Luczo-Dragon Racing
Encyclopedia
Dragon Racing is a racing team in the Izod
IndyCar Series
owned by Jay Penske
. The team debuted as Luczo Dragon Racing in 2007.
with driver Ryan Briscoe
with Jay Penske and Stephen J. Luczo
as owners. The car was prepared by Penske Racing
which is owned by Jay's father Roger
. In addition, Briscoe was a driver for Penske's American Le Mans Series
team. Briscoe qualified 7th and finished 5th in the race. The car was notable for being painted in a "retro" paint schemes to resemble Rick Mears
' 1988 Indy 500
winning car, a trend that Penske Racing
would mimic in selected future races.
Luczo Dragon ran a six-race schedule in 2008
including the Indianapolis 500
with IndyCar veteran Tomas Scheckter
, this time without support or cars from Penske Racing. While qualifying well, the team failed to finish every race but one, knocked out by crashes twice and mechanical trouble three times. Scheckter finished 21st in the only race he completed, the Detroit Indy Grand Prix
.
The team expanded to a full–time entrant in 2009
, fielding 2008 Firestone Indy Lights champion Raphael Matos
.
, the team merged with de Ferran Motorsports
to form de Ferran Luczo Dragon Racing and Gil de Ferran
joined as co-owner. The team ran a full season for Raphael Matos
, plus Davey Hamilton
at the Indy 500 in conjunction with his Kingdom Racing group. Hamilton planned to run at Texas also, but his crash at Indy precluded the start. His second start with the team came at Chicagoland. Prior to the 2010 Indy 500, the team renamed itself de Ferran Dragon Racing as the previous name was "too long" according to co-owner Steve Luczo.
For the 2011 IndyCar Series season
, Matos was released and series veteran and past champion Tony Kanaan
was signed on to drive the team's primary entry. However, after the team was unable to find sponsorship, de Ferran released Kanaan and the team shut down.
had signed a five-race deal to compete for the team. Additionally the team entered two cars in the Indy 500 for drivers Scott Speed
and Ho-Pin Tung
. Tung crashed his car during qualifying and suffered a concussion. The team's second entry crashed in practice on the final day of qualifying with Patrick Carpentier
behind the wheel, who was shaking down the car for Speed. Tung made his IndyCar debut for the team later in the season at Infineon Raceway
. The car was run in association with Sam Schmidt Motorsports
.
(2007) Patrick Carpentier
1 (2011) Davey Hamilton
(2010) Raphael Matos
(2009–2010) Tomas Scheckter
(2008) Scott Speed
1 (2011) Paul Tracy
(2011) Ho-Pin Tung
(2011)
1Driver practiced but did not qualify for 2011 Indy 500.
Izod
Izod is a clothing company that produces dressy-casual clothing and sportswear for men and women, also including fragrances, and accessories. Similar to brands such as Gant U.S.A., Lacoste, and Polo Ralph Lauren, it is part of the Phillips-Van Heusen Company, headquartered at 200 Madison Ave., New...
IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
owned by Jay Penske
Jay Penske
Jay Penske is an American media and publishing entrepreneur, born in New York City and currently based in Los Angeles.-Early life:Penske is the youngest son of Roger Penske. Penske went to high school at St. Mary's Preparatory. At St. Mary's, Penske was named All-League, All-State, All-American,...
. The team debuted as Luczo Dragon Racing in 2007.
Luczo Dragon Racing
The team debuted as Luczo Dragon Racing in 2007. The team fielded a one-off entry at the 2007 Indianapolis 5002007 Indianapolis 500
The 91st Indianapolis 500 ran on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 12th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and marked the fifth race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season just after the 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 and just before the 2007 ABC Supply...
with driver Ryan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe is an Australian auto racing driver who has raced open wheel and sports cars in Europe and America.In addition to his native English, Briscoe speaks Italian and French...
with Jay Penske and Stephen J. Luczo
Stephen J. Luczo
Stephen J. Luczo is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO of Seagate Technology. In January 2009, Luczo, Seagate's Chairman, was appointed president and chief executive officer, returning him to the president and CEO role he held at Seagate from 1998 to 2004...
as owners. The car was prepared by Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
which is owned by Jay's father Roger
Roger Penske
Roger S. Penske is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. A winning racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961's Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated...
. In addition, Briscoe was a driver for Penske's American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
team. Briscoe qualified 7th and finished 5th in the race. The car was notable for being painted in a "retro" paint schemes to resemble Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
' 1988 Indy 500
1988 Indianapolis 500
The 72nd Indianapolis 500 was held Sunday May 29, 1988 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Penske dominated the month, sweeping the top three starting positions with Rick Mears winning the pole position, Danny Sullivan on the inside of the front row, and Al Unser, Sr. on the outside...
winning car, a trend that Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
would mimic in selected future races.
