bumpy than I expected, but after a few laps I had the 
layout pretty much figured out. It was a good place to test though; it 
simulates a street circuit very well I'm told.  I'd like to thank Dan and John 
Andersen for giving me the opportunity to work with their team for the day.
 
"They have a great program going right now. The ideas and opportunities they 
bring to the table are going to be just what the racing industry will need in 
the next couple of years, mainly with their in-house driver development ladder 
that is in place. It is a one-stop shop for moving forward with your 
development as a driver!"
 
Conor Daly (tested Star Mazda car): "The test was an extremely good learning 
experience for me.  Since it was my first day in the car, I had to learn a lot 
very quickly. The Andersen Racing team helped me a great deal with 
understanding the car and the setup as the day went on.  The day was a great success 
overall, with me being able to do some very quick laps!"
 
Josef Newgarden (tested Star Mazda car): "Testing with the Andersen Racing 
team was a fantastic experience.  This opportunity was definitely a benefit to 
my development in preparation for the 2009 season.  The car was a lot more 
poised and balanced in respect to cars I have driven in the past.  The entire team 
was extremely professional and very helpful in making sure I was completely 
comfortable in the car so that I could get the most out of my track time. I 
want to thank Jeremy Shaw and all of this year's Team USA supporters, along with 
Andersen Racing for making this test possible!"
 
 
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
 
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is 
one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States. Founded 
in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion 
building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than 200 
branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and warehouse 
space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from residential 
roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured stone, interior 
products and commercial roofing systems. For more information see 
alliedbuilding.com.
 
About Andersen Racing:
 
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training 
possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing partners 
media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most prestigious 
events in North America. It provides a unique, four-step program utilizing 
multiple entries in four different platforms: karting; the F2000 Championship 
(webcast); Star Mazda (televised on SPEED) and Firestone Indy Lights (televised on 
ESPN2/VERSUS). In 2008 it fielded multiple entries in 42 races in 18 states 
and provinces at some of the best facilities on the continent, including the 
famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 
 
Andersen Racing won the team championship for 2008 for both the F2000 
Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire and the Star Mazda Championship 
presented by Goodyear. Two of its drivers finished first and second in the 
F2000 driver point standings, while another was sixth. Three of its Star Mazda 
drivers placed third, fifth and sixth in that series' driver standings. 
RLR/Andersen Racing finished sixth in the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights team standings, 
while one of its drivers placed fifth in that series' driver point standings.
 
Andersen Racing's principals, brother Dan and John Andersen, have extensive 
experience in series administration as well as team management. They've worked 
with many of today's top open-wheel stars, including several Indy 500 winners. 
 
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. It is the 
official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, which competes in the IndyCar 
Series and the ALMS. In addition, its F2000 team is also the official factory 
team of Van Diemen. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 
18-acre facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile test track. For more 
information see andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.