Our First Scheduled Guest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jimmy Kite
Still one of the most popular drivers to enter the IndyCar Series. From his dramatic win of the 1997 Copper World Classic, he made the jump to IndyCars where he endeared himself with the all out effort he always made when behind the wheel.
Since he hasn't had a steady ride in either IndyCar or Firestone Indy Lights, Jimmy has been running Sprint Cars in Missouri and makes an occasional drive in Silver Crown Series.
Having moved back to Indy, you might find it interesting what he is doing these days. Has the search for a ride in the IndyCar or Indy Lights come to a halt? I doubt it.
Our Second Scheduled Guest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thomas Knapp Team manager and engineer for Genoa Racing announced plans to expand its operations to include a two-car Firestone Indy Lights team in 2009. The Firestone Indy Lights team will do business as Genoa Indy Lights.
"At our core, we are racers," said Knapp, a former driver himself. "We have the infrastructure, the experience, the heritage and the heart to compete, and we don't feel that we're performing up to our full potential if we're not growing. The open-wheel reunification has presented us with an amazing growth opportunity."
Spanning three decades, Genoa has enjoyed tremendous success in International Formula 3000, Atlantic, Indy Lights and IndyCar competition. In over 220 starts its heritage includes a championship, 16 victories, 18 poles and a front-row starting position at the 1998 Indianapolis 500 in conjunction with Thomas Knapp Motorsports. Some of its past drivers include Ivan Capelli, Thiago Medeiros, Jimmy Vasser and Greg Ray.
Knapp also managed Team Menard in 1999 when it won the Indy Racing League championship. He was also the engineer for the pole-winning car at the 2000 Indy 500.
