Peter Lawrence Chesson, Jr (born December 9, 1978 in Far Hills, New Jersey

Far Hills, New Jersey

Far Hills is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 919.Far Hills was incorporated as a borough based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 7, 1921, from portions of Bernards Township, subject to the results...

) is an American race car driver who most recently competed in the Indy Racing League 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...

.

Career

He made his professional debut in sprint cars

Sprint car racing

Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....

 in 1998 and from 2000 to 2003 was one of the top drivers in the World of Outlaws

World of Outlaws

The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...

 winged sprint car series. In 2004 he suddenly decided to change his career path and drove in the IRL's Infiniti Pro Series winning his first three races and finishing fourth in series points despite missing three races. He was announced as the driver for Hemelgarn Racing

Hemelgarn Racing

Hemelgarn Racing was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier. Along with A.J...

's car in the IndyCar Series in 2006 with new backing from NBA star Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...

. The partnership was dubbed "Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing". The deal was brokered through the IRL's new marketing partner, Simmons-Abramson Marketing, made up of rock legend Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...

 and entertainment industry vet Richard Abramson. Chesson started the first 4 races of the season, the last being the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...

, where he and teammate Jeff Bucknum

Jeff Bucknum

Jeff Bucknum is an American race car driver. Jeff is the son of Formula One and Championship Car racer Ronnie Bucknum....

 tangled on the second lap and finished in the last two positions. Chesson has numerous tattoo

Tattoo

A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...

s, including one of the 2006 Indianapolis 500

2006 Indianapolis 500

The 90th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 28, 2006. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the race by passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final straightaway, about 450 feet from the finish line...

 logo that he had applied in public at the Speedway during the final day of qualifying. Since the demise of his deal with Hemelgarn, Chesson did not return to the Indycar Series until the end of the 2007 season when, in another Simmons/Abramson brokered deal, Chesson was announced as the second driver for Roth Racing

Roth Racing

Roth Racing was a race team owned by Canadian real estate magnate and racecar driver Marty Roth. It competed in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.- 2004-2005 :...

 alongside team owner Marty Roth

Marty Roth

Marty Roth is a former Canadian race car driver who most recently competed in the IndyCar Series where he owned his own team, Roth Racing....

 with both cars sponsored by fashion label Dussault Apparel. He made his 2007 debut at the final race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway

Chicagoland Speedway

Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...

 and finished 19th after mechanical gremlins sidelined him for over 100 laps. Chesson resides in NJ with his wife, Jamie and his Rottweiler Rex. PJ and Jamie are expecting a baby boy due in July 2010.

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indy Lights

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Rank	Points
2004	Mo Nunn Racing	HMS Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...	PHX Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...	INDY	KAN 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... 8	NSH Nashville Superspeedway Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in... 6	MIL Milwaukee Mile The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954.... 2	MIS Firestone Indy 400 The Firestone Indy 400 was an IndyCar Series race held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.Between 1970 and 2007, Michigan International Speedway hosted at least one open-wheel race in every season, hosting 55 open-wheel races over 38 years... 1	KTY Kentucky Speedway Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned... 1	PPIR Pikes Peak International Raceway Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo... 1	CHI Chicagoland Speedway Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording... 5	FON California Speedway Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and... 2	TXS Texas Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas.... 5			4th	317
2005	Genoa Racing	HMS Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series... 11	PHX Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series... 14	STP Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is an IndyCar Series race held in St. Petersburg, Florida.-History:Racing in the St. Petersburg area dates back to 1985. The SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race on a downtown waterfront circuit from 1985-1990. Local residents and businesses complained about... 7	INDY	TXS Texas Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....	IMS Liberty Challenge The Liberty Challenge was a race in the Indy Pro Series , held on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2005, 2006 and 2007.-Race History:...	NSH Nashville Superspeedway Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...	MIL Milwaukee Mile The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....	KTY Kentucky Speedway Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...	PPIR Pikes Peak International Raceway Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo...	SNM 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...	CHI Chicagoland Speedway Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...	WGL Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...	FON California Speedway Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...	17th	61

