2010 Champ Victor Carbone to Indy Lights
Indianapolis, IN - Victor Carbone, in an Alegra Motorsports entry, dominated the 2010 F2000 Championship Series en route to six wins and the overall title and will make the leap to the Firestone Indy Lights for 2011 with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Following his title-winning season for Alegra, Carbone tested both Indy Lights and Star Mazda cars, and the Brazilian wasted no time in inking a deal with last year’s championship winning team for a 2011 campaign.
“I am really excited for 2011, as I will have a great opportunity driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports,” Carbone commented. “They have just won the championship so I will be working with the best people. I am aware this is a big step and things are different from the F2000 world.
“Even though there are many differences I feel the two years I spent in F2000 gave me the necessary foundation to make this move. I am making the leap to Indy Lights, because I tested both the Lights car and the Star Mazda car, and I feel I am ready to take this challenge and succeed.”
Carbone will join 2008 F2000 Champion Anders Krohn, from Norway, in the Indy Lights field, underscoring the feeder ability of F2000 Championship Series. Between Krohn and Carbone is 2009 champion Chris Miller, an American, who tested an ALMS Challenge car in November following his rookie Star Mazda season.
“The F2000 Championship Series family is proud that our 2010 champion, Victor Carbone, is making the step to Indy Lights for 2011,” said Series Managing Director Michael Rand. “Victor’s calm demeanor, intelligence and obvious skill behind the wheel, as well as his technical understanding certainly will prove him a worthy addition to the field.
“Sam Schmidt Motorsports has a proven record, and Victor can take advantage of their many years of successful history in the Indy Lights series. The F2000 staff, and his fellow participants, wish him the very best and will follow his season with great interest."
The 2011 F2000 Championship Series opens its sixth consecutive season with a double-header weekend, like all events, at VIR, April 8-10. The Series next heads to Road Atlanta with the highly-popular Formula Drift tour, May 6-7. Rounds five and six come next at Watkins Glen, June 3-5, with Grand-Am. June 30-July 2 sees the Series visit Mid-Ohio before pairing up with ALMS at Mosport, July 22-24. The season starts to come to a close with the NASCAR Modifieds at Lime Rock Park, September 16-17 and finishes at Watkins Glen, October 14-16., with what is appearing to be a 2011 full of massive car counts and a variety of new chassis, teams and drivers.