Jim Guthrie (racing driver)

Jim Guthrie (born September 13, 1961 in Gadsden, Alabama) is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He debuted in the Indy Racing League in 1996 with moderately successful results. When the IRL moved to purpose-built chassis in 1997, Guthrie was forced to take out a second mortgage to purchase a new chassis. With no sponsorship and the prospects of losing his house if his venture was unsuccessful, he won the second race in the new chassis at Phoenix International Raceway. He got sponsorship from Jacuzzi for the Indianapolis 500 and was able to finish the season (placing 12th in season points) winning Rookie of the Year honors and kept his house. Jim contested four races in 1998, but then during the Indianapolis 500, he was seriously injured in a multi-car crash, but he returned later in the season for two different teams. He attempted the 1999 Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify his Coulson Racing entry.

Jim Guthrie
NationalityAmerican
Born (1961-09-13) September 13, 1961
Gadsden, Alabama
Retired2001
Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
Years active1996-2001
TeamsBlueprint Racing
ISM Racing
Cobb Racing
Riley & Scott
Coulson Racing
Starts15
Wins1
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish12th in 1996-1997
Previous series
1995Toyota Atlantic
Awards
1997Indy Racing League Rookie of the Year

Jim was later an owner of Guthrie Meyer Racing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series that fielded a car for his son Sean, who raced in the Star Mazda Series in 2005. The team began with 2005 IPS driver Travis Gregg at Homestead, and 2005 Star Mazda champion Raphael Matos scoring the team's first two wins at St. Petersburg (there were two races on that weekend). For the 2008 season, the team had 3 cars with Logan Gomez filling the second seat and the third was run by Tom Wieringa and Robbie Pecorari. Franck Perera joined the team for the second half of the season and captured a win at Infineon Raceway.

Guthrie later started competing in Formula Drift with a Chevrolet powered Mazda RX7 sponsored by Car Crafters of Albuquerque.

On Sept 25th 2012, Jim under-steered, crashed and flipped his 2011 Ford Mustang into a tire wall at Formula Drift/Pro Am Round 4 (After Dark); the result of a driver error.

Today, Guthrie is actively involved in the local community in Albuquerque. His business, Car Crafters, has recently expanded to 5 locations around the Albuquerque area. One of his latest interests is triathlons, as he completed his first Half-Ironman in April 2016 in Monterrey, Mexico.[1]

Racing record

American Open Wheel Racing results

(key)

Indy Racing League

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points
1996 Blueprint Racing Lola T93/00 Menard Indy V6t WDW
PHX
15
INDY
18
20th 74
1996-97 Blueprint Racing Lola T93/00 Menard Indy V6t NHM
23
12th 186
Buick 3300 V6t LVS
13
Dallara IR7 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 WDW
6
PHX
1
INDY
26
TXS
21
PPIR
DNQ
CLT
12
NH2
24
LV2
4
1998 ISM Racing G-Force GF01B Oldsmobile Aurora V8 WDW
DNQ
PHX
DNQ
INDY
29
TXS NHM 33rd 41
CBR Cobb Racing G-Force GF01B Infiniti VRH35ADE V8 DOV
7
Oldsmobile Aurora V8 CLT
22
PPIR ATL TX2
Riley & Scott Cars Riley & Scott Mk V Oldsmobile Aurora V8 LVS
24
1999 Coulson Racing Dallara IR9 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 WDW PHX CLT INDY
DNQ
TXS
PPIR
ATL
DOV
PPI2
LVS
TX2
NC -
2001 Blueprint Racing G-Force GF05B Oldsmobile Aurora V8 PHX HMS ATL INDY
DNQ
TXS PPIR RIR KAN NSH KTY STL CHI TX2 NC -

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1996 Lola Menard-Buick 19th 18th
1997 Dallara Oldsmobile 6th 26th
1998 G-Force Oldsmobile 20th 29th
1999 Dallara Oldsmobile Failed to Qualify
2001 G-Force Oldsmobile Practice Crash

References

  1. Writer, Jessica Dyer | Journal Staff. "One-on-one with Jim Guthrie". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Gil de Ferran
(CART Rookie of the Year)
IndyCar Series
Rookie of the Year

199697
Succeeded by
Robby Unser
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