Veteran motorsports executive Neil Micklewright (LEFT) has joined Firestone Indy Lights championship-winning entrant AFS Racing as general manager/vp of operations.
"I am absolutely delighted to have been given this opportunity by Mr. [Gary] Peterson," said Micklewright. "The history of AFS Racing as both a perennial championship contender and also developer of star drivers is hard to beat. I relish the chance to be involved with a first-rate Firestone Indy Lights Team and look forward to contributing to many more years of success."
Micklewright comes to AFS after serving as general manager/vp of operations for Forsythe Racing from 1994 through 2009. Prior to that, he was team manager for Douglas Shierson Racing, where he participated in his first Indy 500 win with Arie Luyendyk in 1990. He also spent 11 years in Formula 1 prior to moving to the U.S. racing scene. AFS Racing will run its operation out of Forsythe Racing's Indianapolis facility.
AFS had been running as a partnership with Andretti Autosport for the past three years, but announced late last year that the partnership would not be renewed, and the Foysthe Racing facility – which fielded winning teams in Champ Cars – figures to boost the professed ambitions of AFS for moving up to IndyCar racing.
"I'm very pleased to have Neil join AFS Racing. His tasks will include securing sponsorship and handling race operations," said Peterson. "The chance to work side by side with Neil in Forsythe Racing's Indianapolis facility is a dream come true for me. I trust Neil and his experience in running one of the premier teams in the history of open-wheel to help AFS make the transition into full-time IndyCar racing as soon as possible."