PALMETTO, Fla., Feb. 28 - Officials and team members of Andersen Racing were delighted with Conquest Racing's announcement last week that it had signed Mario Romancini for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series.
With the announcement, Romancini became the second driver to graduate into the IZOD IndyCar Series from Andersen Racing's driver development program.
The first was Graham Rahal, who finished fourth in the Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear in 2005 while driving for Andersen Racing before advancing to Atlantics (2006), the Champ Car World Series (2007) and the IZOD IndyCar series (2008). He currently drives for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.
Romancini won two Firestone Indy Lights races last year while driving for Andersen Racing, which is based at Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla. The team, which is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp., competes in karting, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights. A sister company, Andersen Promotions, administers the newly revived USF2000 National Championship, which is presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda.
On the heels of Conquest Racing's announcement, Romancini finished an impressive tenth in the IZOD IndyCar Series' open test at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., last week out of 21 drivers. That test marked the first time he drove an Indy car or drove at that particular track.
"I'm very happy to move up; I think all the drivers in go-karts dream about getting to a top level in motorsports like this," Romancini said Friday night. "As you know, I tested an Indy car for the first time two days ago, and the test went really well. This just shows how competitive Firestone Indy Lights is, and how well it prepares you for the IZOD IndyCar Series.
"For sure the experience I had last year helped me get used to the Indy car and the track," Romancini continued. "I feel a big part of my moving up is the season I had last year with Andersen Racing. I think my new IndyCar car owner saw my results, and I know he knew I won two races last year. It also helped us find the sponsorship to be able to move up. I want to thank Andersen Racing for everything they did for me. I will always be grateful to them for their help."
"We are so proud to see Mario advance; he has earned the chance and he is a terrific talent," said Andersen Racing co-owner Dan Andersen. "Last season he was the man to beat on the oval circuits, and his amazing driving made our team look good all year. We will be cheering him on and expecting great things from him in 2010."
Funded drivers wishing to follow in Rahal and Romancini's footsteps will be excited to learn that Andersen Racing still has some spots open for 2010 in its Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda and karting programs. It can also match funded drivers up with teams wishing to compete in the USF2000 National Championship.
For more information see the team's Web site at Andersenracingteam.com, e-mail info@andersenracingteam.com or call (941) 723-3900.
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States. Founded in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than 200 branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and warehouse space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from residential roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured stone, interior products and commercial roofing systems. For more information see alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing partners media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most prestigious events in North America. It provides a unique program utilizing multiple entries in three different platforms: karting, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights.
A sister company, Andersen Promotions, administers the USF2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda. It is part of both the Indy Racing League's Road to Indy program and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development system.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile road course test track. For more information see andersenracingteam.com, andersenkarting.com, andersenracepark.com and usf2000.com.