The 2016 Indianapolis 500 Rookie Class (aka "Who ARE these guys?")
The 2016 Indianapolis 500 Rookie Class (aka “Who ARE these guys??”)
Max Chilton (#8 Gallagher Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): This 25-year old Englishman finished fifth in last year’s Indy Lights series, winning from the pole at Iowa. In 2013-2014, Chilton made 35 Formula One starts with the Marussia F1 Team.(later Manor Marussia, now Manor). He was the first F1 rookie to finish every race his rookie year.
Best start this season (in five starts): 8th at Phoenix
Best finish this season: 7th at Phoenix
Spencer Pigot (#16 Rahal Letterman Lanigan/Mi-Jack/Manitowoc Honda): English-sounding name, all-American boy. Pigot was born in Pasadena, California, raised in Orlando, Florida, and ultimately came to Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing this season following his 2015 Indy Lights championship, in which he had six wins, four poles, and ten podiums. A poster child for the Mazda Road to Indy process, Pigot has victories in Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000.
Best start this season (in two starts): 18th at the GP of Indy
Best finish this season: 11th at GP of Indy
Stefan Wilson (#25 Driven2savelives - KVRT Chevrolet): While Wilson’s arrival at Indianapolis is undeniably linked to the IndyCar participation of his late brother, driver Justin Wilson, Stefan has already run in an Indy car, participating at the Grand Prix of Baltimore in 2013 with Dale Coyne Racing. He competed in Indy Lights between 2009 and 2012, finishing third in the 2011 season championship, with two wins, one pole, and three podium finishes.
Best start this season (no starts): ---
Best finish this season: ---
Matt Brabham (#61 PIRTEK Team Murray Chevrolet): The Brabham family name joins the Vukovich and Andretti names as families with three generations participating in the Indianapolis 500. Grandfather Sir Jack (1961, 1964, 1969, 1970) and father Geoff (1981-1987, 1990-1991, 1993) precede this 22-year old Aussie. He had two Indy Lights starts last season, and tested an Indy car with Andretti Autosport at Iowa and Sonoma. His Andretti relationship was established early, giving them fourth-place in the 2014 Lights championship, and the Championship and Rookie of the Year titles in the Pro Mazda series the year before, establishing the record with 13 wins in the season. Likewise, he won the Championship and Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 in the USF2000 series on his road to Indy.
Best start this season (in one start): 14th at the GP of Indy
Best finish this season: 16th at the GP of Indy
Alexander Rossi (#98 Castrol Edge/CURB Honda): Like Ganassi’s rookie, Max Chilton, Rossi spent part of his formative Wonder Years with the Marussia F1 program, driving in five starts in 2015, with a best finish of 12th at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The same year, he had three victories in GP2 - Spa, Monza, and Sochi - finishing second in the championship. While he competed in GP2, much of his experience was testing with the Caterham F1 and Marussia F1 Formula One teams. Back in 2006, he was the youngest driver to win in the Skip Barber National Championship, at age 14. Born in California, the 24-year old now lives in Indianapolis.
Best start this season (in five starts): 12th at the GP of Indy
Best finish this season: 10th at the GP of Indy
Tom Beeler
Tom has been a contributor to RIS since 1992. He was invited to join the staff as a full-time reporter/editor in 1995, and has covered IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, Grand-Am, ALMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to his RIS work, Tom has been a contributor for General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and the ACO.