Special Motorsports Events - Pigot And Veach Nominated For Team USA Scholarship

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 6, 2011: Andretti Autosport drivers Spencer Pigot and Zach Veach have been selected as nominees for the 22nd annual Team USA Scholarship program. Pigot and Veach will meet with a panel of judges this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as part of the interview process for the prestigious award.

The two young yet accomplished drivers will contend with 12 fellow finalists for the opportunity to race in England in October as part of the Team USA Scholarship program.

The Team USA Scholarship was founded in 1990 by well-known auto racing writer and broadcaster Jeremy Shaw in order to provide opportunities for young American race car drivers from both funding and mentoring aspects. Former winners of the award include Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, A.J. Allmendinger, Joey Hand, Andy Lally, Bryan Sellers, Charlie Kimball and J.R. Hildebrand.

Both Pigot and Veach currently have one race win each in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, at Sebring and St. Petersburg, respectively. Veach sits in second place in driver championship point standings, while Pigot is only one point behind in third.

Pigot, the 17-year-old California native who currently resides in Windermere, Fla., was named a Team USA Scholarship winner in 2010 and competed in the Formula Ford Festival as part of the program, qualifying on pole for his heat, finishing fourth in the final, and setting the fastest race lap.

Sixteen-year-old Veach, from Stockdale, Ohio, captured the inaugural Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Winterfest Championship title earlier this year with two race wins. In 2010, Veach finished fifth in the overall USF2000 driver championship points, despite starting the season two races behind the rest of the field. He secured eight top-five finishes throughout the season, helping Andretti Autosport clinch the team championship title.

Pigot and Veach, making up Andretti Autosport's two-entry USF2000 effort, will compete twice this weekend at Mid-Ohio, in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series' Honda Indy 200. Andretti Autosport currently leads the team championship point standings.

For more information on the Team USA Scholarship program, please visit www.TeamUSAScholarship.org. For more information on Pigot and Veach, visit www.AndrettiAutosport.com.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,

ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT: "I'm really happy for Spencer and Zach for receiving this prestigious honor. When you put Zach in any car, he goes fast-no doubt. Spencer caught our eye last year as he was winning in every car he drove. They are true talents, and I see a bright future for both of them."

SPENCER PIGOT, DRIVER, #8 TEAM MAZDASPEED/SKIP BARBER: "It's an honor to be nominated for the Team USA Scholarship, especially for the second year in a row. I learned a lot last year in the program. The cars were different than what I was used to, which gave me a ton of experience coming into this season. Thanks to Jeremy Shaw and all of the Team USA Scholarship supporters for giving me a chance to win again this year and hopefully get back to England to race again. I'm really looking forward to Mid-Ohio and the interview selection process this weekend."

ZACH VEACH, DRIVER, #7 TEAM ZAKOSI DATA BACKUP: "It's a huge honor to be up for the Team USA Scholarship this year. I have worked really hard to get to where I'm at in this stage of my career and know that all the other nominees have as well. I feel any one of the finalists would be a deserving winner of this prestigious opportunity. While it is a means to fund young racers like myself, it is moreover a means to provide opportunities to potentially revolutionize a career. I'd be honored with the opportunity to represent my country through this opportunity."