Charlie Kimball
Charlie Kimball | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationality | American | ||||||
Born | Charles Newton Kimball February 20, 1985 Chertsey, Surrey, United Kingdom | ||||||
IndyCar Series career | |||||||
104 races run over 7 years | |||||||
Team(s) | No. 83 (Chip Ganassi Racing) | ||||||
2016 position | 9th | ||||||
Best finish | 9th (2013, 2016) | ||||||
First race | 2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg) | ||||||
Last race | 2024 Music City Grand Prix (Nashville Superspeedway) | ||||||
First win | 2013 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio) | ||||||
Last win | 2013 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio) | ||||||
| |||||||
Previous series | |||||||
2009–10 2008–09 2006, 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2002 | Indy Lights A1 Grand Prix Formula 3 Euro Series Formula Renault 3.5 Series British Formula Three British Formula Ford US Formula Ford Formula Dodge |
Charles Newton "Charlie" Kimball (born February 20, 1985) is an American racecar driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing. He has scored a win, six podiums and 13 top 5s. His best season result was ninth in 2013 and 2016. In addition, he won the 2013 24 Hours of Daytona.
Career
2002–2005
Born in Chertsey, England, Kimball's single-seater career started in 2002 when he took part in the American Formula Dodge national championship, finishing the season in 10th place overall. He also won three races in the SCCA Formula Ford series. For 2003 he moved up to Formula Ford US, finishing third overall with two race wins and seven podium finishes. He also contested the UK Formula Ford winter series, taking one race win to finish third overall.
In 2004, he competed in the full UK Formula Ford championship for Team JLR, taking two race wins and eleven podiums on his way to fourth in the championship. In the end-of-season Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch he finished in eighth place. His performances earned him a drive with front runners Carlin Motorsport in the 2005 British Formula 3 Championship, where he took five race wins to finish an impressive second behind teammate Álvaro Parente. He also finished 12th in the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort, but failed to finish the season-ending Macau Grand Prix.
2006–2008
For 2006 Kimball stayed in Formula Three, but moved up to the Formula 3 Euro Series with the French Signature-Plus team. He took one race win and three podiums to finish the season in eleventh place. Once again, he took part in the Masters Formula 3 race at Zandvoort and the Macau Grand Prix, finishing in 9th and 21st places respectively.
In 2007, he competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series for the Italian Victory Engineering team, alongside Dutchman Giedo van der Garde.[1] He competed in 12 races (leaving the series with 2 race weekends remaining) and finished 24th in points with a best finish of 8th in the Monza and Nurburgring sprint races. His departed the team due to the onset of Type 1 diabetes which required hospitalization. As part of his ongoing treatment he wears a wireless blood sugar monitor and carries sugar water on board the car while racing.[2] In 2008, he returned to F3 EuroSeries for 6 races with Prema Powerteam. Late in 2008 he competed in the first round of the A1 Grand Prix series for A1 Team USA.
Firestone Indy Lights (2009–2010)
For 2009 Kimball signed to drive in Indy Lights for the new Team PBIR outfit. He stated that an influencing factor in his return to the U.S. is to increase Diabetes awareness in his home country.[3] Kimball finished 10th in points with a best finish of 4th at Watkins Glen International.
He returned to in Indy Lights in 2010 and signed with AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport. Despite not winning a race or pole, Kimball had four second-place finishes on the season and captured 4th in points, one spot behind his teammate Martin Plowman.
