INDYPRO (NEWTON) - GUTHRIE RACING PREVIEW
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Guthrie Racing’s Indy Pro Series team and driver Sean Guthrie are headed to the cornfields of the Midwest and the “Iowa 100,” to be held Saturday, June 23, at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. This is the eighth race on the Indy Pro Series’ 2007 schedule, kicking off a summer swing that will take them to many other Midwest venues in Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The Indy Pro Series adds to the oval racing heritage of the state of Iowa in 2007 as it conducts its first race at Iowa Speedway, the state’s newest oval facility. Iowa Speedway is the first driver-designed racing facility. Former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace served as a co-designer of the track, which features variable banking to promote more side-by-side racing.
“I’ve heard that Iowa Speedway is like Chicagoland (Speedway) with the banking, like Phoenix (Int’l Raceway) with the speed, and we’re going to be using our short-track setup like Milwaukee (The Milwaukee Mile), so I’m not sure what to expect,” Guthrie stated. “It’s a combination of so many tracks it’s really its own deal – it’s unique. I’m really excited about it, though. Everyone will be in the same boat so we will have the same opportunity to do well as any other team.”
Guthrie has a great appreciation for the racing heritage that the state is known for. The Hawkeye state boasts 56 race tracks, which puts Iowa fourth nationally in number of motorsports facilities.
“I’ve actually raced two national events in Iowa in go karts – in Newton and Des Moines in the late ‘90s,” Guthrie said. “This weekend’s IRL events are the first ever in that state, although I know it’s really big for Sprint cars and stuff. I really think it will continue to grow, especially with Rusty Wallace behind the effort. There’s a real loyal fanbase, and a lot of people who really enjoy racing – big Saturday night crowds. It’s a place a driver likes to race because it kind of takes the politics out of it – the best man wins. Even Michael Schumacher had to start in the lower rungs of racing and go from there, so it’s a great place to watch new talent run as well as the professional series’ that the fans will get to see this weekend.”
Guthrie has just come off of a career-best fourth-place finish in Milwaukee a few weeks ago on the tight Milwaukee Mile oval, and a couple of solid mid-pack finishes on Indy’s road course last weekend.
“We’re just trying to calm down as a team and settle into a rhythm,” explained Guthrie. “The start of the season really through us off with all of the crashes and bad luck. At Indy this past weekend we were actually one of the teams that finished both races – solidly in the middle of the pack, which isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s not that bad. We have to make sure that day in and day out we have the car prepared and continue to work well as a team. This year a few little mistakes we’ve made seemed to have cost us much more than they should have.”
After conquering the event at the Iowa Speedway, the Indy Pro Series warriors get a week off before heading back on the road for a doubleheader weekend at the historic Watkins Glen International road course on Saturday, July 7th, and Sunday, July 8th.
For more information on Sean Guthrie, please go to www.SeanGuthrie.com .
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GUTHRIE RACING TEAM NOTES
* The Guthrie Racing Team has permanently moved its team shop headquarters from their hometown of Albuquerque, NM, to Brownsburg, Ind., near Indianapolis.
JIM GUTHRIE QUOTE ON TEAM MOVE TO INDIANAPOLIS:
“It just made too much sense for us. Everything is in Indianapolis that we need to operate our team. When everything is going right, working from New Mexico is fine, but if we have a problem, we need to be closer to the people and companies that can help us fix it. Albuquerque will always be our home, but to base an Indy Pro Series operation out of a place that is so remote to anywhere we race makes it very difficult logistically and financially to justify. We have leased a shop in Brownsburg, and we’re looking forward to making our homebase in Indy. This will be better for everyone involved.”
* Sean Guthrie and his father and car owner Jim Guthrie are blogging regularly on www.IndyProRacer.com . Based on the popularity of those blogs, Sean was also asked to blog for the Indy Racing League’s website, with his first entry, located at: http://www.indycar.com/pro/news/story.php?story_id=8751 .
* Alternating schedule: For the remainder of the 2007 season, Indy Pro Series teams and drivers will alternate racing on ovals and road courses. The stretch began at Milwaukee on June 2 and continues through the end of the season. On June 16-17, the Indy Pro Series competed on the 13-turn, 2.605-mile road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Following the Iowa 100, the series heads to Watkins Glen for a doubleheader weekend. The schedule continues with Nashville (oval), Mid-Ohio (rc), Kentucky (oval), Infineon (rc) and Chicagoland (oval).
