Andretti Green Racing Signs Charlie Kimball to Drive U.S. Entry in A1GP Event at Zandvoort
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2008) – Andretti Green Racing announced today that it has
signed Charlie Kimball to drive the A1GP World Cup of Motorsports U.S. entry at this weekend’s A1GP Zandvoort at Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands.
Kimball, a 23-year old from Camarillo, Calif., will be making his first official A1GP start, but ran in rookie sessions at four events last season.
Kimball's single-seater career started in 2002 when he took part in the American Formula
Dodge national championship, finishing the season in 10th place overall. He also won three races in the SCCA Formula Ford Series. For 2003 he moved up to Formula Ford U.S., finishing third overall with two race wins and seven podium finishes. Kimball also contested the UK Formula Ford Winter Series, taking one race win to finish third overall.
In 2004 he competed in the full UK Formula Ford Championship for Team JLR, taking two
race wins and 11 podiums on his way to fourth in the championship. His performances earned him a drive with frontrunners Carlin Motorsport in the 2005 British Formula 3 championship, where he took five race wins to finish an impressive second behind teammate Álvaro Parente.
For 2006 Kimball stayed in Formula 3, but moved up to the Formula 3 Euro Series with the French Signature-Plus team and became the first American in 11 years to claim victory by winning at Zandvoort. Kimball spent 2007 competing for Victory Engineering in the World Series by Renault where he captured the pole position in Round 7 at the Hungaroring. However, Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in October 2007 and was forced to miss the final two series stops. Kimball is the only known open-wheel driver in the world competing with type 1 diabetes.
Charlie Kimball, Andretti Green Racing, Team USA:
“This is a fantastic opportunity. It all happened pretty quick so I don’t believe it has
completely sunk in yet. I was going a mile-a-minute just to get packed and ready to go, and my adrenaline was pumping about the same way it does when I’m in the race car. It wasn’t until I was on the airplane that I could really take a minute to think about it.
“This is a big deal to me. It’s nice to be given the opportunity to race this weekend. What
the Andretti Green crew has accomplished this week to get our car prepared and race-ready is truly amazing.
“Being involved with an institution like the Andretti family and with a team as successful as Andretti Green is something that is hard to describe. And, to be able to represent my country in my chosen sport is a very special experience.
“I’m not the most patient guy in the world, so I can’t wait for the weekend to get here.”
Michael Andretti, co-owner, Andretti Green Racing:
“We’re excited to have Charlie in the car for our A1GP debut this weekend. He has some
experience with the series and has had some success at the Zandvoort circuit. That experience is invaluable for us right now. We have heard good things about his abilities and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Contact: Al Larsen, (317) 872-2700 ext. 239, alan.larsen@andrettigreen.com