Brownsburg, IN - Launching a race career can be difficult, but Team Apex USA gave three go-kart drivers the opportunity to feel what it would be like to advance their careers to open wheel racing. Brandon Newey (Carmel, IN), Jody Gara (Dayton, OH), and Jimmy Simpson (Indianapolis, IN) all jumped into the driver’s seat for a Formula BWM ride along event at Putnam Park Road Course near Indianapolis.
Brandon will be a junior at Carmel High School this fall and has been karting for the last five years. “I would like to see how far I can get in racing. My dad, Steve, got me interested. He’s been an Indy Car engineer for the past 20 years,” Newey said.
Jody Gara plans to attend Sinclair Community College this fall to major in accounting. “I’ve been racing karts for four years,” said Gara. Racing runs in his blood as his father raced karts and stock cars.
Jimmy Simpson will be a junior at Cathedral High School where he takes part in the honors program. “I’ve been racing since I was five years old. I’ve driven karts, quarter midgets, Formula 2000’s, participated in the Skip Barber School, and raced USAC Midgets,” stated Simpson.
Team Apex USA Technical Director, Louis D’Agostino said, “We scheduled this event in order to give new drivers the opportunity to test in a Formula BMW prior to the upcoming licensing course at Miller Motorsports Park. We like to do all we can to help young drivers advance in their racing careers.”
Throughout the weekend (June 25-27, 2009), Team Apex USA participated in the official Formula BMW testing at Putnam Park. Thursday was the driver recruitment day for prospective Formula BMW drivers. Friday and Saturday was official testing for the current trio of Team Apex drivers (Joao Horto, Martin Sala, James Kovacic) as they prepare for rounds eight and nine of the Championship at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut on July 17th and 18th.