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Steinbrenner Racing

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Steinbrenner Racing
Owner(s)George Michael Steinbrenner IV, Julia Steinbrenner
Principal(s)George Michael Steinbrenner IV, Julia Steinbrenner
Base1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, FL 33614
SeriesIndyCar Series
Race driversDevlin DeFrancesco
SponsorsSapphire Gas Solutions, EVTEC Automotive, Jones Soda Co., Bitbuy, Sodexo, TRUBAR, BRM Chronographs, WOOOO Energy, Kimoa, Damon Motors
ManufacturerHonda
Opened2016
Career
Indy 500 victories0
Race victoriesIndycar: 3 Indy NXT: 6 USF Pro 2000: 2
Pole positionsIndycar: 4 Indy NXT: 9 USF Pro 2000: 3

Steinbrenner Racing is an American automotive racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series. The team is owned by George Michael Steinbrenner IV and Julia Steinbrenner.[1] George and Julia are the children of the late co-owner and co-chairman of the New York Yankees, Hank Steinbrenner and grandchildren of George Steinbrenner III.[2] The team currently fields the No. 29 Dallara Honda for Devlin DeFrancesco in conjunction with Andretti Autosport. George Steinbrenner is the youngest winning owner in INDYCAR history, which he achieved in 2019 when Colton Herta won the team's second race in the series at the Circuit of the Americas.[3]

History

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Indy Lights and the road to Indy

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Steinbrenner Racing was formed by George Steinbrenner in December 2016 in partnership with Andretti Autosport to run his long time friend Colton Herta in the 2017 Indy Lights season.[4] In 2017 the team ran the No. 98 sponsored by Deltro Energy. The team got off to a winning start capturing the pole position in the first race of the season at St. Petersburg and the win in race two of their debut weekend.[5] This win also made Herta the youngest winner in Indy Lights history.[6] Herta followed up his opening weekend success with another win during the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama.[7] The team would end the year third in the standings with two wins and 7 podiums while leading the series with 6 poles and Herta winning Rookie of the Year honors.

The No. 98 team returned to Indy Lights with Herta and their partnership with Andretti Autosport as well as their sponsorship from Deltro Energy in 2018. The team built on their 2017 success with Herta becoming the first driver to sweep the Month of May in Indy Lights by winning both races on the road course and capping the month by winning the Freedom 100.[8] The team scored podiums in all but 4 races on their way to a second place finish in the standings.

Steinbrenner Racing returned to the Road to Indy in 2020 when they co-entered Devlin DeFrancesco in the IndyPro 2000 series with Andretti Autosport. The team enjoyed a successful season during which DeFrancesco won 2 races[9] and finished with 3 poles and 6 podiums on the way to a second place finish in the standings. In 2021 Steinbrenner Racing returned to Indy Lights competition with Devlin DeFranceso piloting the No. 17 car.[10] DeFrancesco scored two podiums at Barber Motorsports Park to open the season and finished sixth in the points standings in his rookie season.

INDYCAR

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On September 17, 2018 prior to the Yankees – Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium, Steinbrenner announced he would be bringing Herta and the technical partnership with Andretti to a new partnership with Harding Racing to run the No. 88 Dallara Honda in the 2019 Indycar season.[11] Steinbrenner became the youngest team owner in Indycar history at 22 years old.[12] On March 24, 2019 Herta became the youngest winning driver in Indycar history with a win at the Circuit of the Americas at 18 years old and Steinbrenner became the youngest winning owner at 22 years old.[13] The team would experience success throughout the year finishing the season with 3 poles and 2 wins including a win from pole at the season ending Grand Prix of Monterey.[14]

Following an incredibly successful inaugural Indycar season Steinbrenner Racing once again partnered with Andretti Autosport in 2020 to field Herta in the No. 88 with support from Capstone Green Energy.[15] On April 14, 2020, prior to the start of the Indycar season, team co-founder Hank Steinbrenner died.[16] The family and team partner Capstone Green Energy would run a special Yankees pinstripes paint scheme honoring Hank in both that week's iRacing event as well as the season opener at Texas Motor Speedway that June.[17] In 2020 Colton Herta achieved his highest points finish to date finishing 3rd in the series standings while winning race two of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio.