IndyCar Series (2011–present)
It was announced on December 16, 2010 that Kimball would move up to the IndyCar Series in 2011, in which he would drive the No. 83 entry for Chip Ganassi Racing.[4] Kimball finished 19th in points with a best finish of ninth at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Kimball returned to the team in 2012 and again finished 19th in points despite missing a race due to injury. He finished second at the Honda Indy Toronto, his first career podium finish. In 2013, he competed in his first 24 Hours of Daytona race with Ganassi and was on the race winning team with co-drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, and Memo Rojas. Kimball also won his first IndyCar race on August 4, 2013 at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
Personal
Kimball was born in England but grew up in Camarillo, California.[5] His father Gordon was a designer of Formula One and Indy cars.[6] At 22, Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was forced to abandon his racing program midseason.[7] Undeterred, he climbed back into the cockpit the following year and claimed a podium finish in his first race after returning.[7] He is also the first licensed driver with diabetes in the history of IndyCar racing[7] (Howdy Wilcox hid the fact he was driving with diabetes in the 1932 Indy 500, but was barred from competing when officials found out before the 1933 race).[8] Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the insulin Kimball uses, became a full-time sponsor of his racing program in 2011.
Kimball is a long-time fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.[9]
Racing record
Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results
(key)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Signature-Plus | Dallara F306/010 | Mercedes | HOC 1 22 |
HOC 2 12 |
LAU 1 9 |
LAU 2 8 |
OSC 1 10 |
OSC 2 Ret |
BRH 1 15 |
BRH 2 11 |
NOR 1 13 |
NOR 2 4 |
NÜR 1 10 |
NÜR 2 6 |
ZAN 1 11 |
ZAN 2 1 |
CAT 1 6 |
CAT 2 2 |
LMS 1 4 |
LMS 2 2 |
HOC 1 6 |
HOC 2 Ret |
11th | 31 |
2008 | Prema Powerteam | Dallara F308/047 | Mercedes | HOC 1 2 |
HOC 2 Ret |
MUG 1 17 |
MUG 2 Ret |
PAU 1 Ret |
PAU 2 23 |
NOR 1 |
NOR 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
BRH 1 |
BRH 2 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
LMS 1 |
LMS 2 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
17th | 8 |
Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results
(key)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Victory Engineering | MNZ FEA Ret |
MNZ SPR 8 |
NÜR FEA 16 |
NÜR SPR 8 |
MON FEA Ret |
HUN FEA 10 |
HUN SPR Ret |
SPA FEA 13 |
SPA SPR Ret |
DON FEA Ret |
DON SPR 13 |
MAG FEA Ret |
MAG SPR 17 |
EST FEA |
EST SPR |
CAT FEA |
CAT SPR |
24th | 7 |
American open–wheel results
(key)
Indy Lights
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Team PBIR | STP 10 |
STP 7 |
LBH 19 |
KAN 13 |
INDY 13 |
MIL 10 |
IOW 7 |
WGL 4 |
TOR 15 |
EDM 5 |
KTY 18 |
MDO 13 |
SNM 8 |
CHI 7 |
HMS 13 |
10th | 310 |
2010 | AFS Racing Andretti Autosport |
STP 4 |
ALA 2 |
LBH 2 |
INDY 2 |
IOW 13 |
WGL 11 |
TOR 4 |
EDM 4 |
MDO 3 |
SNM 2 |
CHI 14 |
KTY 6 |
HMS 13 |
4th | 388 |
IndyCar Series
(key)
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara IR-05 |
Honda | STP 22 |
ALA 10 |
LBH 24 |
SAO 16 |
INDY 13 |
TXS 30 |
TXS 23 |
MIL 14 |
IOW 22 |
TOR 21 |
EDM 17 |
MDO 11 |
NHM 9 |
SNM 26 |
BAL 21 |
MOT 23 |
KTY 13 |
LVS1 C |
19th | 233 | |
2012 | Dallara DW12 | STP 9 |
ALA 25 |
LBH 18 |
SAO 8 |
INDY 8 |
DET 8 |
TXS 23 |
MIL 17 |
IOW 11 |
TOR 2 |
EDM 19 |
MDO | SNM 21 |
BAL 18 |
FON 10 |
19th | 260 | ||||||
2013 | STP 12 |
ALA 4 |
LBH 21 |
SAO 10 |
INDY 9 |
DET 14 |
DET 7 |
TXS 17 |
MIL 17 |
IOW 12 |
POC 2 |
TOR 21 |
