 | |
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Teamprincipal(s) | Ron Hemelgarn Lee Kunzman |
| Current series | USAC Silver Crown Series |
| Former series | CART,IndyCar |
| Noted drivers | Arie Luyendyk Stan Fox Buddy Lazier |
| Drivers' Championships | 2000 IRL 2020 USAC Silver Crown[1] |
Hemelgarn Racing was an American auto racing team owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team debuted in 1985, and competed in theCART andIndy Racing League ranks until the team originally shut down in 2010. The team returned to competition in 2015, and currently competes full-time in theUSAC Silver Crown Series with driverJustin Grant. Grant won the 2020 championship for the team.[2]
The team won the1996 Indianapolis 500 and2000 Indy Racing League Championship with driverBuddy Lazier.
The team had a best finish of 7th in theCART standings. Along with Lazier's Indy 500 win in 1996, the team also had two second-place finishes at the Indy 500 in1998 and2000.
Along withA. J. Foyt Enterprises, Hemelgarn was unique in having competed in at least one race in every season of the Indy Racing League's existence from 1996 through 2008.
The team was founded in1985 and participated part-time in theCART series with largely outdated equipment and three different drivers. In1986 the team bought newMarch chassis and participated full-time withJacques Villeneuve and part-time withScott Brayton, putting both in the field of the team's firstIndianapolis 500.
Arie Luyendyk replaced Villeneuve for1987 and finished 7th in points. In1988Scott Brayton raced full-time for the team while three other drivers fielded part-time entries. For1989, seven different drivers took turns behind the wheel, as the team struggled to find consistency.Buddy Lazier first joined the team in1990 and competed in his first six CART races with the team. Lazier was bumped from the field and failed to qualify for theIndianapolis 500, whileBilly Vukovich III did qualify his Hemelgarn machine for the 1990 Indy 500, finishing 24th in a two-year-oldLola-Buick.
Hemelgarn teamed up withDale Coyne Racing to field a car atRoad America andToronto for Lazier in1991. The team fielded three cars at the1991 Indianapolis 500. Indy legendGordon Johncock, veteranStan Fox, and Buddy Lazier, who made the race for the first time. Lazier was involved in a spin on the first lap and finished last. Johncock, however, charged from 33rd starting position, and battling an illness, came home in a surprising 6th place. Fox in 8th place gave the team two cars in the top ten.
In1992 the team only participated atIndianapolis as costs to run the series full-time increased rapidly. In1993 the team fielded a car forpay driverBrian Bonner in a pair of road races.
For1994 and1995, Hemelgarn ran Indianapolis only, with veteranStan Fox as the primary driver.Jeff Andretti (1994) andJim Crawford (1995), respectively, were entered as second drivers, but neither were able to qualify. Fox was running in the top ten late in the race in 1994, but spun out and crashed in turn one with four laps to go. In1995 Fox qualified 11th, but was involved in a terrible crash at the start. He was critically injured, suffering a closed-head injury, which ended his driving career.
With the founding of the Indy Racing League in1996, the team was eager to return to full-time racing and re-signed former Hemelgarn stalwartBuddy Lazier to pilot their full-time entry and fielded additional cars forBrad Murphey andStéphan Grégoire in the Indy 500.
Buddy Lazier scored the team's first pole position at the1996 IRL season opener atWalt Disney World Speedway.
Lazier scored the first win of hisIndy car career and Hemelgarn's first as a team in a gutsy drive while recovering from a back injury in the1996 Indianapolis 500. This win cemented Lazier and sponsorDelta Faucet with the team for years to come. Lazier was one of the top drivers in the league, consistently scoring top-tens and finishing in the top-ten in points every year.
In2000, Lazier and Hemelgarn captured the Indy Racing League championship and finished second in theIndy 500 behind the dominant"500" rookieJuan Pablo Montoya. The team nearly repeated their championship ways in2001, with Lazier capturing four wins and finishing second in points, albeit well back from championSam Hornish Jr.
With Lazier behind the wheel, Hemelgarn posted eight wins, and 18 top three finishes over six seasons.
As2002 came, the team began to struggle. The influx of formerCART teams had begun and Lazier only managed an 8th-place finish in points and only registered a pair of top five finishes.2003 was even worse as the team struggled with under-poweredChevrolet engines compared to the newHonda andToyota powerplants and Lazier finished a dismal 19th in series points, prompting Delta Faucets to leave the team.
In2004 the team was only able to field a car for Lazier in the Indy 500. In2005 the team returned to full-time competition with new ethanol sponsorship brought by driverPaul Dana who was injured after three races and replaced byJimmy Kite.
