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Norhtern Light IRL: Rookie Giaffone Joins Treadway-Hubbard for 2001 Season

19 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS- Felipe Giaffone of Brazil will drive for Treadway-Hubbard Racing in the full 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series schedule with major sponsorship from Hollywood brand cigarettes, team officials announced Jan. 18.

Giaffone, 26, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has competed in the Dayton Indy Lights series the past three seasons, finishing in the top six in points each season. He has excelled on ovals, winning from the pole at Michigan Speedway and capturing the pole at California Speedway in 2000. Giaffone recorded four additional top-three finishes and nine top-10 finishes in 12 Indy Lights series races in 2000.

"This is a great opportunity for me to continue to grow my racing career," Giaffone said. "Im really excited about working with the Treadway-Hubbard team and representing Hollywood cigarettes in the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis 500.

"Im ready to get in the car and begin testing for the season opener in Phoenix."

Giaffone is scheduled to take his Indy Racing League rookie test this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He will drive the #21 Hollywood G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone as a teammate to Davey Hamilton at Treadway-Hubbard Racing, which also is fielding a third car for Arie Luyendyk this year at Indianapolis. Luyendyk will serve as driver coach for the team throughout the season.

"Felipe has demonstrated his oval-track racing skills in Indy Lights, and we are excited to bring him and Hollywood into the IRL," said Scott Cronk, vice president of Treadway Racing. "Everybody is ready to begin testing for the season and to bring the spectacular colors and paint scheme of the Hollywood car to the IRL."

Hollywood cigarettes are a product of Rio de Janeiro-based tobacco company Souza Cruz SA.

"Hollywood has invested in developing Felipe Giaffone over the past three years, and we are delighted to be joining up with the Treadway-Hubbard Racing team," said Fernando Pinheiro, brand marketing manager for Hollywood. "We believe that Felipe and Treadway will be visiting the winners circle often in 2001."

Giaffone is the second member of his extended family to compete in Indy Racing. His cousin Affonso made eight Indy Racing League starts in the 1996-97 season.

Text Provided By Paul Kelly

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