MIKE CONWAY READY TO HIT THE TESTING TRAIL NEXT WEEK IN SEBRING; POPULAR BRITISH DRIVER HAS SEAT FITTING IN INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK

MIKE CONWAY READY TO HIT THE TESTING TRAIL NEXT WEEK IN SEBRING; POPULAR BRITISH DRIVER HAS SEAT FITTING IN INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK

Topics: Mike Conway, Ed Carpenter Racing

MIKE CONWAY READY TO HIT THE TESTING TRAIL NEXT WEEK IN SEBRING; POPULAR BRITISH DRIVER HAS SEAT FITTING IN INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK

Tom Blattler
December 10, 2013

Ed and Mike at the ECR shop

Ed, Mike, Bret Schmitt

Mike seat fitting

Detroit Winner Set to Drive ECR Chevrolet on Road/Street Circuits in 2014

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Dec. 10, 2013) – Racer Mike Conway is usually a quiet, calm guy.

But Monday you could tell the England native was excited to be in the Ed Carpenter Racing headquarters as he prepares for his first testing run in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet next week in Sebring, Fla. Conway sat in the race car for the first time Monday as the crew worked to fit him in the machine for the upcoming Dec. 18-19 test.

Conway, the 2013 Detroit IndyCar Series race winner, returned to the IndyCar Series last year in impressive style as he dominated the opening round of the Chevrolet “Duals in Detroit” Belle Isle event. He also scored the pole position in the second Belle Isle race that weekend and placed third.

Now, the former Long Beach Grand Prix champion has set his sights on more road and street race victories in 2014. Conway was seriously injured in the 2010 Indy 500 and made a sensational comeback to win in the streets of Long Beach in 2011.

Last month, Ed Carpenter announced he was concentrating his driving in the six oval races next year and Conway would handle the controls of the No. 20 machine in the 12 road and street events in 2014 for ECR.

“I can’t wait to get started with the ECR guys,” said Conway, 30. “I’m very excited to run with a team like Ed’s. I have worked with many of the crew guys here before and they have a very strong organization. This team should be a solid effort in 2014.”

Carpenter also expressed his enthusiasm to having Conway on his team for the upcoming campaign.

“Mike is one of the top road racing drivers and we are very pleased to have him onboard with us for 2014,” said Carpenter, also a two-time winner in the IndyCar Series. “As a team owner, I felt bringing Mike into our team would help elevate our operation to the next level. So I’ll drive in the oval races and Mike will drive in the road and street events. We feel great about our program.”

Conway is scheduled to run a two-day test at Sebring next week along with several other IndyCar Series drivers and teams on the track’s short course layout.

“It feels good to run the IndyCar before the holidays,” said Conway, who’ll also drive selected sports car races in 2014. “I’ve never been able to test an IndyCar before the first of the year. So this opportunity next week at Sebring really has me excited. It will be my first chance to drive the Chevrolet engine also. I’m looking forward to that aspect of the test too.”

In addition to his victory at Belle Isle in 2013, Conway was outstanding in the World Endurance Championship this year by co-driving to four race wins in the G-Drive/Delta-ADR LMP2 sports car.

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About Mike Conway

Mike Conway is a talented racing driver, especially on street courses and this year, no matter what he was driving, found the podium on numerous times. The 30-year-old has competed in selected IndyCar races in 2013 and, in seven events, scored a win, two podiums and five top-10 finishes as well as securing his first IndyCar career pole (Detroit 2). He also competed full time in the World Endurance Championship and won four events and earned three poles. Conway also had the opportunity to take part in an ALMS race earlier this year and on his debut put the LMP2 car on pole and finish once again on podium. This will be Conway’s sixth IndyCar season and in the 60 starts he has made, earned two victories, four podiums, five top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes. For enquiries regarding Mike Conway please contact his management company, MB Partners, either by visiting www.markblundellpartners.com or fiona@markblundellpartners.com.

About Ed Carpenter Racing

Owned by IndyCar Series driver Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing was formed in 2011 in association famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ed Carpenter Racing has comprised a stellar lineup of associates led by Tim Broyles as team manager, Bret Schmitt as crew chief and Matt Barnes as lead engineer. Their experience in open-wheel racing gives Ed Carpenter Racing strong leadership along with a solid contingent of crew members. Carpenter and the ECR/Fuzzy’s team won the 2012 season finale at Fontana, Calif., the MAVTV500 as well as the pole position at the 2013 Indianapolis 500. The No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka entry is powered by the twin-turbo V-6 Chevrolet IndyCar engine in 2013. Road racing specialist Mike Conway will drive the No. 20 at the road/street races in 2014 while Carpenter will handle the car in the six oval events including the Indy 500. Ed Carpenter’s racing history, dating back to age eight, includes victories in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and USAC National Sprint Car and Midget competition. For more information, please visit www.EdCarpenterRacing.com.