PKV Racing
Encyclopedia
KV Racing Technology – Lotus is an auto racing
team that competes in the IndyCar Series
. The team was originally formed as PK Racing before the 2003 season by Australian businessman Kevin Kalkhoven
and former Formula One
team manager Craig Pollock
from the remnants of the PacWest
team.
The team has also sponsored drivers in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship
.
, Bryan Herta
, Max Papis
and Mika Salo
, the later of which scored the team's best result of third late in the season.
For 2004, the team was significantly revamped. It was renamed to PKV Racing, as businessman Dan Pettit and veteran driver Jimmy Vasser
replaced Pollock as co-owners. The team also expanded to field two cars for Vasser and rookie Roberto Gonzalez
. Vasser scored the team's best finish and second podium with a second place at Toronto
, but the season was otherwise lackluster. In 2005, PKV replaced Gonzalez with former series champion Cristiano da Matta
, who took the team's first win at Portland
. Da Matta finished 11th in the championship, while Vasser scored two third place finishes and was sixth overall.
For 2006, the team fielded full season entries for veteran Oriol Servia
and rookie Katherine Legge
. Vasser retired from racing after driving a third car at Long Beach
. Servia scored a third place at Cleveland
and finished 11th in the championship, while Legge struggled and finished 16th overall. The team's 2007 driver lineup was Neel Jani
and Tristan Gommendy
. Mario Dominguez
subbed for Gommendy at Edmonton
, and Servia replaced Gommendy for the final two races due to sponsorship issues. The team's best results were Jani's pair of second places finishes at Toronto
and San Jose
.
series following the unification of open wheel racing in 2008. Dan Pettit ceased his ownership role in the team and the team changed its name to KV Racing Technology. Australian businessmen Craig Gore
and John Fish brought their Team Australia
branding from Walker Racing
along with driver Will Power
to partner Servia.
Power won the Champ Car finale, the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
a race which also counted towards the IndyCar Series championship. In the 2008 Indianapolis 500
, the first for the team and both drivers, Power qualified 23rd and finished 13th, while Servia qualified 25th and finished 11th.
In 2009, the team ran a full-time program for Brazilian Mario Moraes
. Paul Tracy
also made five starts for the team: Indy 500, Watkins Glen, Edmonton, Toronto, and Mid-Ohio. Townsend Bell
drove a third car for the team at the Indy 500. In 2010 the team ran full-time programs for Takuma Sato
, E. J. Viso
, and Mario Moraes
, plus a part-time program for Paul Tracy. James Rossiter
tested for the team at Barber. For 2011, Sato and Viso will return to the team, as well as gaining technical support from Lotus Cars
, re-branding the team as KV Racing Technology – Lotus, or KVRT-Lotus. The team will also add former champion Tony Kanaan
in a third car, the #82, as a tribute to the late Formula 1 champion Jim Clark
.
In the 2011 Indianapolis 500
, Sato and Viso were the first two cars retired from the race due to separate accidents.
(2009) Cristiano da Matta
(2005) Jorge Goeters (2005) Tristan Gommendy
(2007) Roberto Gonzalez
(2004) Bryan Herta
(2003) Neel Jani
(2007) Katherine Legge
(2006) Patrick Lemarié
(2003) Mario Moraes
(2009–2010) Max Papis
(2003) Will Power
(2008) Mika Salo
(2003) Oriol Servia
(2006–2008) Paul Tracy
(2009–2010) Jimmy Vasser
(2004–2006, 2008) Takuma Sato
(2010–present) E. J. Viso
(2010–present) Tony Kanaan
(2011–present)
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team that competes in the 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...
