Indy Lights driver moving up to Indy Cars
Richard Antinucci |
Team 3G today announced that winning Indy Lights driver Richard Antinucci will join Team 3G for the Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen on July 5. Richard is considered one of the best up-and-coming American IndyCar drivers, having finished runner-up in the 2008 Indy Lights Championship.
The team and driver will start preparing for the IndyCar event by testing in Watkins Glen on June 9th and 10th. This will give Richard an opportunity to learn the IndyCar, and also begin to work with Greg Beck, Owen Snyder, and the rest of the Team 3G crew.
“We are thrilled to have an opportunity to work with such a young and talented driver such as Richard" said Team 3G co-owner Greg Beck. “He has proven that he can be a consistent winner in open wheel racing, and he has won at Watkins Glen in an Indy Lights car".
“I am really looking forward to moving up to the IndyCar Series" said Richard. “This is what all of the drivers in the Indy Lights Series are working towards, to get an opportunity to drive in the IndyCar Series. I have to thank Team 3G and my supporters for believing in my ability to win races."
The 28-year old American driver was born in Italy and began his career racing with top European drivers in Formula Ford and Formula Renault. He moved into the highly competitive British F3 series for the 2002 and 2003 seasons before moving to the Asian F3 Series for 2004. Moving to the European F3 Series in 2005 and 2006, he secured a number of race wins and finished 5th in the Championship. Richard was also runner-up in the famous Macau Grand Prix in 2006. For 2007, Richard moved to the United States to join the Indy Lights Series, driving for Cheever Racing winning 2 races while only competing in 9 of the 16 events. In 2008, Richard competed in the entire Indy Lights season, winning races at Watkins Glen and St. Petersburg along his way to finishing 2nd in the Championship. “We are looking towards 2010 from a driver and sponsorship standpoint and we believe having an American driver with a winning pedigree like Richard will be attractive to marketers" said co-owner Steve Sudler.
“Richard is a young, fast, winning driver who is also very well spoken and understands the marketing side of the business, he is everything a marketer looks for in a brand ambassador".
Team 3G will be on track with Richard Antinucci driving the #98 Curb/Agajanian/Team 3G entry in the Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen on July 3-5. The Camping World IndyCar race at Watkins Glen will be broadcast live on ABC at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.