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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Dyson Interested In Open-Wheel Return
Former Atlantic driver Chris Dyson is better known for his sports car exploits, but he'd like to try his hand--even briefly--in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Dyson Racing contested three rounds of the 1989 CART Indy car championship, and either as a driver or an entrant, Chris Dyson would like to experience the IZOD IndyCar Series. (Dyson Racing)
Chris Dyson is best known for his sports car exploits, but the former open-wheel racer says he's intrigued by where the IZOD IndyCar Series is headed in 2012.
As Dyson Racing's Sporting Director and co-driver of the No. 16 Lola-Mazda entry, Dyson keeps himself plenty busy with his Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based American Le Mans Series team. But with Dyson's experience in the Toyota Atlantic series and Dyson Racing's brief spell as a CART entrant in 1989, he told SPEED.com a possible return to Indy car racing, even on a limited basis, is a growing interest.
“From my standpoint, I’ve always loved Indy cars,” he said. “When I look at what they do in IndyCar with the 17-race schedule and intense competition, I’d love to be involved on a personal level as a driver. They have a ways to go, but they are making some interesting decisions on what the fans want to see. For me, I’m excited to see the horsepower is coming back for 2012!"
Dyson also made it clear that his IndyCar aspirations are separate from his team's thriving ALMS program.
"The ALMS is where our heart and soul is and where our focus will remain, but I’m excited to see Indy car racing going back towards embracing diversity, multiple engine manufacturers and trying to bring the excitement back to what it was when I was growing up," he said.
At 33 years old, Dyson, who is close to adding the 2011 ALMS LMP1 crown to his 2003 LMP 675 title, is confident he could adapt to the demands of IndyCar racing.
"You don’t have to be 15 years old to go Indy car racing," he explained. "There was a time when all of the best guys on the grid were in their mid-30s, and those were the veterans. I say that because for me, it means there’s no ceiling for driving an Indy car. I think the more experience you can bring into the series as a driver, the better you’ll do. Certainly on road courses, there’s a lot of comparables between a modern prototype and an Indy car.
"And I think the [IndyCar] paddock needs more Americans. I’d like to think I can bring a little spice and charisma to the table from a personal standpoint, but I think it’s imprudent for anyone to think they could come in and take on all comers right away.”
If the Dyson name is seen in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and despite his reticence, it would likely happen at the Indianapolis 500.
"I have mixed feelings about ovals. On one hand, I grew up racing karts on ovals and I’ve always had an abiding love for the Indy 500. I’ve always been drawn to racing at Indy, and [Dyson Racing] has been looking at it for some time. I think you’d want to hook up with a proven organization who knows the equipment. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Our focus in sports cars, but we have our eye on the IndyCar Series."
With the IndyCar Series currently receiving a steady stream of interest from sports car teams, Dyson believes it can be attributed to a change in a number of factors that once kept teams away.
"I think you’re seeing an uptick in interest now because the playing field is being leveled," he explained. "And I think people are intrigued going in that the engines are cost capped, and the prize money and the exposure the Indy 500 brings. I think that’s why you’re seeing the interest. And it’s unified; it’s one series now. There’s making it attractive for new teams to come in."
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
As Dyson Racing's Sporting Director and co-driver of the No. 16 Lola-Mazda entry, Dyson keeps himself plenty busy with his Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based American Le Mans Series team. But with Dyson's experience in the Toyota Atlantic series and Dyson Racing's brief spell as a CART entrant in 1989, he told SPEED.com a possible return to Indy car racing, even on a limited basis, is a growing interest.
“From my standpoint, I’ve always loved Indy cars,” he said. “When I look at what they do in IndyCar with the 17-race schedule and intense competition, I’d love to be involved on a personal level as a driver. They have a ways to go, but they are making some interesting decisions on what the fans want to see. For me, I’m excited to see the horsepower is coming back for 2012!"
Dyson also made it clear that his IndyCar aspirations are separate from his team's thriving ALMS program.
"The ALMS is where our heart and soul is and where our focus will remain, but I’m excited to see Indy car racing going back towards embracing diversity, multiple engine manufacturers and trying to bring the excitement back to what it was when I was growing up," he said.
At 33 years old, Dyson, who is close to adding the 2011 ALMS LMP1 crown to his 2003 LMP 675 title, is confident he could adapt to the demands of IndyCar racing.
"You don’t have to be 15 years old to go Indy car racing," he explained. "There was a time when all of the best guys on the grid were in their mid-30s, and those were the veterans. I say that because for me, it means there’s no ceiling for driving an Indy car. I think the more experience you can bring into the series as a driver, the better you’ll do. Certainly on road courses, there’s a lot of comparables between a modern prototype and an Indy car.
"And I think the [IndyCar] paddock needs more Americans. I’d like to think I can bring a little spice and charisma to the table from a personal standpoint, but I think it’s imprudent for anyone to think they could come in and take on all comers right away.”
If the Dyson name is seen in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and despite his reticence, it would likely happen at the Indianapolis 500.
"I have mixed feelings about ovals. On one hand, I grew up racing karts on ovals and I’ve always had an abiding love for the Indy 500. I’ve always been drawn to racing at Indy, and [Dyson Racing] has been looking at it for some time. I think you’d want to hook up with a proven organization who knows the equipment. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Our focus in sports cars, but we have our eye on the IndyCar Series."
With the IndyCar Series currently receiving a steady stream of interest from sports car teams, Dyson believes it can be attributed to a change in a number of factors that once kept teams away.
"I think you’re seeing an uptick in interest now because the playing field is being leveled," he explained. "And I think people are intrigued going in that the engines are cost capped, and the prize money and the exposure the Indy 500 brings. I think that’s why you’re seeing the interest. And it’s unified; it’s one series now. There’s making it attractive for new teams to come in."
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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