. The team was originally formed as PK Racing before the 2003 season by Australian businessman Kevin Kalkhoven
Kevin Kalkhoven
Kevin Oscar Newton Kalkoven, former CEO of JDS Uniphase, is an Australian venture capitalist and auto racing magnate based in Menlo Park, California. He is a partner in the Kalkhoven, Pettit, Levin and Johnson Venture capital firm based in Menlo Park....
and former Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
team manager Craig Pollock
Craig Pollock
Craig Pollock , is a businessman who was the manager of the Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve throughout his top-level career, and team principal of the British American Racing team from to...
from the remnants of the PacWest
PacWest
PacWest can refer to:*Pacific West Conference, an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division II*PacWest Center, a 29-story office building in Portland, Oregon...
team.
The team has also sponsored drivers in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship
Champ Car Atlantic Championship
The Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda was a formula race car series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics , Toyota Atlantics , or just Atlantics or Formula...
.
Champ Car
In its first season, the team fielded one car and employed several drivers including Patrick LemariéPatrick Lemarié
Patrick Lemarié is a French auto racing driver born February 6, 1968 in Paris. He spent four years performing testing work for the British American Racing Formula One team but never was considered for a race seat due to his lack of experience. His manager, Craig Pollock, hired him to drive for...
, Bryan Herta
Bryan Herta
Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
, Max Papis
Max Papis
Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
and Mika Salo
Mika Salo
Mika Juhani Salo is a Finnish racing driver. He competed in Formula One between and . His best ranking was 10th in the world championship in 1999. He also won the GT2 class in the 2008 and 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans....
, the later of which scored the team's best result of third late in the season.
For 2004, the team was significantly revamped. It was renamed to PKV Racing, as businessman Dan Pettit and veteran driver Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
replaced Pollock as co-owners. The team also expanded to field two cars for Vasser and rookie Roberto Gonzalez
Roberto Gonzalez
For the Puerto Rican Roman Catholic archbishop, see Roberto González Nieves.Roberto González was a Mexican Champ Car driver from Monterrey. He competed briefly in the 2003 season and for all of 2004. In 2003, he made his debut in the race at St.Petersburg in Florida for Dale Coyne Racing failing...
. Vasser scored the team's best finish and second podium with a second place at Toronto
2004 Molson Indy Toronto
The 2004 Molson Indy Toronto was the sixth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 11, 2004 on the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Qualifying results:-Race:...
, but the season was otherwise lackluster. In 2005, PKV replaced Gonzalez with former series champion Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
, who took the team's first win at Portland
2005 G.I. Joe's Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland
The 2005 G.I. Joe's Presents the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland was the fourth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 19, 2005 at the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The pole sitter was Justin Wilson and the race...
. Da Matta finished 11th in the championship, while Vasser scored two third place finishes and was sixth overall.
For 2006, the team fielded full season entries for veteran Oriol Servia
Oriol Servia
Oriol Servià i Imbers is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series, originally from Catalonia, Spain. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.-Early career:...
and rookie Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge is a British auto racing driver, formerly racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.-Early racing and Atlantics:Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, she raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford....
. Vasser retired from racing after driving a third car at Long Beach
2006 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
The 2006 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the first round of the 2006 Champ Car season, held on April 9, 2006 on the streets of Long Beach, California...
. Servia scored a third place at Cleveland
2006 Grand Prix of Cleveland
The 2006 Grand Prix of Cleveland was the sixth round of the 2006 Champ Car World Series season, held on June 25, 2006 on Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. It was the 25th anniversary edition of the event.-Qualifying results:-Race:...
and finished 11th in the championship, while Legge struggled and finished 16th overall. The team's 2007 driver lineup was Neel Jani
Neel Jani
Neel Jani is a Swiss race car driver of Indian origin. He has achieved his greatest success driving for A1 Team Switzerland in A1 Grand Prix, helping them win the 2007-2008 title and finishing runner-up in 2005-06 and 2008-09. He has been also a GP2 Series race-winner and Formula One tester...
and Tristan Gommendy
Tristan Gommendy
Tristan Gommendy is a race car driver. He won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2002. In 2006 Gommendy drove briefly in the GP2 Series for the iSport International team....
