As surely these "Young Guns" are itchin'
to G-O Racin' at Phoenix INt'l; OOPS! ISM Raceway.
As these two Open Wheel Racing series
Champions have certainly taken different paths to Indy Cars, an eagerly await making
Thar B-I-G CARZ' Debut in The Valley of The Sun...
Dale
Coyne Racing
Engine: Honda
Engine: Honda
#19)
R-Pietro Fittipaldi; Brazil
Age:
21
Career Highlights
Certainly by now, Y'all know from my past No
Fenders meanderings, that Pietro, who yes, is the grandson of "EMMO,"
nee Emerson Fittipaldi. And along with his brother Enzo, has been part of the
Ferrari Driver Academy.
Interestingly, Pietro began his racing bug in
Taxicabland's Welland NASCAR Challenge, which he won in 2011, before departing
for Europe to pursue his Open Wheel Racing career, and presumably a shot at
Formula 1.
He won the 2014 Pro Tire Formula Renault
title amongst other Stepping Stone's championships before winning last year's
final World Series Formula V-8 3.5 series with six wins, in his sophomore
season.
Pietro will share Dale Coyne's second racing
seat with Zachary Claman DeMelo, on a sort of Even-Odd setting. As the Brazilian
youngster, who hails from Miami, will make his IndyCar debut on an Oval No less
at Phoenix!
Then he'll run on Hulman boulevard's road
course in the Indy GP before running his maiden Indy 500 in May, along with his
third Oval at Texas. As he's currently slated to run a total of seven races
aboard the No. 19 "Plain Jane" DCR entry.
Juncos
Racing
Engine:
Chevrolet
#32)
R-Kyle Kiser; USA
Age:
22
Career Highlights
As what's that they say 'bout third time's a
charm? Which is exactly how things panned out for Kyle Kiser, who celebrates
his birthday today. (March 5th)
Hence,
reigning Indy Lights champion Kyle Kiser, who won his 2017 title driving for Ricardo
Juncos in his third season, graduates to Indy Cars courtesy of Mazda's $1m
prize, and is also slated for four races currently, a la Rene Binder, who'll
start for Juncos at St Pete.
As
Kiser will make his season debut on the Oval at ISM Raceway under the lights in
Arizona. where if memory serves me correctly? He totally dominated the Indy
Lights race Thar last season en route to victory.
Naturally
he'll run the Month 'O May's events, the Indy GP and the 102nd running of the Indianapolis
500, while currently the other race on his docket will be the Long Beach street
race. While the team hopes to secure further funding to campaign him in more
races.
And
although Kiser certainly doesn't move Thy Needle for Wow Factor. Nonetheless,
he won the Pro Mazda's Formula Car title convincingly. Then he slowly but
steadily worked his way towards the Lights title. Having gone from finishing
sixth overall to third, and then P1 last year.
As
I suppose now knowing he's from California, his driving style somewhat reminds
me of some past Bad Arse Penske driver from Bakersfield...