The team hit rock bottom in2006. The team was able to broker a deal with driverP. J. Chesson, with financial backing fromNBA starCarmelo Anthony.Jeff Bucknum joined the team as a second team car, and under the moniker "Car-Melo", the two cars qualified for the2006 Indianapolis 500. On the second lap, however, the two cars tangled in turn two and crashed out together, finishing 32nd and 33rd (last and second-to-last). Following the devastating result, Ron Hemelgarn let his crew go and suspended the team's operations, leaving Chesson without a ride for the rest of the year.
It was unknown if and when Hemelgarn Racing would return to the track until the team filed an entry for the2007 Indianapolis 500. Little was heard of the entry until a deal was put together on the Friday before the final weekend of qualifying withRacing Professionals to jointly field a former Hemelgarn chassis (bought by RP) forRichie Hearn. Hearn solidly put the car in the field after only 26 laps of practice on Bump Day and finished the race in the 23rd position.
In2008 Buddy Lazier returned to the team for the Indianapolis 500 and made a last minute run on Bump Day to put the car into the field. With little practice, Lazier struggled with the handling of the car and finished 17th five laps down. The team attempted to repeat 2008's relative success in2009, but despite running lap times similar to what they had run the previous year, Lazier was not able to wring enough speed from the car to make the field.
In April 2010,SPEED TV'sRobin Miller reported that Hemelgarn Racing had ceased operations.[3] Ron Hemelgarn was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame (www.mmshof.org) in 2013.
The team reopened at the start of 2015, and began competing full-time in theUSAC Silver Crown Series. Austin Nemire raced for the team in 2015 and 2016. Nemire had two top 5s (Iowa – 2015 and Gateway – 2016), and finished 8th in points standings during both seasons.
Hemelgarn joined forces with Chris Carli Motorsports & driver Justin Grant for the2017 season. The combination had success as they finished 4th in the points standings & won the Bettenhausen 100 atIllinois State Fairgrounds.[4]
Grant returned to the team for the2018 season and won atTerre Haute Action Track.[5] Grant won the 2020 championship without winning a race that season.
Brian Bonner 1993Scott Brayton 1986–1989Stan Fox 1991–1995Spike Gehlhausen 1985
Scott Goodyear 1989–1990Davey Hamilton 1991; 1995Ludwig Heimrath 1988–1989Gordon Johncock 1988–1989; 1991–1992Ken Johnson 1988Buddy Lazier 1990–1991; 1994
Arie Luyendyk 1987
Enrique Mansilla 1985
Tero Palmroth 1989
Michael Roe 1985Dick Simon (sponsored car) 1978–1979Tom Sneva 1988–1989
Didier Theys 1989Robby Unser 1989Jacques Villeneuve 1986Rich Vogler 1987Billy Vukovich III 1989–1990Jeff Bucknum 2006P. J. Chesson 2006Paul Dana 2005
Stephan Gregoire 1996Richie Hearn 2003, 2007Jimmy Kite 2005Buddy Lazier 1996–2003; 2008Chris Menninga 2001Brad Murphey 1996–1997Lyn St. James 1997Johnny Unser 1997–1999Stan Wattles 2000–2001Justin Grant 2017–presentAustin Nemire 2015–2016(key)
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Drivers | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts Pos | Pos | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longhorn Racing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | PHX | ATL | INDY | TRT | MCH | WGL | TRT | ONT | MCH | ATL | PHX | ||||||||||||||||
| Penske PC-6/7 | CosworthDFX | Tom Bagley | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 8th | 1,208 | |||||||||
| Steve Krisiloff | 71 | 23 | 19th | 279 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | ONT | INDY | MIL | POC | MDO | MCH | WGL | MIL | ONT | MCH | MXC | PHX | |||||||||||||||
| Longhorn LR-01 | CosworthDFX | Al Unser | 5 | 16 | 27 | 20 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 8th | 1,153 | ||||||||||
| 1981 | PHX | MIL | ATL | MCH | RIV | MIL | MCH | WGL | MXC | PHX | |||||||||||||||||
| Longhorn LR-02 | CosworthDFX | Al Unser | 8 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 22 | 10th | 90 | |||||||||||
| 1982 | PHX | ATL | MIL | CLE | MCH | MIL | POC | RIV | ROA | MCH | PHX | ||||||||||||||||
| Longhorn LR-03/B | CosworthDFX | Al Unser | 10 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 4 | DNQ | 23 | 17 | 2 | 18 | 7th | 125 | ||||||||||||
| Primus Motor Sports | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | ATL | INDY | MIL | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | RIV | MDO | MCH | CPL | LAG | PHX | ||||||||||||||
| Longhorn LR-03 | CosworthDFX | Chris Kneifel(R) | 72 | 12 | 27 | 9 | 26 | 8 | 22 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 17th | 19 | |||||||||||
| 1984 | LBH | PHX | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH | PHX | LAG | CPL | |||||||||||
| Primus 84 | CosworthDFX | Chris Kneifel | 72 | DNQ | 9 | 15 | 23 | 8 | DNQ | 15 | DNS | 25 | 29th | 9 | |||||||||||||
| John Paul Jr. | 17 | 17th | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hemelgarn Racing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH | LAG | PHX | MIA | ||||||||||||
| Lola T900 | CosworthDFX | Michael Roe(R) | 71 | 21 | DNQ | 7 | 8 | 26 | 27th | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| Spike Gehlhausen | 14 | 18 | 42nd | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enrique Mansilla | 9 | 10 | 12 | 31st | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Brayton | 26 | 18 | DNQ | 22nd | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH | ROA | LAG | PHX | MIA | ||||||||||
| March 86C | CosworthDFX | Scott Brayton | 71 | 24 | 13 | 27 | 19 | 39th | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Buick 3300V6tc | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CosworthDFX | Jacques Villeneuve Sr. | 8 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 11 | 19 | 10 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 15th | 38 | ||||||||||||
| 81 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | LBH | PHX | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH | POC | ROA | MDO | NAZ | LAG | MIA | ||||||||||||
| March 87C | CosworthDFX | Arie Luyendyk | 71 | 14 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 7th | 98 | |||||||
| Rich Vogler | 81 | 20 | 43rd | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 86C | Buick 330V6tc | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnny Parsons | DNQ | NC | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 87C | CosworthDFX | Scott Brayton | 91 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 25 | 22nd | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | MEA | MCH | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | MIA | ||||||||||||
| Lola T88/00 | CosworthDFX | Ludwig Heimrath | 71 | 14 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 28th | 7 | |||||||||||||||
| Judd AV | 19 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CosworthDFX | Ken Johnson(R) | 12 | 36th | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Sneva | 22 | 45th | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judd AV | 81 | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CosworthDFX | Gordon Johncock | 71 | 6 | 21st | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judd AV | Scott Brayton | 91 | 15 | 23 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 26 | 10 | 24 | 23rd | 12 | |||||||||||||
| CosworthDFX | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buick 3300V6tc | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | ||||||||||||
| Lola T89/00 | Judd AV | Ludwig Heimrath | 71 | 24 | DNS | DNQ | 17 | DNQ | 26th | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lola T88/00 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 25 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tero Palmroth | 27 | 43rd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billy Vukovich III | 81 | 12 | 34th | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buick 3300V6tc | Gordon Johncock | 91 | 31 | 40 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T89/00 | Judd AV | 21 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Didier Theys | 9 | 12 | 21st | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T88/00 | 20 | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Goodyear | 23 | 48th | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T89/00 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | |||||||||||
| Lola T88/00 | Buick 3300V6tc | Billy Vukovich III | 81 | 24 | 34th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CosworthDFS | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buddy Lazier(R) | 91 | DNQ | 30th | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judd AV | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buick 3300V6tc | DNQ | DNQ | 13 | 24 | DNS | 26 | DNQ | 12 | 23 | DNS | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | SFR | LBH | PHX | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | ||||||||||
| Lola T90/00 | Buick 3300V6tc | Buddy Lazier | 71 | 33 | 22nd | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T88/00 | Davey Hamilton | 81 | DNQ | NC | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T91/00 | Stan Fox | 91 | 8 | 24th | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T90/00 | CosworthDFS | Gordon Johncock | 92 | 6 | 20th | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | SFR | PHX | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | MIL | NHA | TOR | MCH | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | |||||||||||
| Lola T91/00 | Buick 3300V6tc | Pancho Carter | 81 | DNQ | 31st | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stan Fox | 91 | 27 | 59th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gordon Johncock | 92 | 29 | 61st | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | SFR | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | NHA | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | |||||||||||
| Lola T91/00 | Buick 3300V6tc | Stan Fox | 91 | 31 | 54th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T92/00 | Didier Theys | 92 | 22 | 42nd | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | SFR | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | MDO | NHA | VAN | ROA | NAZ | LAG | |||||||||||
| Reynard 94i | FordXBV8t | Stan Fox | 91 | 13 | 37th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T92/00 | Buick 3300V6tc | Buddy Lazier | 94 | DNQ | 36th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Andretti | DNQ | 44th | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | MIA | SFR | PHX | LBH | NAZ | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | ROA | TOR | CLE | MCH | MDO | NHA | VAN | LAG | ||||||||||
| Reynard 95i | FordXBV8t | Stan Fox | 91 | 30 | 46th | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Reynard 94i | Davey Hamilton | 95 | DNQ | NC | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lola T92/00 | Buick 3300V6tc |  Jim Crawford | 96 | DNQ | NC | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
(key) (Results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics indicate fastest lap)