Genoa Indy Lights hosts Open House at Homestead-Miami

Genoa Indy Lights has yet to test its Firestone Indy Lights cars, but the team is moving forward with plans to return to the series with two cars in 2009. The team, which has won Firestone Indy Lights events with drivers Ryan Hampton (2002) and Thiago Medeiros (2003), will hold an Open House at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 19 in conjunction with testing activities by several other teams.

The Open House will be attended by current and prospective drivers and will display Genoa Indy Lights cars.

"By the very nature of this developmental series, the current crop of drivers may be unaware of our championship legacy," said Thomas Knapp, who helped Greg Ray win the IndyCar Series title in 1999 and will serve as Genoa Indy Lights general manager and chief engineer. "It is very important to re-introduce ourselves to the current and future participants. With cars that have been on pole at Indy and ran up front throughout 2007, and with Genoa’s 30 years of championship-winning performance, we’re obviously proud of where we’re at, and we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to show it off a bit."

Firestone Indy Lights veteran C.R. Crews has taken a driver development position with the team and is working with Knapp and team president Mark Olson as Genoa Indy Lights secures its driver lineup.

“Facing a long winter off-season, most of the other teams have packed it in for the year," said Crews. "The top drivers are all in Florida this weekend to determine who has the resources to put them on the top of the box. We certainly have the equipment, personnel, and commitment to compete with the premier teams in the league, and we’re excited to demonstrate it at Homestead."