In 2021 Steinbrenner Racing shifted from the No. 88 to the No. 29 to run James Hinchcliffe who finished on the podium at the inaugural Music City Grand Prix held on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee.[18][19]

Team owner George Steinbrenner IV is Indycar's youngest winning owner.
Colton Herta takes Steinbrenner Racing's first Indycar victory at COTA

On November 4th, 2021 Steinbrenner Racing announced that in 2022 Devlin DeFrancesco would drive the No. 29 Honda entered with Andretti Autosport primarily supported by Capstone Green Energy, Powertap Hydrogen, and Atmofizer.[20] Additionally, the team announced on February 23, 2022 that George's sister Julia would be taking an active co-ownership role with the team effective immediately.[21] DeFrancesco finished 23rd in his rookie Indycar season. He returned to the No. 29 Honda for the 2023 season[22] primarily supported by Capstone, EVTEC Automotive, Sodexo, and Sapphire Gas Solutions.[23]

Drivers

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George 4 Foundation

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In January 2020 George and Julia Steinbrenner founded the George4 Foundation to support the education and welfare of children and families in Indianapolis as well as the communities visited by Indycar.[24] Partners of the race team support numerous charitable causes with the foundation and will hold events on race weekends during the season.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Julia Steinbrenner takes co-ownership position at Steinbrenner Racing". RACER. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  2. ^ Brief, Sam. "George Steinbrenner IV is a 22-year-old IndyCar owner". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  3. ^ Ayello, Jim. "Colton Herta wins at COTA to become youngest IndyCar winner ever". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  4. ^ Witz, Billy (2016-12-15). "Steinbrenners and Andrettis Team Up in Auto Racing Venture". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  5. ^ "Herta enjoys proud papa moment when son Colton wins Indy Lights race". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  6. ^ Autoweek (2017-03-12). "16-year-old Colton Herta makes history with Indy Lights win in St. Petersburg". Autoweek. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  7. ^ Martin, Bruce (2017-04-23). "Colton Herta scores milestone Indy Lights win at Barber". Autoweek. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  8. ^ Martin, Bruce (2018-05-25). "18-year-old Colton Herta continues Indy Lights domination with Freedom 100 win". Autoweek. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  9. ^ "DeFrancesco Romps to Indy Pro 2000 Glory". SpeedSport. October 10, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  10. ^ Wood, Ida (2020-12-01). "Steinbrenner confirms Indy Lights return with Devlin DeFrancesco". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  11. ^ "New Harding Steinbrenner Racing team signs O'Ward, Herta for 2019". RACER. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  12. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (2018-10-04). "Meet the youngest IndyCar team owner ever, 22-year-old George Steinbrenner IV". MotorSportsTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  13. ^ "George Steinbrenner IV Backs IndyCar's Youngest Winner". Cheddar. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  14. ^ "Laguna Seca IndyCar: Herta wins, Newgarden takes second title". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  15. ^ "Andretti Autosport confirms Herta/HSR deal". RACER. 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  16. ^ independent, Associated Press The Associated Press is an; City, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York (2020-04-14). "Hank Steinbrenner, Yankees co-owner and eldest son of George Steinbrenner, dies at 63". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  17. ^ "IndyCar's Colton Herta will run special 'Yankee Pinstripes' paint scheme to honor Hank Steinbrenner". MotorSportsTalk | NBC Sports. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  18. ^ "Hinchcliffe scores season-best podium finish in Nashville". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  19. ^ "Driver Season Stats". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  20. ^ "DeFrancesco completes Andretti IndyCar line-up for 2022". RACER. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  21. ^ "Julia Steinbrenner takes co-ownership position at Steinbrenner Racing". RACER. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  22. ^ "DeFrancesco set to return with Andretti Autosport in 2023". RACER. 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  23. ^ Abate, A. J. (2024-02-28). "2023 Partner Spotlight: Sapphire Gas Solutions is Racing Towards a Greener Future". Steinbrenner Racing. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  24. ^ "George Michael Steinbrenner shifting to Yankees role". RACER. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  25. ^ "George4 Foundation to host charity fundraiser at Long Beach". RACER. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
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