Guthrie Racing
Encyclopedia
Guthrie Meyer Racing is a former Firestone Indy Lights Series team.
The team started in 2005 as Guthrie Racing owned by 1997 IndyCar Series
“Rookie of the Year” winner and 1997 Phoenix race winner Jim Guthrie. The team began running in the Star Mazda Pro Series in 2005 with numerous podium and top 10 finishes. In 2006, the team moved into the Indy Pro Series (now called the Firestone Indy Lights Series) and made headlines quickly by winning the second and third races of the season on the Streets of St. Petersburg with driver Raphael Matos
.
The team continued on into 2007 and ran a two car effort for most of the season, running Sean Guthrie
, Jim Guthrie's 20 year old son, for the entire year and Tom Wieringa for the majority of the races.
Guthrie Racing ran four cars for the 2008 season in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with drivers Sean Guthrie
, Logan Gomez
, Franck Perera
and Micky Gilbert. The 4th car has also been driven by Robbie Pecorari
who achieved a 2nd place finish at Kansas Speedway
after starting 23rd on the grid, and Tom Wieringa who made history by becoming the oldest driver to compete in the series at age 52. Franck Perera
joined the team beginning at the Iowa race June 21, 2008 after losing his IndyCar Series ride with Conquest Racing due to his sponsor going bankrupt. He captured the team's only win of the season in one of the two races held at Infineon Raceway
.
Prior to the 2009 IndyCar Series season
, Louis (Butch) Meyer III bought into the team and it became Guthrie Meyer Racing.
The team began the 2009 season fielding three cars with drivers Alistair Jackson
, Jesse Mason
, and Sean Guthrie. The fourth race of the season at Kansas Speedway
was disastrous for the team as Jackson and Mason were involved in three heavy crashes and Sean Guthrie as well as his father Jim were suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the sport. Jackson subsequently left the team and they arrived at the next race, the Freedom 100
, with only a single car for Mason. The team shut down after the Freedom 100.
The team started in 2005 as Guthrie Racing owned by 1997 IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
“Rookie of the Year” winner and 1997 Phoenix race winner Jim Guthrie. The team began running in the Star Mazda Pro Series in 2005 with numerous podium and top 10 finishes. In 2006, the team moved into the Indy Pro Series (now called the Firestone Indy Lights Series) and made headlines quickly by winning the second and third races of the season on the Streets of St. Petersburg with driver Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
.
The team continued on into 2007 and ran a two car effort for most of the season, running Sean Guthrie
Sean Guthrie
Sean Guthrie is an American racing driver from Albuquerque, New Mexico currently competing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series. He is the son of Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race winner Jim Guthrie....
, Jim Guthrie's 20 year old son, for the entire year and Tom Wieringa for the majority of the races.
Guthrie Racing ran four cars for the 2008 season in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with drivers Sean Guthrie
Sean Guthrie
Sean Guthrie is an American racing driver from Albuquerque, New Mexico currently competing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series. He is the son of Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race winner Jim Guthrie....
, Logan Gomez
Logan Gomez
Logan Gomez is an American race car driver from Crown Point, Indiana who most notably competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series ....
, Franck Perera
Franck Perera
Franck Perera is a race car driver who has competed in a number of international open wheel racing championships.-Career:...
and Micky Gilbert. The 4th car has also been driven by Robbie Pecorari
Robbie Pecorari
Roberto "Robbie" Pecorari is an American racing driver from Aston, Pennsylvania.One of America's most successful young karters, he won numerous regional and national World Karting Association and Stars of Karting championships before moving up to cars in late 2003...
who achieved a 2nd place finish at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
after starting 23rd on the grid, and Tom Wieringa who made history by becoming the oldest driver to compete in the series at age 52. Franck Perera
Franck Perera
Franck Perera is a race car driver who has competed in a number of international open wheel racing championships.-Career:...
joined the team beginning at the Iowa race June 21, 2008 after losing his IndyCar Series ride with Conquest Racing due to his sponsor going bankrupt. He captured the team's only win of the season in one of the two races held at Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
.
Prior to the 2009 IndyCar Series season
2009 IndyCar Series season
The 2009 IndyCar Series season was the 14th season of the IndyCar Series. The 17-race season began on April 5, and its premier event, the 93rd Indianapolis 500 was held May 24. All races were broadcast on ABC or Versus in high-definition...
, Louis (Butch) Meyer III bought into the team and it became Guthrie Meyer Racing.
The team began the 2009 season fielding three cars with drivers Alistair Jackson
Alistair Jackson
Alastair "Ali" Jackson is an Northern Irish racing driver.Jackson raced in the Asian Formula Three Championship in 2006 and finished 3rd in points with four victories, becoming the youngest driver to win in series history...
, Jesse Mason
Jesse Mason
Jesse Mason is a Canadian racecar driver from Niagara Falls, Ontario.After karting and some amateur classes in Canada, Mason competed in the British Formula Three Championship National Class for Performance Racing in 2003 and finished 6th in class points. He also made two starts in the German...
, and Sean Guthrie. The fourth race of the season at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
was disastrous for the team as Jackson and Mason were involved in three heavy crashes and Sean Guthrie as well as his father Jim were suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the sport. Jackson subsequently left the team and they arrived at the next race, the Freedom 100
Freedom 100
The Firestone Freedom 100 is a Firestone Indy Lights Series auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is currently held the Friday before the Indianapolis 500...
, with only a single car for Mason. The team shut down after the Freedom 100.