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Alex Barron (racing driver)

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For other people with the same name, see Alex Barron (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Alexandre Baron.
Alex Barron
Alex Barron at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2006.
NationalityAmerican
Born (1970-06-11) June 11, 1970 (age 54)
San Diego, California
IRL IndyCar Series
Years active2001-2005, 2007
TeamsSam Schmidt Motorsports
Blair Racing
Penske Racing
Mo Nunn Racing
Team Cheever
CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports
Starts62
Wins2
Poles0
Best finish5th in 2002
Alex Barron
CART Championship Car
Years active1998-2017
TeamsAll American Racers
Penske Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Arciero-Blair Racing
Starts34
Wins0
Poles0
Best finish26th in 2000
Previous series
1997
1996		Toyota Atlantic
U.S. National Formula Ford 2000
Championship titles
1997Toyota Atlantic Championship

Alex Barron (born June 11, 1970) is an American race car driver. He began racing CART FedEx World Series Championship cars in 1998 and made his first Indy Racing League Northern Lights Series (now IndyCar Series) start in 2001.

The 1997 KOOL Toyota Atlantic Champion, moved across to the IRL, where he had trouble finding a regular drive and got his opportunities through injuries to other drivers. However, in 2006, he stepped down a level to race in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, and then returned to IRL in 2007. After racing in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Barron stopped racing at an international level.

Racing career

Early Years

Barron was born in San Diego, California. In 1996, the opportunity for him to move up to US National Formula Ford 2000 came with the DSTP Team. This proved to be a steep learning curve from kart to open wheel race car, for the young racer. However, a podium, a fastest lap and six top ten finishes won him to chance to race in Toyota Atlantic the following season.[1]

Barron in his rookie season in the KOOL Toyota Atlantic series, surprised everyone, including his team, Lynx Racing by dominating and winning the 1997 championship, taking five victories along the way. With four pole positions, six fastest laps and nine top three finishes, he would also win the “Rookie of the Year” award.[2]

Part of his prize for winning the Championship was a test with the Arciero-Wells Racing CART team. During his test, he was quickly matching the speed of their regular driver, Max Papis. Arciero-Wells were so impressed with him, they offered a testing contract. Following the retirement of Juan Manuel Fangio II, the All American Racers Team and their boss, Dan Gurney, wanted a young American driver who could develop with the team, and Alex got the call.[3]

In just 24 races, 12 races in both the Formula Ford 2000 and Toyota Atlantic, Alex made the jump from racing karts to CART.[4]

Indycars

Alex’s time with Gurney and his AAR team was a troubled by an uncompetitive combination of the chassis (they used both Eagle and Reynard chassis), Toyota engines and Goodyear tyres. Midway through his second season (1999) with AAR, he was let go. Later that season, he was signed by Marlboro Team Penske to race in two 500 mile events. Once again he found himself in an uncompetitive combination, this time it was a Penske PC27B-99 with Mercedes engines and Goodyears.[5]

It was not until the second half of 2000 season that Barron reappeared in CART, running with Dale Coyne Racing. The following season, he raced just the final two races for Arciero-Blair Racing. During these races, Alex led both, before retiring with problems the Ford Cosworth engines both times.[6]

In 2002, Barron switched to the IRL, signing for Blair Racing, where he finish fourth in Indianapolis 500, co-winning the Rookie of the Year. Later that season, he would earn the first of his two IndyCar Series wins, the 2002 Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Speedway. Sadly, Blair Racing would fold at the end of the season, leaving Barron without a full-time drive for 2003. In 2003, Barron drove for three teams. After replacing the injured Gil de Ferran for a one-off appearance for Marlboro Team Penske, he raced for Mo Nunn Racing, filling in for the injured Felipe Giaffone. It was with Mo Nunn that Barron scored his second IRL victory, in the 2003 Firestone Indy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. For the final three races of that season, Eddie Cheever hired Barron to drive for his Red Bull Cheever Racing outfit, instead of Buddy Rice. In his first race for Cheever, he gave the team their best finish of the season, seventh place at the Chicagoland Speedway.[7][8][9][10]

