Monday, February 20, 2006 LAKEVILLE, Conn. - The dramatic revitalization of the Atlantic series – now the Yokohama Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda, formerly the Toyota Atlantic series – has resulted in a big increase in the number of available race seats. It’s not much of a shock for us to learn that many of those drives are being taken by Skip Barber graduates. All in a matter of days, it was announced that Jonathan Bomarito, Joey D’Agostino and Alan Sciuto all got hooked up with top Mazda Atlantic teams. Just prior to those announcements, the Atlantic seats for Raphael Matos, Leo Maia and Robbie Pecorari were confirmed…
Jonathan Bomarito: 2006, Champ Car Atlantic, PR1 Racing 2004: Toyota Atlantic,Transnet Racing, ninth overall 2003: U.S. Formula Ford Zetec champion 2002: Began instructing for Skip Barber 2001: Entered four Skip Barber National races; had two top-10 finishes 2000: Skip Barber Three Day Racing School graduate
Jonathan Bomarito (doing his best Tom Hanks impression) has a chance to shine even brighter in Champ Car Atlantic, racing in 2006 with the PR1 team.
Joe D’Agostino: 2006 Champ Car Atlantic, Newman/Wachs Racing 2005: U.K. Formula Renault (four races) and U.K. Formula Ford Championship (six wins/eight poles) 2004: U.K. Formula Ford Championship, Scholarship Class champion 2003: Prize winner Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-out; ninth in Skip Barber National, 5 top-5s; won $100,000 Skip Barber ‘’Big Scholarship’’ 2002: Four Skip Barber Southern Series races 2001: Skip Barber Three Day Racing School graduate
Joey D'Agostino even impressed the un-impressable British racing journalists (generally convinced Americans don't have what it takes) with his stellar Formula Ford efforts over the past two years.
Leo Maia: 2006 Champ Car Atlantic, Forsythe Championship Racing 2005: Two races, Toyota Atlantic 2004: IPS, Brian Stewart Racing, 11 starts (3 top-5s, 10 top-10s) 2003: Barber Dodge Pro Series, champion, six wins 2002: Barber Dodge Pro Series, sixth overall, 3 podiums 2001: Skip Barber National, sixth overall, 4 top-5s, 1 podium 2000: Skip Barber National, 12th overall, 3 top-5s 1998: Skip Barber Three Racing School graduate
Leo Maia's 2003 Barber Dodge exploits are serving him well.
Raphael Matos: 2006 Champ Car Atlantic, Sierra Sierra Enterprises 2005: Pro Star Mazda, champion, 4 wins, 3 poles 2004: Seventh overall, Pro Star Mazda 2003: Skip Barber National, champion, 3 wins, 5 other podiums 2002: Two Skip Barber National races; Skip Barber Midwest Series championship runner-up 2001: Brazilian Formula Chevy champion
Raphael Matos is likely to be no stranger to Champ Car Atlantic podiums this year.
Robbie Pecorari: 2006 Champ Car Atlantic, Gelles Racing 2005: Pro Star Mazda, second overall, Rookie of the Year, 2 wins, 7 podiums 2004: Skip Barber National, 5th overall, 1 win, 3 seconds, nine total top-5s 2003: IRL Snap-on Stars of Karting star; winner, Skip Barber/Stars of Karting Scholarship
In 2004, Robbie Pecorari and eventual champion Marco Andretti (r.) helped each other out.
Alan Sciuto: 2006 Champ Car Atlantic, Polestar Racing Group 2005: Eight Skip Barber National races, 1 pole, 3 top-5s; three Toyota Atlantic races, 1 pole, 1 podium; two FF2000 races, 1 win, 1 second 2004: Winner, Skip Barber/Stars of Karting Scholarship; IRL Snap-on Stars of Karting star 2003: IRL Snap-on Stars of Karting star; Skip Barber Three Day Racing School graduate 2002: Shifterkart Magazine Young Driver of the Year 2001: SKUSA star
Alan Sciuto used Skip Barber to transition quickly and successfully from karts to race cars.
Rick Roso
