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we're comin' be ready for more burger joints and loud tourists. AHAHAHA!
16 Picked for Formula One Program
Thu Sep 26, 6:59 PM ET
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Danny Sullivan and sponsor Red Bull have launched their effort to develop American drivers for Formula One.
Sullivan, the 1985 Indianapolis 500 ( news - web sites) winner and one of only a handful of Americans who have driven in the international open-wheel series, announced Thursday the first class in the ambitious program.
The 16 drivers, ranging in age from 16 to 24, will undergo a rigorous test session, both on and off the track, Oct. 14-15 at the Paul Riccard road circuit in France. Four will then be selected for fully funded rides in Europe, beginning in 2003.
"We're fully convinced America has a wealth of young drivers with the desire, talent and discipline to race and win in F1," Sullivan said.
Red Bull, an international energy drink company, has committed to fund the program for at least four years, with a new group of drivers to be selected each year in hopes some will work their way into F1.
The globe-hopping series returned to the United States in 2000 after a nine-year hiatus. The third U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be run Sunday.
There are no American drivers in the field. The last driver from the U.S. to race in F1 was Michael Andretti, who spent part of the 1993 season on the circuit.
"American auto racing is not complete without Formula One and Formula One is not complete without U.S. racers," said Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull's founder.
The drivers selected to take part in the test:
_ Michael Abbate, 16, Las Vegas, Nev., national shifter kart champion and 2001 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship finalist.
_ A.J. Allmendinger, 20, Hollister, Calif., 2002 CART Barber Dodge Pro Series champion.
_ Bobby East, 17, Brownsburg, Ind., 2002 USAC National Midget and Sprint Car champion.
_ Paul Edwards, 24, Santa Mario, Calif., first American to win a British Formula Ford race (1997) and champion of European Formula Opel Winter Series (1998) and British Formula Europa Cup (1999).
_ Phil Giebler, 23, Oxnard, Calif., finished second in 1999 French Formula Renault Campus Championship and is currently running in Spanish F3 series.
_ Joey Hand, 23, Chardon, Ohio, finished 12th in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series despite missing six races after breaking his back in testing accident in Milwaukee.
_ Ryan Hunter-Reay, 21, Boca Raton, Fla., 1999 champion in Skip Barber Regional (East) and National Formula Dodge. Won three poles and three races and finished sixth in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series.
_ Patrick Long, 21, Oak Park, Calif., won two poles and three races and finished second the best ever by an American in the British Formula Ford Zetec Series. Now racing in British Formula Renault.
_ Grant Maiman, 23, New London, Wis., 2002 champion in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series.
_ Rocky Moran Jr., 22, Coto de Caza, Calif., won one race and finished fifth in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series.
_ Joel Nelson, 21, Reno, Nev., drives in both Formula Palmer Audi in England and Formula Russell in the U.S.
_ Scott Poirier, 19, Deerfield Beach, Fla., drives in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series and SCCA Touring Sedans.
_ Boston Reid, 19, Kokomo, Ind., drives in USAC Sprint Car Series (non-winged) and Winged Sprints.
_ Bryan Sellers, 21, Centerville, Ohio, leads SCCA Pro Zetec Formula Ford 2000 series with five poles and four wins.
_ Scott Speed, 19, Manteca, Calif., won 2001 USAC Formula Russell championship as rookie and drove in 2002 in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series, with two victories.
_ Bobby Wilson, 20, Oconomowoc, Wis., drove in SCCA Pro Zetec Formula Ford 2000 and National Formula Atlanta series in 2002, winning twice in the Atlantics.
16 Picked for Formula One Program
Thu Sep 26, 6:59 PM ET
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Danny Sullivan and sponsor Red Bull have launched their effort to develop American drivers for Formula One.
Sullivan, the 1985 Indianapolis 500 ( news - web sites) winner and one of only a handful of Americans who have driven in the international open-wheel series, announced Thursday the first class in the ambitious program.
The 16 drivers, ranging in age from 16 to 24, will undergo a rigorous test session, both on and off the track, Oct. 14-15 at the Paul Riccard road circuit in France. Four will then be selected for fully funded rides in Europe, beginning in 2003.
"We're fully convinced America has a wealth of young drivers with the desire, talent and discipline to race and win in F1," Sullivan said.
Red Bull, an international energy drink company, has committed to fund the program for at least four years, with a new group of drivers to be selected each year in hopes some will work their way into F1.
The globe-hopping series returned to the United States in 2000 after a nine-year hiatus. The third U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be run Sunday.
There are no American drivers in the field. The last driver from the U.S. to race in F1 was Michael Andretti, who spent part of the 1993 season on the circuit.
"American auto racing is not complete without Formula One and Formula One is not complete without U.S. racers," said Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull's founder.
The drivers selected to take part in the test:
_ Michael Abbate, 16, Las Vegas, Nev., national shifter kart champion and 2001 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship finalist.
_ A.J. Allmendinger, 20, Hollister, Calif., 2002 CART Barber Dodge Pro Series champion.
_ Bobby East, 17, Brownsburg, Ind., 2002 USAC National Midget and Sprint Car champion.
_ Paul Edwards, 24, Santa Mario, Calif., first American to win a British Formula Ford race (1997) and champion of European Formula Opel Winter Series (1998) and British Formula Europa Cup (1999).
_ Phil Giebler, 23, Oxnard, Calif., finished second in 1999 French Formula Renault Campus Championship and is currently running in Spanish F3 series.
_ Joey Hand, 23, Chardon, Ohio, finished 12th in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series despite missing six races after breaking his back in testing accident in Milwaukee.
_ Ryan Hunter-Reay, 21, Boca Raton, Fla., 1999 champion in Skip Barber Regional (East) and National Formula Dodge. Won three poles and three races and finished sixth in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series.
_ Patrick Long, 21, Oak Park, Calif., won two poles and three races and finished second the best ever by an American in the British Formula Ford Zetec Series. Now racing in British Formula Renault.
_ Grant Maiman, 23, New London, Wis., 2002 champion in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series.
_ Rocky Moran Jr., 22, Coto de Caza, Calif., won one race and finished fifth in 2002 CART Toyota Atlantic Series.
_ Joel Nelson, 21, Reno, Nev., drives in both Formula Palmer Audi in England and Formula Russell in the U.S.
_ Scott Poirier, 19, Deerfield Beach, Fla., drives in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series and SCCA Touring Sedans.
_ Boston Reid, 19, Kokomo, Ind., drives in USAC Sprint Car Series (non-winged) and Winged Sprints.
_ Bryan Sellers, 21, Centerville, Ohio, leads SCCA Pro Zetec Formula Ford 2000 series with five poles and four wins.
_ Scott Speed, 19, Manteca, Calif., won 2001 USAC Formula Russell championship as rookie and drove in 2002 in Skip Barber National Formula Dodge series, with two victories.
_ Bobby Wilson, 20, Oconomowoc, Wis., drove in SCCA Pro Zetec Formula Ford 2000 and National Formula Atlanta series in 2002, winning twice in the Atlantics.
