NASCAR Victory Lane (HD) • 8:00pm
  • Media
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Check out the latest SPEED podcasts on iTunes
  • Mobile
This could be your avatar!
Username
Password
Register
news_wire's avatar
Author:
News Wire
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
SPEEDtv.com Store
Victory by Design: Jaquar DVD
This brand new show will give the Jaguar enthusiast a real chance to appreciate the beauty and power of the Jaguar heritage.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
"Hot Rod Pinups II"
A Sequel to his 2005 bestseller Hot Rod Pin-ups, ace photographer David Perry offers an all-new collection of images.
Our Price: $35.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speed Addicts: Grand Prix Racing
Speed Addicts is the complete and definitive illustrated book of grand prix motor racing, told in the form of a human story.
Our Price: $34.99 ON SALE!
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
IPS: Hildebrand Joins RLR/Andersen Racing for Infineon
Written by: News Wire   
08/20/2007 - 07:00 PM
Sonoma, Calif.
 

RLR/Andersen Racing will field entries for Andrew Prendeville and J.R. Hildebrand in the Indy Pro Series doubleheader at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., this weekend, team owner Dan Andersen announced.
J.R. Hildebrand (LAT photo) ยป More Photos

Andersen said that Joey Scarallo, who has been driving for the team this year in the Indy Pro Series, has decided not to compete at Infineon or at the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sept. 9. "It was an amicable and mutual decision on both of our parts," Andersen said.

Hildebrand will be a local favorite at Infineon, as he lives in nearby Sausalito, Calif. He'll use the number that Scarallo has been using, No. 15. He will drive the team's red-and-black back-up car that Prendeville used to finish fourth at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month.

At 19 Hildebrand is one of America's brightest rising stars, and he has a close connection to the RLR/Andersen team already. RLR/Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series engineers, Dominic and Nicholas Cape, prepared Hildebrand's car and guided him to a phenomenal year in 2006, when together they won a record 12 of 14 races en route to the Cooper Tires Formula Ford 2000 championship. They also set the record for the most consecutive victories in a season with seven; the most laps led in a season; and the most poles in a season.

Hildebrand was tabbed for the prestigious Team USA Scholarship program in 2005, finishing
third overall in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Cup in his first experience racing in Europe. He was second overall and Rookie of the Year in the Pacific F2000 Zetec Formula Ford series in 2005, and he earned the championship in the SCCA Formula Russell series in 2004.

Hildebrand drove for Newman Wachs Racing in this year's already-concluded Champ Car Atlantic series, finishing seventh overall. His best finish was second at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland in June. Hildebrand tested with the RLR/Andersen team at Infineon Aug. 16.

"Everything went very well, and the Capes and I are very optimistic about our chances with both Andrew and J.R. at Infineon," said team manager John Andersen.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity that Dan Andersen has given me to race at my home track, and extremely excited to work with the Capes again," Hildebrand said. "We combined for a lot of success in the Formula 2000 series. I think I'll be able to slip right into the team easily. I really like Andrew. He's very competitive as well, so I think the whole situation will be really good. In addition to doing well for myself, I hope to be able to help Andrew and the rest of the team to succeed. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity."

Two 30-lap Indy Pro Series races are on the docket at Infineon. The first will start at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, and the second will be at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday.