Vision Racing Team History
In 2009, Vision Racing celebrated its fifth anniversary of competing in the Indy Racing League. First formed by Tony George and his wife Laura after purchasing the assets of Kelley Racing in 2005, the team was joined a year later by co-owner Patrick Dempsey, star of the Golden Globe-nominated drama "Grey's Anatomy" and a sports car driver in his own right. The couple's daughter, Lauren George, was also added as a co-owner on her 18th birthday in May of 2009.
Based in Indianapolis, Ind. at a 32,000-square foot facility, Vision Racing is now preparing for its sixth season of competition with full-time entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series. The team has previously also participated in the Grand American Sports Car Series's Rolex 24-Hour endurance race (2007 & 2008) in Daytona Beach, Fla.
A total of nine drivers have piloted the team's IndyCar entries (car nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) in 82 races with 157 starts, amassing 56 top-10 finishes, including 12 top-5 finishes and four podiums with a total of 76 laps led.
Over the past five seasons, the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing took a step closer to that during the 2009 season with two hard-earned 2nd place podium finishes. The team also posted their best career start (4th), seven top-10 results and their highest total of laps led, laps competed and races completed in a season.
The 2009 season started off in grand form as driver of the no.21 Vision Racing entry, driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, started 14th on the streets of St. Petersburg and drove his way through the field to a podium finish.
While much of the year was spent focused on improvement and consistency, the high point of the season was without a doubt Carpenter's stint as a race leader and his battle for the finish line at Kentucky Speedway against a Team Penske entry, reaffirming the team's belief that it is indeed on the right path in their pursuit of success. Carpenter's runner-up podium performance also highlighted what was arguably the most exciting IndyCar race of the 2009 IndyCar season and attracted the attention and praise of fans and competitors alike.
After Vision Racing's Indy Lights program produced positive results in the 2005 season, the team re-joined a competitive field of young up-and-coming drivers with Australian driver James Davison for the 2009 schedule. At the wheel of the no.21 Indy Lights Vision Racing entry, Davison went on to earn the team's first pole position and more importantly a first win for the organization at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The successful FIL return saw Davison post 14 top-10s in 15 races, three pole positions and four podiums, to finish runner-up in the Championship.
The team endured a set back on January 28th, 2010 when it made the difficult decision to suspend racing operations until such a time that sponsorship could be secured. As a result, the team has missed the opening races of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series but is working deligently to return to competition as soon as possible.
Vision Racing will continue to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Racing.