Fernandez Media Guide 06
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Team Information At-A-Glance MEDIA CONTACT: DREW BROWN Team Lowe’s Racing 1435 W. Morehead St, Ste 190 Charlotte, NC 28208 Tel: 704.714.4305 Cell: 704.650.0428 Email: [email protected] TAMY VALKOSKY Fernández Racing 17 El Prisma Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 Tel: 949.459.9172 Cell: 949.842.3946 Email: [email protected] MEDIA RESOURCES: Additional information on Lowe’s Fernández Racing and the Rolex Series can be found at: media.lowesracing.com www.fernandezracing.net www.grandamerican.com GRAND AMERICAN ROAD RACING ASSOCIATION Adam Saal, Director of Communications Tel: 386.947.6681 Email: [email protected] MEDIA REFERENCE: OFFICIAL TEAM NAME: Lowe’s Fernández Racing FOUNDED: December 2005 OWNERS: Fernández Racing (Adrián Fernández, Tom Anderson) HEADQUARTERS: 6835 Guion Road Indianapolis IN 46268 317.299.5100 317.280.3051 Fax DRIVERS: Adrián Fernández and Mario Haberfeld ENTRY: No. 12 Lowe’s Fernández Racing Pontiac Riley KEY PERSONNEL: Tom Anderson, Managing Director Steve Miller, Team Manager Mike Sales, Chief Mechanic John Ward, Race Engineer Lowe’s Fernández Racing to Compete for 2006 Rolex Series Championship LOWE’S AND FERNÁNDEZ RACING ANNOUNCED the creation of of Key Biscayne, Fla., is a former British Formula 3 champion, who made Lowe’s Fernández Racing on January 4 of this year. The team will field the his US racing debut in the Champ Car World Series contesting the 2003 No. 12 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype for and 2004 seasons. drivers Adrián Fernández and Mario Haberfeld in the 14-race Grand “This is an honor for me to join Adrián Fernández, who I have admired American Rolex Sports Car Series. my entire driving career, along with a company like Lowe’s, whose racing “This is exciting for all of us,” Fernández said. “I am honored that I can involvement is so extensive,” said Haberfeld. “It gives me great confidence continue my relationship with Lowe’s and build something new with them that this is going to be a successful team on and off the race track.” in Grand American. Last year, we established the foundation of our The Lowe’s Fernandez Racing team is a new addition to Lowe’s relationship in NASCAR and now we will build something new together in involvement in auto racing. Lowe’s sponsors the No. 48 Nextel Cup car the Rolex Sports Car Series. I’m looking forward to getting the No. 12 driven by Jimmie Johnson and the No. 5 Busch Series car driven by Kyle Lowe’s Pontiac to victory lane.” Busch. In addition to the Hendrick Motorsports entries, Lowe’s owns the Fernández, 42, a Mexico City native who now resides in Phoenix, made his naming rights at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C. mark as an open-wheel star through a 12-year career at the top levels of “Lowe’s is proud to have Adrián back behind the wheel and to welcome the sport. In 2005, he branched out to NASCAR running six races with Mario to Team Lowe’s Racing,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice Hendrick Motorsports in the Busch Series. president of marketing and advertising. “Adrián’s fans, many of whom are Fernández noted he sees tremendous growth potential with the Grand also Lowe’s customers, have demonstrated their passion for Adrián and American Rolex Series. Lowe’s is proud to support the sport our customers care about. We look forward to supporting Adrián and this team both on and off the track.” “Grand American Rolex Series competition is growing in popularity, and I expect it to keep growing in the coming years. I like the direction Fernández Racing was formed in 2000 by Fernández and motorsports this series is headed. Hopefully we will bring a lot of new veteran Tom Anderson. The team has grown to encompass the Super fans to the sport.” Aguri Fernández Racing and Delphi Fernández Racing teams, which currently contest the IndyCar Series Haberfeld, 30, a native of Sao Paulo, with drivers Kosuke Matsuura and Scott Brazil, and current resident Sharp respectively. #12 Lowe’s Adrián Fernández, Driver Fernández Racing Pontiac Riley AGE: 42 BIRTHDATE: April 20, 1963 BIRTHPLACE: Mexico City, Mexico RESIDENCE: Paradise Valley, Arizona FAMILY: Wife – Catalina Adrián Fernández embarks on a new chapter of his racing career in 2006, partnering with Lowe’s – the world’s second-largest home improvement retailer – to contest a full season in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series under the Lowe’s Fernández Racing banner. Fernández made his mark at the top levels of open-wheel competition in the CART and IndyCar Series, enjoying a 12-year career that made the Mexico City native a familiar name to racing fans worldwide. He added to his extensive resume in 2005, making his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series with six starts for Team Lowe’s Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. Alongside his accomplishments on the race track, Fernández began carrying the dual moniker of owner/driver in 