Andretti team picks up Anderson
Anderson, who will serve as Andretti Autosport's senior vice president of racing operations, comes to the team with 40 years of experience in the industry, most recently as the co-owner and managing director of Fernandez Racing from 2001 to 2009. Anderson was also the managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing from 1990 to 2000 and helped lead the team to four-consecutive CART championships between 1996 and 1999. The team also claimed a win in the 2000 Indianapolis 500.
In addition to Anderson's oversight of racing operations, the company will be led by two other senior managers, all of whom will report directly to chairman, president and chief executive Michael Andretti.
J-F Thormann, who has worked alongside Andretti in various capacities since 1990 and with the team since 2006, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer. Thormann's responsibilities include leading the team's business administration as well as Firestone Indy Lights program in a joint venture with AFS Racing as it pursues a third-consecutive championship in 2010.
Senior vice president and chief marketing officer John Lopes will oversee Andretti Autosport's commercial operations, including client services, corporate communications, business development and marketing. Lopes has been with the team since 2005.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
"We're really excited about the senior management team we've put in place to lead Andretti Autosport. J-F, John and Tom are all very talented and there is also a very good chemistry among the three of them. We have a great group of employees within Andretti Autosport, and as a management team, our biggest objective is to help those employees do their respective jobs and reach their potential. That will make us successful as a company."
TOM ANDERSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RACING OPERATIONS,
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
"I'm very excited to be joining Andretti Autosport. This is a great race team with a lot of very good people and I'm looking forward to working with everyone. Our goals are simple; we want to win races and win championships. That's why we're here and that's what we need to focus on every day."