* Over the early-season break in the Indy Pro Series schedule in April, Sean Guthrie was not only busy working on his race cars in preparation for the races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but he also got a huge promotion at his daily job working for Car Crafters, the family-owned business. Sean is now the Parts Manager for that business, the largest collision repair business in New Mexico.
* Last year, nine drivers combined to make 18 starts for the Guthrie Racing Team. This year, the team plans to campaign Guthrie and Wieringa for the full season. That continuity should breed familiarity among the team and lead to stronger results on the track on a more consistent basis.
* Watch For A Young Winner: Jim Guthrie hoisted an IndyCar Series trophy at Phoenix International Raceway in 1997, and he was also named IRL “Rookie of the Year” during that season. This year, the team hopes Sean Guthrie will hoist an Indy Pro Series trophy. While the series has had younger winners, such as Marco Andretti, a win by Guthrie would make him one of the youngest in series history (Guthrie turned 19 years old on April 18th).
* The Guthrie Racing team can not only claim one of the youngest racers in the IRL Indy Pro Series with 18-year-old Sean Guthrie, but also the oldest competitor in Tom Wieringa, who turned 55 years old on June 7th.
* Record-setting season unfolding: The 2007 season will be one of records for the Indy Pro Series. The season features a series-record 16 races on nine road courses and seven ovals, competitors will vie for a record amount of prize money – almost $4 million.
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TEAM
G U T H R I E R A C I N G
The B A C K G R O U N D . . .
2006 GUTHRIE RACING DRIVER RESULTS
Driver Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Best Finish
CR Crews 1 0 0 0 0 11th
Phil Giebler 1 0 0 0 0 16th
Micky Gilbert 2 0 0 2 0 9th
Logan Gomez 1 0 0 1 0 10th
Travis Gregg 1 0 0 0 0 12th
Sean Guthrie 5 0 1 2 0 5th
Scott Mansell 2 0 0 1 0 7th
Raphael Matos 4 2 3 3 1 1st
Tom Wieringa 1 0 0 0 0 15th
Total 18 2 4 9 1 1st
2007 GUTHRIE RACING INDY PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1) Alex Lloyd, 340, 2) Hideki Mutoh, 236, 3) Bobby Wilson, 207, 4) Jaime Camara, 176, 5) Chris Festa, 167, 6) Mike Potekhen, 165, 7) Jonathan Klein, 145, 8) Wade Cunningham, 134, 9) Stephen Simpson, 134, 10) Robbie Pecorari, 132, 13) Sean Guthrie, 110
GUTHRIE RACING HISTORY AT THE IOWA SPEEDWAY:
Guthrie Racing and driver Sean Guthrie have not raced or tested at Iowa Speedway in the past. 2007 marks the first time Indy Pro Series and IndyCar Series teams will race at that facility, built in 2006 by NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace.
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DRIVER
S E A N G U T H R I E
The B A S I C S . . .
Birthdate
April 18, 1988
Birthplace and Residence
Albuquerque, NM
Height/Weight
5-9 / 135
Website
SEAN GUTHRIE INDY PRO SERIES CAREER DRIVER STATISTICS
Date Track Start / Finish
Fri., May 26, 2006 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 12 / 11
Sun., June 4, 2006 Watkins Glen International 7 / 16
Sat., July 15, 2006 Nashville Superspeedway 12 / 8
Sun., Aug. 13, 2006 Kentucky Speedway 13 / 5
Sat., Sept. 9, 2006 Chicagoland Speedway 11 / 18
Sat., March 24, 2007 Homestead-Miami Speedway 9 / 19
Sat., March 31, 2007 Streets of St. Petersburg #1 16 / 16
Sun., April 1, 2007 Streets of St. Petersburg #2 16 / 23
Fri., May 25, 2007 Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval) 13 / 19
Sat. June 2, 2007 The Milwaukee Mile 9 / 4
Sat. June 16, 2007 Indianapolis Motor Speedway (rc) 18 / 13
Sun. June 17, 2007 Indianapolis Motor Speedway (rc) 13 / 12
The B A C K G R O U N D . . .
2006
* Competed in five Indy Pro Series races with Guthrie Racing;
* Debuted in the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway five weeks after his 18th birthday - finished 11th;
* Recorded a season-best finish of fifth at Kentucky.
2005
* Recorded three top-10 finishes, including a third at Pikes Peak, as a rookie in Star Mazda.
