The Skip Barber Racing School, the Official Racing School of the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Mazda Road to Indy, has trained and developed racing talent for almost four decades, but in five days, it will open a whole new window of opportunity. 33 talented but as yet largely unknown drivers with dreams of a pro racing future will converge on Sebring International Raceway for the first annual Skip Barber IndyCar Academy shootout.
The winner of the shootout competition will receive a sponsored ride in either the 2013 summer or winter Skip Barber Regional Race Series presented by Mazda, with the opportunity to climb the Mazda Road to Indy ladder to the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Finalists applied for the Academy after graduating from a three-day Skip Barber Formula Car Racing School. The field includes students, U.S. military personnel, salesmen, doctors and 2012 Olympic swimming gold medal winner Tyler Clary. He participated in the Skip Barber Formula Car Racing School after visiting IZOD IndyCar Series races last summer.
Over the next few days, we will introduce you to all the contenders for this exciting new program.
Meet the 2012 Skip Barber IndyCar Academy Finalists, Part 1:
Aaron Gravelle
Age: 24
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Marketing, Apple Inc.
Q: When did your passion for racing begin?
A: My passion for racing developed throughout my childhood. It began alongside walking and go-karting got me hooked. My love for head to head competition developed with BMX Supercross that I competed in for several years and reaching the expert level. Getting my license on my 16th birthday, launch me into the world of automobiles and I have since own nine different cars with a focus on racing, while also developing my technical skills through modifications and tuning.
Q: Did you ever think you would have the chance to go pro?
A: After participating and excelling in open track days, my next step was the 3 Day Racing School at Skip Barber, which was something I had dreamed about since I could drive. Learning about the Road to Indy and the Indy Car Academy was the first time that I thought I had a real chance to go pro.
Q: Describe your everyday life: job, school, family. 
A: Living in the San Francisco Bay Area has given me great opportunities in my professional career. I graduated from San Jose State with a degree in Business and have been working in Marketing at Apple ever since.
Q: What was your first thought when you were contacted by a Skip Barber Racing School instructor to say you were in the running?
A: When I got the call that I was in the running, a rush of excitement, relief, and urgency to prepare for the shootout rushed over me all at once.
Q: If you could be any pro racecar driver in the world for 1 day, who would it be and why?
A: Ayrton Senna, he was not only the best racing driver of all time, he also drove the rawest formula cars, and made time to give back to his community.
Aaron Walker
Age: 22
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Landlord
Q: When did your passion for racing begin?
A: My passion for racing began when I was about 4 years old. I was always collecting cars and knew the different specs to many of them. But when I was able to grasp the concept as a child that these men I saw on TV and various forms of advertising had the ability to race for a living, the dream to do the same arrived.
Q: Did you ever think you would have the chance to go pro?
A: I figured that most chances to go pro within IRL were slim to none and I somewhat just put it in the back of my mind as just a dream. I didn't have any competition carting experience and figured I missed my chances as a kid. The day that I decided I had to try, is the day I found out about the Mazda road to Indy, through Skip Barber Racing School. Early August 2012, is when I found out about Skip Barber in general and which classes were left for the 3 day racing school in order to be elgible for the ladder system. At that moment I knew I had a legitimate shot through the system and ran with it for a October 1, 2012 booking and a November 5, 2012 class.
Q: Describe your everyday life: job, school, family. 
A: As a landlord, I rent the few properties I have and manage the few that other owners don't have the time for. I also invest in flipping cars from the local auction. I didn't require further schooling to partake in trades that I knew would be viable no matter the shape of the economy. Furthermore that put me in the position to be able to afford certain schooling from Skip Barber and invest time in a full-time racecar driver "life" if made possible. I've been living by myself since I was 17 so when I do see my family certain weekends and holidays it's a treat. A few of them may be coming out for the shootout.
Q: What was your first thought when you were contacted by a Skip Barber Racing School instructor to say you were in the running?
A: The first time my instructor R.B., called me to let me know I made it into the first 100 drivers for the shoot out I was floored to know that I was acknowledged although I knew that another phone call was needed to make the final 33. When I received the second phone call maybe two weeks later R.B. told me it was him on the phone and I said, "I hope you have some great news R.B." He replied, "I do. Congratulations Aaron, you made into the final 33, you're going to the shootout." I told him it was the best news or phone call I ever received.
Q: If you could be any pro racecar driver in the world for 1 day, who would it be and why?
A: I would not want to be any one pro race car driver. The spirit of competition within myself would rather imagine myself as the current champion of IRL or F1. However, to be informed of the great racers before me throughout the various intricacies of racing and how they had success on the track is imperative to me.