Dempsey Continues Season with Andretti Autosport in Edmonton

Peter Dempsey

Firestone Indy Lights driver Peter Dempsey will continue his rookie season with Andretti Autosport in this weekend’s doubleheader at Edmonton City Centre Airport. The Irish racer was first given the opportunity to compete with the veteran team at the most recent event in Toronto, July 10, where he finished in a career-best second position to teammate Stefan Wilson. Dempsey also piloted his #26 Andretti Autosport car to the top of an official practice session and a third place qualifying position for the challenging street course. The dream weekend helped secure his position with the team for another weekend of racing in Edmonton.

“Toronto was a dream start to my career with Andretti Autosport," said Dempsey. “I went into the weekend with pretty high expectations from everyone, so I wanted to be sure I did the best job I could do for the team as a whole and tried to give them their first win of the 2011 season. To end the weekend with a 1-2 finish for the team in my first weekend with them was a really great achievement, and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to compete with them. Hopefully, we can bring that same form to Edmonton this weekend."

Dempsey started the 2011 season with O2 Racing Technology, but the team’s mid-season withdrawal from the championship resulted in him missing both the Milwaukee Mile and Iowa Speedway events. The hiccup caused Dempsey to drop from fifth to ninth in the driver’s championship, but the ever optimistic 25-year-old still has high hopes to finish in the top-five positions if he is able to finish out the season.

“After a good weekend in Toronto, I put myself back in a position to possibly finish in the top-five in the championship which is my goal if I can finish the season," continued Dempsey. “At the moment, however, I am solely focusing on Edmonton this weekend, and then we will see where we are with regards to the rest of the season on Monday. Without the support of the team and my sponsors—Motorsport Ireland, Microbiology International, and friends and family—this weekend would have never happened. Now, it is my job to try to deliver as good of a result this weekend as I did in Toronto."

The 2.25-mile airport track will feature a new layout this year, creating a new experience for all participants. The Firestone Indy Lights races will be broadcast on tape delay on VERSUS television at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday and at 1:15 p.m. EST on Sunday. Dempsey will proudly carry the official onboard camera in his car for the duration of the weekend as well. On-track activity for this weekend starts with practice sessions on Friday, July 22, followed by qualifying and the first race on Saturday. The second race on Sunday will be determined by the best lap times from the first race.