Mechanics working on Barron's car in the garage during a practice session for the 2007 Indianapolis 500

In 2004 and 2005 he drove for Eddie Cheever's Red Bull Cheever Racing. Red Bull sponsorship of the team ended for 2006, leaving Alex unable to remain with the team - he instead took a step backward, returning to the Champ Car Atlantic Championship for 2006 with Polestar Racing Group where he finished 14th in points. Early that year he raced twice for alongside Michael McDowell for Playboy/Uniden Racing, with a best finish of sixth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the pair aided by Memo Gidley. Greg Beck signed him to run races part-time in the IndyCar Series for the 2007 season for CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports. He competed in three races, including the Indy 500. Barron would return to Daytona for the 2008 Rolex 24, with Southard Motorsport, only to retire from the race. Alex would not race internationally again.[11][12]

He now runs a kart business. [13]

Racing record

Career highlights

Season Series Position Team Car
1997 KOOL Toyota Atlantic Championship [14][15] 1st Lynx Racing Ralt-Toyota RT41
1998 CART FedEx Champ Car Series [16][17] 27th All American Racers Eagle-Toyota 987
Reynard-Toyota 98i
1999 CART FedEx Champ Car Series [18][19] 27th All American Racers
Marlboro Team Penske 		Eagle-Toyota 997
Penske-Mercedes PC27B-99
2000 CART FedEx Champ Car Series [20][21] 26th Dale Coyne Racing Lola-Ford B2K/00
2001 CART FedEx Champ Car Series [22][23] 29th Arciero-Blair Racing Lola-Ford B2K/00
Indy Racing Northern Light Series [24][25] 44th Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara-Oldsmobile IR1
2002 Firestone Indy Racing League Series [26][27] 5th Blair Racing Dallara-Chevrolet IR2
2003 IndyCar Series [28][29] 17th Team Penske
Mo Nunn Racing
Red Bull Cheever Racing 		G-Force-Toyota GF09
Dallara-Chevrolet IR2
2004 IndyCar Series [30][31] 12th Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara-Chevrolet IR2
2005 IndyCar Series [32][33] 11th Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara-Toyota IR5
2006 Yokohama Presents the Champ Car
Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda [34][35] 		14th Polestar Racing Swift-Toyota 0.16a
Rolex Sports Car Series [36][37] 78th Playboy/Uniden Racing Crawford-Ford DP03
2007 IndyCar Series [38][39] 22nd CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports Dallara-Honda IR4
2008 Rolex Sports Car Series [40][41] 59th Southard Motorsports Riley-Lexus Mk XI

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2006 United States Playboy/Uniden Racing United States Memo Gidley
United States Michael McDowell 		Crawford-Ford DP03 DP 716 6th 6th
2008 United States Southard Motorsport United States Shane Lewis
United States Bill Lester
United States Ted Christopher 		Riley-Lexus Mk XI DP 527 DNF DNF

American open wheel racing results

(key)

CART

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points
1998 All American Racers Reynard 98i Toyota RV8C V8t MIA
18 		MOT
Ret 		LBH
14 		NZR
DNQ 		RIO
12 		STL
14 		MIL
DNQ 		DET
20 		POR
14 		CLE
15 		TOR
Ret 		MIS
15 		27th 2
Eagle 987 Toyota RV8D V8t MDO
16 		ROA
Ret 		VAN
Ret 		LS
Ret 		HOU
12 		SRF
Ret 		FON
13
1999 All American Racers Eagle 997 Toyota RV8D V8t MIA
15 		MOT
17 		LBH
Ret 		NZR
9 		RIO
Ret 		STL
Ret 		MIL
14 		POR CLE ROA TOR 27th 4
Team Penske Penske PC-27 Mercedes-Benz IC108E V8t MIS
Ret 		DET MDO CHI VAN LS HOU SRF FON
Ret
2000 Dale Coyne Racing Lola B2K/00 Ford XF V8t MIA LBH RIO MOT NZR MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS CHI MDO ROA VAN
13 		LS
21 		STL
17 		HOU
12 		SRF
Ret 		FON
Ret 		26th 6
2001 Arciero-Blair Racing Lola B2K/00 Ford XF V8t MTY LBH TXS NZR MOT MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS CHI MDO ROA VAN LAU ROC HOU LS SRF
13 		FON
9 		29th 4