IndyCar

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points
2006	Hemelgarn Racing Hemelgarn Racing Hemelgarn Racing was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier. Along with A.J...	HMS 2006 Toyota Indy 300 The 2006 Toyota Indy 300 was the first round of the 2006 IndyCar Series season, held on March 26, 2006 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway and covered by ABC. The race was marred by a violent crash in the final practice session. Paul Dana was killed in the crash and fellow teammates Danica Patrick and... 12	STP 2006 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg The 2006 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was the second round of the 2006 IndyCar Series season, held on April 2, 2006 on the Streets of St. Petersburg city track and covered by ESPN. Dario Franchitti won the pole, but was knocked out early due to mechanical failure... 17	MOT 17	INDY 2006 Indianapolis 500 The 90th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 28, 2006. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the race by passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final straightaway, about 450 feet from the finish line... 33	WGL	TXS	RIR	KAN	NSH	MIL	MIS	KTY	SNM	CHI				22nd	54
2007	Roth Racing Roth Racing Roth Racing was a race team owned by Canadian real estate magnate and racecar driver Marty Roth. It competed in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.- 2004-2005 :...	HMS 2007 XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 The 2007 XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 was the opening round of the 2007 IndyCar Series season. It took place on March 24, 2007 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, United States.-Results:...	STP 2007 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg The 2007 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was the second round of the 2007 IndyCar Series season. It took place on April 1, 2007.-Results:...	MOT 2007 Indy Japan 300 The 2007 Indy Japan 300 was an IndyCar Series motor race held on April 21, 2007, at the Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi, Japan. It was the third race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season, the fifth annual edition of the Indy Japan 300 in the IndyCar Series, and the tenth anniversary running of the...	KAN 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 The 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Kansas Speedway. It was held over the weekend of 27 -April 29, 2007, as the fourth round of the seventeen-race calendar.-Results:-References:**...	INDY 2007 Indianapolis 500 The 91st Indianapolis 500 ran on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 12th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and marked the fifth race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season just after the 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 and just before the 2007 ABC Supply...	MIL 2007 ABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225 The 2007 ABC Supply Company/A.J. Foyt 225 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at The Milwaukee Mile. It was held over the weekend of 1 -June 3, 2007, as the sixth round of the seventeen-race calendar.-Classification:-References:*...	TXS 2007 Bombardier Learjet 550 The 2007 Bombardier Learjet 550 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Texas Motor Speedway. It was held over 7 -June 9, 2007, as the seventh round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was also the second of the four night races of the season....	IOW 2007 Iowa Corn Indy 250 The 2007 Iowa Corn Indy 250 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series. It was held over the weekend of June 22-24, 2007, as the eighth round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was the inaugural race at the brand-new Iowa Speedway.-Pre-Race:...	RIR 2007 SunTrust Indy Challenge The 2007 SunTrust Indy Challenge was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Richmond International Raceway. It was held over 28 -June 30, 2007, as the ninth round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was the third of four night races on the 2007 calendar....	WGL 2007 Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix The 2007 Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Watkins Glen International. It was held over the weekend of 6 -July 8, 2007, as the tenth round of the seventeen-race calendar.-Classification:-References:*...	NSH 2007 Firestone Indy 200 The 2007 Firestone Indy 200 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Nashville Superspeedway. It was originally to be held over 12 -July 14, 2007, as the eleventh round of the seventeen-race calendar. However, persistent rain pushed the race back to July 15, 2007.-Classification:-...	MDO 2007 Honda 200 The 2007 Honda 200 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It was held over the weekend of 20 -July 22, 2007, as the twelfth round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was the inaugural race for the IndyCar Series at the track.-Classification:- References :*...	MIS 2007 Firestone Indy 400 The 2007 Firestone Indy 400 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Michigan International Speedway. It was held over the weekend of 3 -August 5, 2007, as the thirteenth round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was the last race, for the time being, for the IndyCar Series at the track...	KTY 2007 Meijer Indy 300 The 2007 Meijer Indy 300 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Kentucky Speedway. It was held over 9 -August 11, 2007, as the fourteenth round of the seventeen-race calendar. It was the fourth and final night race of the season...	SNM 2007 Motorola Indy 300 The 2007 Motorola Indy 300 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Infineon Raceway. It was held over the weekend of 24 -August 26, 2007, as the fifteenth round of the seventeen-race calendar.-Classification:- References :*...	DET 2007 Detroit Indy Grand Prix The 2007 Detroit Indy Grand Prix was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at The Raceway at Belle Isle. It was held over the weekend of August 31-September 2, 2007, as the penultimate round of the calendar.-Classification:- References :*...	CHI 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 The 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 was a race in the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series, held at Chicagoland Speedway. It was held over the weekend of 7 -September 9, 2007, as the seventeenth and final round of the 2007 calendar.... 19	29th	12

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
2006 2006 Indianapolis 500 The 90th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 28, 2006. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the race by passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final straightaway, about 450 feet from the finish line...	Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...	Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...	20	33	Hemelgarn Hemelgarn Racing Hemelgarn Racing was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier. Along with A.J...

External links

• P. J. Chesson's MySpace page
• P. J. Chesson open wheel racing statistics at ChampCarStats.com