Stars of Tomorrow Get Their Start in Firestone Indy Lights

Marco Andretti. Alex Lloyd. Sausalito's J.R. Hildebrand. These are just a few of the graduates of the Firestone Indy Lights Series, which will be featured at Infineon Raceway during the Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 20-22.

Since its inception in 2002, the Firestone Indy Lights Series has been the perfect steppingstone for drivers who want to compete in the IZOD IndyCar® Series. Twenty-one drivers who have raced in Firestone Indy Lights have competed in at least one IZOD IndyCar Series event, including nine of the 33 drivers in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

It's certainly the path many drivers take, including Lloyd, Hildebrand and Andretti. All three have posted Firestone Indy Lights Series victories over the challenging Sonoma Valley road course.

“Firestone Indy Lights is one of the first places a young driver looks to when they want to further their racing career,” said Roger Bailey, executive director for the Firestone Indy Lights. “With our positioning as the final stop on the Road to Indy ladder before Indy cars, a cost-effective series and our schedule that balances ovals and road courses, there’s plenty to be excited about.”

The series returns to the Sonoma Valley for the sixth consecutive year in 2010, and the racing has been competitive — there have been seven different winners in eight races at Infineon Raceway. Andretti took the checkers in the series’ first visit to Infineon Raceway in 2005, while Sausalito’s Hildebrand claimed a hometown victory last year. You’ll see both drivers in Sunday’s Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma IZOD IndyCar Series main event on Sunday, Aug. 22.

The 2010 season has attracted an entry list of drivers from around the world that includes Frenchman J.K. Vernay, who won his first two races in the series, Colombians Sebastian Saavedra and Gustavo Yacaman, Canada’s James Hinchcliffe and Philip Major. California native Charlie Kimball is also part of the field, as well as Martin Plowman, Pippa Mann and Stefan Wilson, all from England.

“There are more drivers who have a chance to win on any given race weekend than there have been in the past few years,” Plowman said. “Usually, there are two guys who separate themselves from the pack and duel it out for the championship. This year, there are four or five guys who can win every weekend, and you never know who the favorite to win is until race day.

The Firestone Indy Lights Series hits the track in Sonoma on Saturday with practice and qualifying, with the green flag set to be dropped on the Carneros 100 on Sunday at noon (PT). For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.