IndyCar Series

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
2001 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara IR-01 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 PHX HMS ATL INDY TXS PPI RIR KAN NSH KTY STL
Ret 		CHI TX2 44th 9
2002 Blair Racing Dallara IR-02 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS
8 		PHX
Ret 		FON
12 		NZR
6 		INDY
4 		TXS
10 		PPI
10 		RIR
10 		KAN
8 		NSH
1 		MCH
12 		KTY
9 		STL
3 		CHI
12 		TX2
5 		5th 366
2003 Team Penske G-Force GF09 Toyota Indy V8 HMS PHX MOT
Ret 		17th 216
Mo Nunn Racing INDY
6 		TXS PPI RIR KAN NSH
5 		MCH
1 		STL
Ret 		KTY
Ret 		NZR
Ret
Team Cheever Dallara IR-03 Chevrolet Indy V8 CHI
7 		FON
10 		TX2
Ret
2004 Team Cheever Dallara IR-04 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS
Ret 		PHX
4 		MOT
12 		INDY
12 		TXS
3 		RIR
Ret 		KAN
10 		NSH
Ret 		MIL
7 		MCH
11 		KTY
11 		PPI
10 		NZR
12 		CHI
12 		FON
Ret 		12th 310
2005 Team Cheever Dallara IR-05 Toyota Indy V8 HMS
8 		PHX
13 		STP
10 		MOT
Ret 		INDY
13 		TXS
14 		RIR
6 		KAN
13 		NSH
Ret 		MIL
8 		MCH
11 		KTY
4 		PPI
Ret 		SNM
3 		CHI
Ret 		WGL
17 		FON
14 		11th 329
2007 CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 HMS
Ret 		STP MOT KAN
16 		INDY
15 		MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO MCH KTY SNM DET CHI 22nd 41
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win) 		Top 10s
(Non-podium) 		Indianapolis 500
Wins 		Championships
6 6 62 0 2 3 22 0 0

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2002 Dallara IR-02 Chevrolet Indy V8 26 4 Blair Racing
2003 G-Force GF09 Toyota Indy V8 25 6 Mo Nunn Racing
2004 Dallara IR-04 Chevrolet Indy V8 24 12 Team Cheever
2005 Dallara IR-05 Toyota Indy V8 22 13 Team Cheever
2007 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI7R V8 26 15 CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2014-10-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  3. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  4. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  5. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  6. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  7. ^ http://www.lynxracing.com/grad_barron.html
  8. ^ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-10-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2002_Firestone_Indy_200/O
  10. ^ http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2003_Firestone_Indy_400/O
  11. ^ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-10-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/photo/Alex-Barron-USA.html
  13. ^ http://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Alex_Barron
  14. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/atlantic/year/1997.htm
  15. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-atlantic-championship/1997/
  16. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1998.htm
  17. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/champ-car-world-series/1998/
  18. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1999.htm
  19. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/champ-car-world-series/1999/
  20. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/year/2000.htm
  21. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/champ-car-world-series/2000/
  22. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/year/2001.htm
  23. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/champ-car-world-series/2001/
  24. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2001/O
  25. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2001/
  26. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2002/O
  27. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2002/
  28. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2003/O
  29. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2003/
  30. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2004/O
  31. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2004/
  32. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2005/O
  33. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2005/
  34. ^ http://www.champcarstats.com/atlantic/year/2006.htm
  35. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-atlantic-championship/2006/
  36. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-17. Retrieved 2013-10-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-17. Retrieved 2015-12-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ http://racing-reference.info/yeardet/2007/O
  39. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/indycar-series/2007/
  40. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-17. Retrieved 2014-10-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ^ https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/grand-american-rolex-series-dp/2008/
Sporting positions
Preceded by Toyota Atlantic Champion
1997 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year
(with Tomas Scheckter)
2002 		Succeeded by
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