INDY LIGHTS: Dorricott Racing begins 2001 Indy Lights Campaign in Mexico

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (March 6, 2001) - This weekend's first round of the 12-race 2001 Dayton Indy Lights Championship at the inaugural running of the Monterrey Grand Prix will begin a new chapter for Dorricott Racing. Two new faces will wear the Dorricott "blue" alongside a rising yet familiar name within the CART FedEx Championship circles.

Indy Lights will race on the newly constructed 1.8-mile, 12-turn street circuit in Monterrey's Fundidora Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. (CT), Sunday, March 11. It is the featured support race to the CART FedEx Championship Series Tecate Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix, presented by Herdez, later that day.

Second year Indy Lights driver Townsend Bell, of Costa Mesa, Calif., is looking to quickly have an impact on the 2001 Indy Lights championship when he makes his 13th career Indy Lights start at Monterrey. Bell, a pre-season favorite to win the championship, is the highest finishing returning driver from last season in Indy Lights.

Bell powered his way into last season's spotlight with two pole positions, two victories, and leading the second most laps of any driver in Indy Lights in the DirecPC Lola. Track to track consistency was his winning formula as he finished second place in the championship with 146 points - only 10 points shy of winning the Indy Lights title outright.

Bell's accomplishments were recognized this past off-season when he was named to the inaugural Dayton Indy Lights All-Star Team. He was one of three drivers honored including former Dorricott Racing teammate Casey Mears.

New to Dorricott Racing in 2001 are first-year Indy Lights drivers Damien Faulkner, of Ireland, and Jon Fogarty, of Portola Valley, Calif.

Faulkner became the Republic of Ireland's first European motor racing champion in 19 years by capturing the 2000 European Formula Palmer Audi Championship. The 24 year-old Dublin resident dominated the EFPA's 20-race season behind six wins, seven poles, and 12 podium finishes. Faulkner has a remarkable finishing record that has seen him fail to finish only once in 53 races over the last three years of race competitions.

Faulkner was also named Ireland's 2000 International Motorsports Competitor of the Year. This prestigious award is the same that had previously been won by Formula One star Eddie Irvine on two occasions.

Fogarty, the 2000 Barber Dodge Pro Series runner-up, earned 11 top-10 finishes in 12 races. The 25-year-old native Californian posted seven top-three finishes including wins at Lime Rock Park, Belle Isle, and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He also won poles at Lime Rock and Belle Isle in scoring a season total of 155 points. Fogarty is seeking as good a start to his Indy Lights career as his 2000 Barber Dodge Pro Series season opened when he scored podium finishes in six of the first seven races.

ESPN2 will provide a same-day delayed telecast of the Monterrey Dayton Indy Lights race from 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET (8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. PT), Sunday, March 11.

Dorricott Racing is a year-round professional motorsports organization with its race shop located in Bakersfield, Calif., and its corporate office based in Sunnyvale, Calif. Dorricott Racing's official web site, http://www.dorricottracing.com, is presently being upgraded. A new and improved team web site, featuring race results, team, and sponsor information, will be operational soon after Monterrey.

Text Provided By Dorricott Racing

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