2008 IndyCar Series season
The 2008 IndyCar Series season was the 13th season of the IndyCar Series. Its premier event was the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25. The first race was held March 29 at Homestead. It was the 97th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing....
including the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
with IndyCar veteran Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter is a South African racing driver, born in Monte Carlo. He is the son of 1979 Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter.-Early years:...
, this time without support or cars from Penske Racing. While qualifying well, the team failed to finish every race but one, knocked out by crashes twice and mechanical trouble three times. Scheckter finished 21st in the only race he completed, the Detroit Indy Grand Prix
Detroit Indy Grand Prix
The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by shopautoweek.com is a weekend of professional auto racing held at the Renaissance Center and later the Belle Isle in Detroit, United States. It has been held from 1989-01, 2007–08, and is scheduled for 2012 and beyond...
.
The team expanded to a full–time entrant in 2009
2009 IndyCar Series season
The 2009 IndyCar Series season was the 14th season of the IndyCar Series. The 17-race season began on April 5, and its premier event, the 93rd Indianapolis 500 was held May 24. All races were broadcast on ABC or Versus in high-definition...
, fielding 2008 Firestone Indy Lights champion Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
.
de Ferran Dragon Racing
For the 2010 season2010 IndyCar Series season
The 2010 Izod IndyCar Series season was the 15th season of the IndyCar Series, and the 99th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing. It was the series' first of six planned seasons under Izod title sponsorship, a multi-million dollar deal which was announced on November 5, 2009...
, the team merged with de Ferran Motorsports
De Ferran Motorsports
De Ferran Motorsports was a motor racing team that competed in the American Le Mans Series. The team was owned by the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran....
to form de Ferran Luczo Dragon Racing and Gil de Ferran
Gil de Ferran
Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...
joined as co-owner. The team ran a full season for Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
, plus Davey Hamilton
Davey Hamilton
Davey Jay Hamilton is a race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. He has made 50 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times...
at the Indy 500 in conjunction with his Kingdom Racing group. Hamilton planned to run at Texas also, but his crash at Indy precluded the start. His second start with the team came at Chicagoland. Prior to the 2010 Indy 500, the team renamed itself de Ferran Dragon Racing as the previous name was "too long" according to co-owner Steve Luczo.
For the 2011 IndyCar Series season
2011 IndyCar Series season
The 2011 Izod IndyCar Series season was the 100th season of American open wheel motor racing. The season consisted of seventeen events over the course of a seven–month season. Its premier event was the 95th Indianapolis 500, run on Sunday, May 29. It was the final season running the IR–05 Dallara...
, Matos was released and series veteran and past champion Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
was signed on to drive the team's primary entry. However, after the team was unable to find sponsorship, de Ferran released Kanaan and the team shut down.
Dragon Racing
After closing its doors in February 2011, Jay Penske revived the team. A month later, he re-branded the team as Dragon Racing in April 2011 and jointly announced that Paul TracyPaul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
had signed a five-race deal to compete for the team. Additionally the team entered two cars in the Indy 500 for drivers Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
and Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung is a Chinese-Dutch auto-racing driver who races with a Chinese license.-Career:Tung started kart racing in the Netherlands in 1997 before graduating to single-seaters. He won the 2003 Formula BMW Asia series and was rewarded with a test drive with the Williams F1 team.In 2004 he joined...
. Tung crashed his car during qualifying and suffered a concussion. The team's second entry crashed in practice on the final day of qualifying with Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
behind the wheel, who was shaking down the car for Speed. Tung made his IndyCar debut for the team later in the season at Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
. The car was run in association with Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports is an auto racing team in the IndyCar IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series owned by quadriplegic former driver Sam Schmidt....
.
Drivers
Ryan BriscoeRyan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe is an Australian auto racing driver who has raced open wheel and sports cars in Europe and America.In addition to his native English, Briscoe speaks Italian and French...
(2007) Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
1 (2011) Davey Hamilton
Davey Hamilton
Davey Jay Hamilton is a race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. He has made 50 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times...
(2010) Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
(2009–2010) Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter
Tomas Scheckter is a South African racing driver, born in Monte Carlo. He is the son of 1979 Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter.-Early years:...
(2008) Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
1 (2011) Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
(2011) Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung is a Chinese-Dutch auto-racing driver who races with a Chinese license.-Career:Tung started kart racing in the Netherlands in 1997 before graduating to single-seaters. He won the 2003 Formula BMW Asia series and was rewarded with a test drive with the Williams F1 team.In 2004 he joined...
(2011)
1Driver practiced but did not qualify for 2011 Indy 500.