TOR 6 |
MDO 1 |
SNM 20 |
BAL 6 |
HOU 11 |
HOU 8 |
FON 10 |
9th | 427 | |||
2014 | Chevrolet | STP 20 |
LBH 23 |
ALA 10 |
IMS 5 |
INDY 31 |
DET 9 |
DET 3 |
TXS 10 |
HOU 18 |
HOU 4 |
POC 17 |
IOW 10 |
TOR 7 |
TOR 4 |
MDO 7 |
MIL 16 |
SNM 21 |
FON 12 |
14th | 402 | |||
2015 | STP 21 |
NLA 14 |
LBH 15 |
ALA 12 |
IMS 5 |
INDY 3 |
DET 22 |
DET 11 |
TXS 7 |
TOR 20 |
FON 8 |
MIL 12 |
IOW 22 |
MDO 23 |
POC 12 |
SNM 3 |
12th | 372 | ||||||
2016 | STP 10 |
PHX 12 |
LBH 11 |
ALA 9 |
IMS 5 |
INDY 5 |
DET 8 |
DET 16 |
RDA 6 |
IOW 10 |
TOR 11 |
MDO 8 |
POC 15 |
TXS 6 |
WGL 6 |
SNM 9 |
9th | 433 | ||||||
2017 | Honda | STP 18 |
LBH 21 |
ALA 15 |
PHX 8 |
IMS 21 |
INDY 25 |
DET 21 |
DET 8 |
TEX 21 |
ROA 6 |
IOW 15 |
TOR 12 |
MDO 13 |
POC |
GMP |
WGL |
SNM |
18th* | 223* |
* Season still in progress.
- 1 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 1 | 84 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
Indianapolis 500
Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Dallara | Honda | 28 | 13 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2012 | Dallara | Honda | 14 | 8 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2013 | Dallara | Honda | 19 | 9 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2014 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 26 | 31 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2015 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 14 | 3 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2016 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 16 | 5 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
2017 | Dallara | Honda | 16 | 25 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
References
- ^ "Victory completes line-up with Kimball". crash.net. December 22, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
- ^ Kelly, Peggy (February 20, 2008). "Charlie Kimball: Diabetes doesn't force Formula driver off the road to fame". Santa Paula Times. Debbie Johnson, Santa Paula Times. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ "Road racer signs with Indy Lights team". USA Today. Gannett Company. Associated Press. March 24, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Oreovicz, John (December 17, 2010). "Rahal, Kimball join Ganassi team". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Felton, David (April 13, 2010). "Charlie Kimball aims to win Indy 500 despite Type 1 diabetes diagnosis". Daily Breeze. Ron Hasse, Digital First Media. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Miller, Robin (January 26, 2015). "IndyCar 2018 by Gordon Kimball". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Full Speed Ahead - Charlie Kimball runs laps around diabetes". ABILITY Magazine. Chet Cooper. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ^ Benbow, Dana. (May 23, 2015) IndyCar's Charlie Kimball: 'There's no gas in the gas tank' The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- ^ Fryer, Jenna (April 18, 2013). "Charlie Kimball awed by Dodgers experience". The Seattle Times. Frank A. Blethen, The Seattle Times Company. Associated Press. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
External links
- 1985 births
- A1 Team USA drivers
- 21st-century American racing drivers
- British Formula Three Championship drivers
- Formula 3.5 V8 drivers
- Formula 3 Euro Series drivers
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- Indy Lights drivers
- IndyCar Series drivers
- Living people
- People from Chertsey
- People with diabetes mellitus type 1
- 24 Hours of Daytona drivers
- Rolex Sports Car Series drivers
- United SportsCar Championship drivers
- International Kart Federation drivers
- USF2000 drivers
- Sportspeople from Ventura County, California