American Joel Miller Joins Brian Herta Autosport for Infineon Grand Prix

SANTA CRUZ, August 18, 2010: American auto racing sensation Joel Miller will be driving for one of the top ranked Firestone Indy Lights Teams, Bryan Herta Autosport, this coming weekend in the Carneros 100 at Infineon Raceway. The California native will race under the #28 entry sponsored by Valli Construction, Blanco Basura Clothing, Doug Mockett and Company, Paradise Landscape of Santa Cruz, and Tonino Lamborghini. Miller will assume the seat previously held by Stefan Wilson to bring home a hopeful strong drive from the road-course master and looks forward to a strong pre-season for 2011.

Known for being a strong racer on road-courses himself after numerous efforts under teams such as Andretti Green and Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Owner Bryan Herta had asked Joel to join him at Infineon with a podium capable racecar. “We are excited to welcome Joel to the team this weekend,” said Bryan Herta. “Joel has worked very hard and creatively to put together the budget to compete at Sonoma and we want to provide him with the best opportunity to showcase his tremendous talents as he focuses on a full Indy Lights campaign next year.

Joel Miller, 22, of Hesperia, California, made his Indy Lights debut at Long Beach earlier this season finishing with a solid performance. A mechanical engineering student at the University of California, Riverside and representative for Sparco USA , Miller began his racing career in the karting ranks. One of the few drivers to battle the racing ladder system, Joel took the 2006 Stars of Karting National Title in the ICA division, the 2007 Skip Barber National Championship, runner-up in the 2008 Star Mazda Championship in his rookie season and took home the 2008 SKUSA Supernationals Championship. He was also a Team USA Scholarship recipient contesting the 2007 Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy Series in England while also being awarded the John Gorsline Driver Scholarship Award for 2009.

Miller helped to raise the funding for this Sunday’s race through the Joel Miller Indy Racing Experience, an event held this past Sunday in Santa Cruz, CA which featured a celebrity poker tournament, sweepstakes, exotic car display, live music performances and a pro motocross demonstration. Proceeds also benefited the Wings for Life and Karting2Live charities. Organized by Miller’s management firm, Monarchy Media Management, guests included “Dancing With the Stars” Karina Smirnoff, former New York Giants Superbowl Cornerback Reggie Stephens, Supercross rider Kyle Cunningham and Motocross US Open Champion Josh Van Den Heuvel.

“I have known Bryan since I was seven years old in go karts and I am happy to come full circle and finally be able to drive a car for him. I have run at Sonoma in various formulas and I am very familiar with the track and setting. This is a local race for me and I am really looking forward to the weekend because I know the place very well and I also know that I will have a good car and team under me. My aim is to run a full season in Indy Lights next year with the hope at taking the championship. Everything we are doing is in preparation for next year. Hopefully, we can keep the amazing sponsors we have on the car for this coming weekend involved for a full-time effort and, hopefully, with Bryan ’s team. I have some great sponsors that came through for me, world class team and management!”

Miller will partner this weekend with teammate Sebastian Saavedra who pilots the #29 William Rast entry. Saavedra and Miller will currently be looking for some top finishes this coming weekend, in hopes of teaming up together for next year. Miller looks towards the future as he hopes to promote his season and career in a new view, with sights set on further promotions, events and athletic appeal alongside his talent.

“Joel is a great guy and an amazing driver. The cars he drives are unbelievably fast and I would love to have the opportunity to work alongside Joel in the near future with our music label and the IRL,” quotes hip hop/rap star Reggie Stephens aka “Famouz.” Miller’s latest surge not only in the racecar, but in his marketing, has caused a fever of other great professional athletes and entertainers to get involved with Joel and his future efforts. “ I would love to have Joel out at one of my Arenacross and Motocross races this year and work together. He is a totally fun and talented guy within such a great sport,” quoted Josh Van Den Heuvel. Look for Joel Miller this weekend with Bryan Herta Autosport as he battles his way to the front. This weekends Carneros 100 will take place at 12:00 pm PT this Sunday and will be broadcast on IndyCar.com as well.