. Mario Dominguez
Mario Domínguez
Mario Domínguez is a Mexican racing driver. He has competed in the CART and CCWS Champ Car series and later the IndyCar Series.-Early career:Domínguez first began racing in 1987 driving go-karts...
subbed for Gommendy at Edmonton
2007 Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton
The 2007 Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton was the eighth round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series Season, and was be held on July 22, 2007 at Rexall Speedway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The race was won by Sébastien Bourdais followed by Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal.-Qualifying results:Will Power...
, and Servia replaced Gommendy for the final two races due to sponsorship issues. The team's best results were Jani's pair of second places finishes at Toronto
2007 Steelback Grand Prix
The 2007 Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto is the seventh round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series Season. It was held on July 8 at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Will Power won the race, followed by Neel Jani and Justin Wilson....
and San Jose
2007 San Jose Grand Prix at Redback Raceway
The 2007 San Jose Grand Prix at Redback Raceway is the ninth round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series Season. It was held on July 29 at the Redback Raceway temporary street circuit, in San Jose, California.-Qualifying results:...
.
IndyCar
The team switched to the IndyCar SeriesIndyCar 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...
series following the unification of open wheel racing in 2008. Dan Pettit ceased his ownership role in the team and the team changed its name to KV Racing Technology. Australian businessmen Craig Gore
Craig Gore
Craig Gore is a property developer, from Queensland, Australia. He is the son of property developer Mike Gore.-Business affairs:He is the former owner of the Australian financial planning chain "WPS", property development company "Consolidated Construction", luxury home builder "Consolidated...
and John Fish brought their Team Australia
Team Australia
Team Australia was an Auto racing team competing in the V8 Supercars and Champ Car World Series. It was created in early 2005 when two Australian businessmen bought into Derrick Walker's Walker Racing operation...
branding from Walker Racing
Walker Racing
Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
along with driver Will Power
Will Power
William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...
to partner Servia.
Power won the Champ Car finale, the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
The 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the third round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season, for teams who competed in the Champ Car World Series in 2007. This was because the 2008 Indy Japan 300 occurred on the same weekend and there was no way of changing dates to avoid the clash. It was held...
a race which also counted towards the IndyCar Series championship. In the 2008 Indianapolis 500
2008 Indianapolis 500
The 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race was run on Sunday May 25, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, USA. Scott Dixon of New Zealand won the race from the pole position. It was the thirteenth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and served as the showcase event of...
, the first for the team and both drivers, Power qualified 23rd and finished 13th, while Servia qualified 25th and finished 11th.
In 2009, the team ran a full-time program for Brazilian Mario Moraes
Mario Moraes
Mario Ermirio de Moraes Filho is a Brazilian professional race car driver. Moraes started his career in minor youth motorsports. In 2003 Moraes competed in American Formula Renault with and won races against some competition such as Marco Andretti. In 2005 he drove for the Bassan Motorsport team...
. Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
also made five starts for the team: Indy 500, Watkins Glen, Edmonton, Toronto, and Mid-Ohio. Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell is a motor racing driver. He is married to actress Heather Campbell.He won the last Indy Lights championship in 2001 and was given two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. He earned Roberto...
drove a third car for the team at the Indy 500. In 2010 the team ran full-time programs for Takuma Sato
Takuma Sato
is a Japanese automobile racing driver and the most successful Japanese Formula One driver in history. He is currently racing for KV Racing Technology in IndyCar Series under the Lotus banner.-Junior Years:...
, E. J. Viso
E. J. Viso
Ernesto José Viso Lossada is a Venezuelan race car driver. He is commonly referred to as Ernesto Viso or, since his move to American racing, E. J. Viso....
, and Mario Moraes
Mario Moraes
Mario Ermirio de Moraes Filho is a Brazilian professional race car driver. Moraes started his career in minor youth motorsports. In 2003 Moraes competed in American Formula Renault with and won races against some competition such as Marco Andretti. In 2005 he drove for the Bassan Motorsport team...
