Joins Tracy, Foyts and Elliott as First Time Entries in “Indy Legends” Pro-Am
The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) today announced that former Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record holder Roberto Guerrero will return to competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am during the Brickyard Invitational, June 16-19. Guerrero is one of eight drivers joining the Pro-Am field for the first time during the Father’s Day weekend event at IMS. Among the others are 2003 Indy car Champion Paul Tracy, Larry Foyt and A.J. Foyt IV as well as NASCAR champion Bill Elliott who will be reunited with his Brickyard 400-winning crew chief Ray Evernham when they share a car as part of a special “Garage 34” promoter’s option entry.
“Roberto is no stranger to our events as he is a big part of Jaguar’s sponsorship of our series, but this will be his first time racing with us,” said SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella. “Roberto’s career speaks for itself with remarkable accomplishments in Indy car as well as the opportunity to race in the elite Formula One World Championship.”
Guerrero raced in 15 Indianapolis 500s beginning with his rookie-of-the-year performance in finishing second in 1984. He also won the series rookie-of-the-year award the same year. He finished second in the 1987 Indy 500 after leading late in the race. A delay in the pits dropped him behind eventual winner Al Unser Sr. In his first four “500’s” Guerrero never finished out of the top four. He set the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record in 1992 at 232.482 mph, the first driver to win the pole with a speed over 230.
Guerrero started racing with karts in 1972 in his native Columbia, winning two national championships by 1977. The following year he ventured into British Formula Ford and won eight races. He progressed to British Formula Three where he scored five victories. Guerrero raced European Formula Two in 1981, picking off the Jochen Rindt Memorial Trophy. His success led him to two seasons in Formula One with the Ensign and Theodore teams. He came to America in 1984 to race Indy cars. Over the next few years, in addition to his impressive results in the Indianapolis 500, he scored two race wins at Phoenix and Mid-Ohio. In an Indy car career that spanned 17 years he also earned numerous pole positions and 41 top ten finishes. His achievements garnered him an invitation to the elite IROC series in 1988. Roberto continues to do Baja off-road racing, television commentary and work with Jaguar’s customer experience marketing program.
As an SVRA series sponsor Jaguar uses events like the Brickyard Invitational to showcase their latest products. They conduct performance academies for customers that include coaching by elite drivers like Guerrero. Indianapolis 500 veteran and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Davy Jones, a Jaguar driver and consultant for 25 years, assembled a team of professional drivers to coach customers as well as host an autocross course experience for race fans at SVRA events. Anyone with a legal driver’s license who attends designated SVRA race weekends like the Brickyard Invitational can register to drive the latest Jaguar F-type or XE models on the autocross with one of the drivers coaching. Jones, who finished second in the 1996 Indianapolis 500, was previously announced as an entry in the “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am.
The Pro-Am feature Guerrero and Jones will compete in is a 40-minute race of American muscle cars on the Speedway’s 2.43-mile Grand Prix road course on Saturday, June 18. The cars are 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of the “Group 6” SVRA class. In addition to those already mentioned the entry list is packed with marquee drivers including the Unser cousins, Al Jr., Robby and Johnny, as well as Willy T. Ribbs, Geoff Brabham, Max Papis and Lyn St. James. All the professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting stints at the wheel at their discretion.
While the SVRA Pro-Am is the crowning event of the Brickyard Invitational, there is also a festival of other activities. As in previous years the SVRA will present exhibition runs on the storied 2.5-mile oval by a wide variety of cars including several of the crowd-favorite 1950’s Indianapolis 500 “roadsters.” The 2016 weekend not only promises a huge gathering of race cars but also some of the finest collector cars. Motostalgia, with offices in Austin, Texas, Mexico City and Monaco will stage an auction of select automobiles from around the world. The Brickyard Invitational will also expand out onto the world-famous infield IMS golf course with car corrals for organizations and clubs united by special marques and vintages as well as its “Shine and Show” car show. Saturday evening entertainment will include a concert by the legendary rock band, “Three Dog Night,” capped off by a trademark SVRA mega-fireworks show.
The SVRA has 11 groups of racecars spanning 100 years of vintage machines. The array of entries at IMS will include select pre-war machines, classic sports cars, Formula One and Le Mans prototypes as current as 2011. Race fans can enjoy every minute of the action with overnight camping inside IMS. Pro-Am cars and drivers will also participate in a Fan Walk through the starting grid prior to the opening ceremonies allowing spectators to see the cars up close, take photos and chat with the drivers. All entry fees will be donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Foundation and the Hagerty Education Program.
Brickyard Invitational ticket information: Fans can order Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational tickets for all or any one of the four days of the event online through the Speedway or by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Fans can also visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at 4790 West 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information. Children 12 and under are admitted free each day when accompanied by an adult. Tent camping passes in the IMS infield start at $30 and are available all four days.