Andy Brown joins AJ Foyt Racing as Race Engineer for 2017 Indy 500

Andy Brown

Andy Brown, the renowned race engineer/aerodynamicist, has signed with AJ Foyt Racing as the race engineer on rookie Zach Veach’s car, the No. 40 Indy Women in Tech (IWiT) Chevrolet for this year’s Indianapolis 500.

Brown, who founded his own motorsports company, ACB Consulting Ltd., in 2010, brings a wealth of engineering experience to the Foyt team which will also field ABC Supply Chevrolets for Carlos Munoz (No. 14) and Conor Daly (No. 4) in this year’s 500.

“I’m honored and excited to be working with A.J. Foyt, a true legend of the Indy 500. I want to give Zach a springboard towards his future success," Brown said.

Despite staying busy with his consulting company which requires him to travel the world, Brown has always made time for special IndyCar projects such as the Indy 500. Although Brown’s primary responsibility will be working with the 22-year-old rookie, Larry Foyt believes Brown’s contributions, particularly his expertise in aerodynamics, will benefit the entire team.

“The addition of Andy to our engineering department, even if only for a month, is a great fit for our team," said Foyt, the team president. “Andy has worked with top teams in the past and he has been integral to their success. His close friendship with our Technical Director Will Phillips made this deal possible and we are thrilled."

Another Andy—Andy O’Gara—will head up the team as crew chief and race strategist. It is O’Gara’s second year in that role having worked as Alex Tagliani’s strategist when he drove the No. 35 Alfe Heat Treating car last year. O’Gara is the son of John O’Gara who worked as a mechanic for Foyt’s team when A.J. was still driving in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

“Andy did a great job for us last year, so we were glad to have him back again with us this year," Larry Foyt said. “He stays pretty busy with Speedway Indoor Karting (owned by he and wife Sarah Fisher), but he was able to carve out some time for us."

Prior to forming his own company, Brown worked at Chip Ganassi Racing as lead race engineer with Dan Wheldon in 2006-2007 and as the team’s aerodynamicist (2005-2010). During this time, the team won 34 races and two Indy 500s (2008 with Scott Dixon and 2010 with Dario Franchitti).

He spent seven years as chief engineer and race engineer at Panther Racing (1998 – 2005) which yielded 15 wins, and two IRL titles (2001-2002) with Sam Hornish who won 11 races. His five years at PacWest Racing (1993 – 1998) saw him build a team from scratch along with the late John Anderson.

Brown began his career with Robin Herd’s March Engineering in 1984 as a project engineer in Formula 3000. It was at March that Brown first met Phillips as they were both young engineers just starting their motorsports careers.

When the company transitioned into Leyton House Formula 1, he was a race and design engineer. That led to a season as the chief race and test engineer for the Brabham Yamaha Formula 1 team in 1991. The following season he became the assistant technical director and head of Aerodynamics for Galmer Engineering, which fielded the Galmer IndyCar driven by Al Unser Jr., who won the 1992 Indianapolis 500. It was the first of four Indy 500 triumphs.