, plus a part-time program for Paul Tracy. James Rossiter
James Rossiter
| style="float:right; background:transparent;"|James Rossiter is a racing driver from England. He has participated in Karting, Formula Renault, British Formula 3 and European Formula 3...
tested for the team at Barber. For 2011, Sato and Viso will return to the team, as well as gaining technical support from Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
, re-branding the team as KV Racing Technology – Lotus, or KVRT-Lotus. The team will also add former champion Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
in a third car, the #82, as a tribute to the late Formula 1 champion Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
.
In the 2011 Indianapolis 500
2011 Indianapolis 500
The 95th Indianapolis 500 was held on May 29, 2011 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the premier event of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The track opened for practice on May 14, and time trials were held on May 21–22. The race was won by Dan Wheldon and was the final win of his...
, Sato and Viso were the first two cars retired from the race due to separate accidents.
Drivers
Townsend BellTownsend Bell
Townsend Bell is a motor racing driver. He is married to actress Heather Campbell.He won the last Indy Lights championship in 2001 and was given two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. He earned Roberto...
(2009) Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
(2005) Jorge Goeters (2005) Tristan Gommendy
Tristan Gommendy
Tristan Gommendy is a race car driver. He won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2002. In 2006 Gommendy drove briefly in the GP2 Series for the iSport International team....
(2007) Roberto Gonzalez
Roberto Gonzalez
For the Puerto Rican Roman Catholic archbishop, see Roberto González Nieves.Roberto González was a Mexican Champ Car driver from Monterrey. He competed briefly in the 2003 season and for all of 2004. In 2003, he made his debut in the race at St.Petersburg in Florida for Dale Coyne Racing failing...
(2004) Bryan Herta
Bryan Herta
Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
(2003) Neel Jani
Neel Jani
Neel Jani is a Swiss race car driver of Indian origin. He has achieved his greatest success driving for A1 Team Switzerland in A1 Grand Prix, helping them win the 2007-2008 title and finishing runner-up in 2005-06 and 2008-09. He has been also a GP2 Series race-winner and Formula One tester...
(2007) Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge is a British auto racing driver, formerly racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.-Early racing and Atlantics:Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, she raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford....
(2006) Patrick Lemarié
Patrick Lemarié
Patrick Lemarié is a French auto racing driver born February 6, 1968 in Paris. He spent four years performing testing work for the British American Racing Formula One team but never was considered for a race seat due to his lack of experience. His manager, Craig Pollock, hired him to drive for...
(2003) Mario Moraes
Mario Moraes
Mario Ermirio de Moraes Filho is a Brazilian professional race car driver. Moraes started his career in minor youth motorsports. In 2003 Moraes competed in American Formula Renault with and won races against some competition such as Marco Andretti. In 2005 he drove for the Bassan Motorsport team...
(2009–2010) Max Papis
Max Papis
Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
(2003) Will Power
Will Power
William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...
(2008) Mika Salo
Mika Salo
Mika Juhani Salo is a Finnish racing driver. He competed in Formula One between and . His best ranking was 10th in the world championship in 1999. He also won the GT2 class in the 2008 and 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans....
(2003) Oriol Servia
Oriol Servia
Oriol Servià i Imbers is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series, originally from Catalonia, Spain. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.-Early career:...
(2006–2008) Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
(2009–2010) Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
(2004–2006, 2008) Takuma Sato
Takuma Sato
is a Japanese automobile racing driver and the most successful Japanese Formula One driver in history. He is currently racing for KV Racing Technology in IndyCar Series under the Lotus banner.-Junior Years:...
(2010–present) E. J. Viso
E. J. Viso
Ernesto José Viso Lossada is a Venezuelan race car driver. He is commonly referred to as Ernesto Viso or, since his move to American racing, E. J. Viso....
(2010–present) Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
(2011–present)