The world of racing and football have come together to form a new open-wheel team that will compete in the FIA Formula 4 Series sanctioned by SCCA Racing.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 runner-up and broadcaster Scott Goodyear, three-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Dr. Jack Miller and four-time Super Bowl champion Adam Vinatieri have formed a new team known as Goodyear, Miller, Vinatieri Motorsports LLC.
The new organization is wasting little time getting started. Based in Westfield, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis, Honda-powered GMVM plans to campaign up to two entries in the Formula 4 series in 2016.
The three principals of the organization bring their own unique talents to serve in specialized roles. Goodyear has past experience not only as a professional racer, but also as a driving instructor.
Miller will handle much of the marketing and conceptualization of the new program, while Vinatieri is a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and before that won four Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. A longtime motorsports fan, Vinatieri hopes to translate some of the success he has achieved on the football field to his race team and what it does on race tracks.
“I’ve known Jack for years and his commitment to success and his passion for the sport inspired me to get involved,” Vinatieri said in a media release. “Indianapolis is all about racing and helping young drivers work to achieve greatness and make it to the pinnacle of the sport at the Indy 500 is something I’m excited about.”
In a sense, the team will be a combination of friends as owners and a family affair that will feature two of their sons as competitors.
Goodyear’s son, Michael, will run a limited number of events. A college sophomore and Accounting and Economics double major, has been racing in karting since age 12 and has collected a number of poles, wins and six championships.
Meanwhile, Miller’s son, Jack William, will be a test driver for the team in 2016 and hopes to participate full-time in the 2017 season. Jack William has been racing since the age of 3 and has earned over 100 karting wins and multiple championships across several karting classes.
“F4 allows young up and coming drivers to graduate from karting to a state of the art open-wheel car and gain valuable experience in a single-seater,” Goodyear said. “I’m excited to be part of this leading edge series and to have the opportunity to share my racing knowledge and some valuable secrets of success with up and coming racers.
“Both Jack and Michael have shown their speed and success in karting, and like many fathers whose child is competing in karting, I’m excited for them to move up to the next level of competition and we are excited to provide that opportunity for them and others in the Formula 4 Series.”
At the same time, GMVM is looking for additional younger drivers to potentially fill a second car.
“The team is excited by the opportunity that the Formula 4 series will provide young racers and will have the option of a second car for the season and welcomes inquiries from interested drivers who wish to advance their skills under the guidance of the team,” the release said.
The Formula 4 Series begins on May 27-28 at Lime Rock Park and will run a 15-race, five-venue schedule.
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