2000, when he teamed with motorsports veteran Tom Anderson to launch Fernández Racing. Today, Fernández Racing has grown to include Delphi Fernández Racing and Super Aguri Fernández Racing, both of which compete in the IndyCar Series with drivers Scott Sharp and Kosuke Matsuura respectively, in addition to the newly-formed Lowe’s Fernández Racing team. Fernández’s professional racing career spans over 20 years, and his achievements have garnered numerous awards including “Athlete of the Year” in Mexico, a nomination for Mexico’s National Sports Award (Premio Nacional del Deporte) for his career achievements in auto racing and recognition at the U.S. Premios Fox Sports Awards for his contributions to Latin American auto racing. CAREER 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Best finish of 10th in six starts for Team Lowe’s Racing and Hendrick Motorsports 2004 IRL IndyCar Series Debut season included three wins and fifth place in the championship in 16 starts 1993 - 2003 CART Champ Car Eight wins, four pole positions and 21 podiums in 178 starts with a career-best finish of second in the championship standings 1992 Indy Lights Rookie of the Year in American racing debut 1990 - 1991 International Formula 3 Championship (Mexico) 1991 Formula 3 champion 1989 RAC British Formula Ford 1600 Championship Fifth in the championship with six podium finishes 1987 - 1988 British Formula Ford 1600 Championship Finished 11th in the 1988 championship while working as a mechanic and driving instructor at the historic Brands Hatch circuit to further his racing career 1984 - 1986 Formula K Series (Mexico) Earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished second in the championship 1983 - 1984 Formula Vee Championship (Mexico) Formula Vee champion both years 1982 Formula Vee Class (Mexico) Rookie of the Year and fourth in championship 1981 Entered first auto race – the 24 Hours of Mexico – at age 16 1973 Began racing motocross at age eight #12 Lowe’s Mario Haberfeld, Driver Fernández Racing Pontiac Riley AGE: 30 BIRTHDATE: January 25, 1976 BIRTHPLACE: Sao Paulo, Brazil RESIDENCE: Key Biscayne, Florida FAMILY: Wife - Ana Son - Roberto, born December 2005 Mario Haberfeld moves from open-wheel competition to sports car racing in 2006, teaming with Adrián Fernández and Lowe’s Fernández Racing to contest his first season in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Haberfeld made an impressive debut on the American racing scene in 2003. A veteran of the Brazilian and European racing ranks, Haberfeld finished fourth in his first-ever race in the Champ Car World Series. His two-year campaign was highlighted by four top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes. He was also the series leader in laps completed in 2004 despite being saddled with less-than-competitive equipment. Haberfeld left his native Sao Paulo for Europe at the age of 19 following triumphs in the Brazilian karting ranks and two championships. As Haberfeld gained experience, successes included the prestigious British Formula Three Championship crown in 1998 on the heels of six wins and six pole positions. The following four years in International F3000 competition proved to be character-building for the talented Brazilian. More often than not, it was passion that fueled Haberfeld as he was plagued by a number of mechanical failures and accidents. He finished seventh in the championship in his final year of F3000 competition punctuating his potential with his first podium, a second-place finish, in his homeland event at Interlagos. CAREER 2005 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Contested season finale in Mexico City 2003 - 2004 Champ Car World Series Recorded 18 top-10 and four top-five finishes 1999 - 2002 FIA International F3000 Championship Finished seventh in the 2002 championship 1997 - 1998 British Formula 3 Championship 1998 Formula 3 champion 1996 Formula Renault Eurocup Finished fifth in the championship posting one win 1995 British Formula Ford 1800 Championship Finished fourth in the championship claiming four wins, and finished second at the prestigious Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival 1994 Brazilian Formula Ford Championship Limited number of races 1992 - 1993 Karting Won the Paulista and Formula Pakalolo Championships in 1993, finished third in the Pan American Formula K Championship in 1992 1991 Began competing in karts at age 15 Tom Anderson, Managing Director and Steve Miller, Team Manager TOM STEVE ANDERSON MILLER AGE: 56 AGE: 47 BIRTHDATE: February 16, 1949 BIRTHDATE: May 1, 1958 BIRTHPLACE: Modesto, California BIRTHPLACE: London, England RESIDENCE: Indianapolis, Indiana RESIDENCE: Franklin, Indiana FAMILY: Wife – Cheryl FAMILY: Wife - Debra Daughter – Kristie Tom Anderson brings his vast Steve Miller assumes the role of team motorsports experience to Lowe’s manager for Lowe’s Fernández Racing Fernández Racing as managing – familiar territory to the veteran of director, while continuing his dual over 20 years in motorsports.