2004
* Competed in SCCA Formula Ford, recording two regional victories and one national victory. Won the pole and the race in his debut at Pikes Peak.
2003
* Began karting at age 8, winning more than 80 feature races and four regional championships.
* Competed in Pee Wee Motocross for two years beginning at age 6;
* Father, Jim, won IndyCar Series “Rookie of the Year” honors in 1997;
* Designs, builds and flies remote-controlled airplanes in the IMAC Precision Aerobatics and Freestyle Championship;
* Graduated from Sandia Prep High School (NM) in 2006.
2002
* Won the national championship at the IKF Grand National Champioacnships;
* Finished second in the Canyon Region in SKUSA 80cc shifter karts.
The F U N S T U F F . . .
* Began karting at age 8, winning more than 80 feature races and four regional championships.
* Competed in Pee Wee Motocross for two years beginning at age 6;
* Father, Jim, won IRL IndyCar Series “Rookie of the Year” honors in 1997 winning in Phoenix;
* Designs, builds and flies remote-controlled airplanes in the IMAC Precision Aerobatics and Freestyle Championship;
* Graduated from Sandia Prep High School (NM) in 2006.
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RACE WEEKEND INFORMATION
“IOWA 100” SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
8 a.m. – 9 p.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages open
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Indy Pro Series practice
11:15 a.m. – Noon Indy Pro Series practice
1:15 p.m. Indy Pro Series Iowa 100 SWE Pole Qualifying
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. IndyCar Series Open Testing
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
8 a.m. – 9 p.m. IndyCar Series garage opens
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)
12:50 – 1:10 p.m. Indy Pro Series final practice (two groups)
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)
3:45 p.m. Indy Pro Series Iowa 100 pre-race
4:10 p.m. Indy Pro Series Iowa 100 (115 laps/100 miles), ESPN2 (5 p.m.., June 29)
5:15 p.m. IndyCar Series AAMCO Transmissions Pole Qualfiying
7 – 8 p.m. Autograph Session
8 p.m. 3 Dog Night Concert
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
11:15 a.m. Iowa Corn Indy 250 pre-race
4:10 p.m. Iowa Corn Indy 250 (250 laps/218.75 miles), ABC (Live)
“IOWA 100” MEDIA COVERAGE:
TV:
ESPN2 (tape-delay), 5: 30 p.m. (ET), July 3
INTERNET
Live streaming video coverage of the SWE Pole Qualifying (1:15 p.m. (ET) June 22) and the Iowa 100 (5:10 p.m. (ET) June 23) is available at www.indycar.com
“IOWA 100” PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS
None – this is the inaugural appearance for the Indy Pro Series at the Iowa Speedway.
2007 IRL INDY PRO SERIES SCHEDULE
March 24 (Saturday) - Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla.
March 31 (Saturday) - April 1 (Sunday) - Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
May 25 (Friday) - Indianapolis (IN) Motor Speedway (oval)
June 2 (Saturday) - The Milwaukee (WI) Mile
June 16 (Saturday) - June 17 (Sunday) - Indianapolis (IN) Motor Speedway (road course)
June 23 (Saturday) - Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
July 7 (Saturday) - July 8 (Sunday) - Watkins Glen (NY) International
July 14 (Saturday) - Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway
July 22 (Sunday) - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
August 11 (Saturday) - Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.
August 25 (Saturday) - August 26 (Sunday) - Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.
September 9 (Sunday) - Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Ill.
2007 IRL INDY PRO SERIES TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(all events aired on ESPN2)
Race Date(s) Telecast Date & Time (ET) Race Venue
March 24 March 28 at 5 p.m. Homestead-Miami
March 31/April 1 April 6 at 4:30 p.m. St. Petersburg
May 25 May 25 at 4 p.m. Indianapolis (oval)
June 2 June 8 at 6 p.m. Milwaukee
June 16 & 17 June 21 at 5 p.m. Indianapolis (road course)
June 23 June 29 at 5 p.m. Iowa
July 7 & 8 July 12 at 5 p.m. Watkins Glen
July 14 July 19 at 5 p.m. Nashville
July 22 July 26 at 5 p.m. Mid-Ohio
Aug. 11 Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. Kentucky
Aug. 25 & 26 Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. Infineon
Sept. 9 Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. Chicagoland
MANY THANKS TO THE GUTHRIE RACING TEAM
2007 SUPPORTERS
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