Sean Guthrie Explained

Sean Guthrie
Nationality: American
Birth Date:18 April 1988
Birth Place:Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Related To:Jim Guthrie (father)
Current Series:NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
First Year:2012
Starts:1
Wins:0
Poles:0
Prev Series:Firestone Indy Lights
Star Mazda Championship
SCCA Formula Ford
Prev Series Years:2006-2010
2005
2004

Sean Guthrie (born April 18, 1988) is an American racing driver from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The son of former IndyCar Series driver Jim Guthrie, he is a former Firestone Indy Lights driver and currently competes part-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

Career

Guthrie began his karting career at the age of eight. He won an IKF championship in 2002 and the SKUSA Long Track Nationals in 2003 and moved up to cars in SCCA Formula Ford in 2004. In 2005 he moved up to the Star Mazda Series and finished 14th in points in a season beset by mechanical problems.[1] The team, owned by his father, decided to move up to the Indy Pro Series in 2006, but Sean was forced to miss the first three races of the season as he was not yet the league-mandated 18 years old. He competed in 5 races with a best finish of 5th at Kentucky Speedway.[2] The team returned for 2007 for a full season. After crashing out of the first three races of the season, the team regrouped and finished the Freedom 100 and Sean registered a career-best 4th-place finish at the Milwaukee Mile a week later. In the Iowa Speedway race Sean suffered a heavy crash and the team's car had to be sent back to the manufacturer Dallara in Italy for repairs. Sean injured both his foot and knee in the accident. Sean made three starts at the end of the season for Playa Del Racing as the team ran in cooperation with Guthrie. Until his suspension in April 2009, he drove for his father's team Guthrie Racing along with teammates Alistair Jackson and Jesse Mason. Sean finished 14th in the 2007 championship and returned to the series, now called the Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2008, finishing 10th in points. In April 2009 he was suspended from the Indy Racing League after the race at Kansas Speedway in which he was penalized for driving through an accident zone too quickly and passing a car under the yellow flag and then refused to respond to the black flag.[3] He made his return to the Firestone Indy Lights Series on October 9, 2009, at Homestead with Andersen Racing.[4] After participating in dirt track racing throughout 2010, Guthrie again returned to Indy Lights for the season finale at Homestead with Andersen, finishing 10th.

After driving in drifting for the 2011 season, Guthrie returned to professional motorsports in 2012, driving in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Sandia Motor Speedway in late September,[5] finishing 22nd and last in his debut in the series.[6]

Indy Lights

YearTeam12345678910111213141516RankPoints
2006Guthrie RacingHMSSTP1STP2INDY
11
WGL
16
IMSNSH
8
MILKTY
5
SNM1SNM2CHI
18
18th99
2007Guthrie Racing
Playa Del Racing
HMS
19
STP1
16
STP2
23
INDY
19
MIL
4
IMS1
13
IMS2
12
IOW
20
WGL1
15
WGL2
16
NSH
14
MDO
12
KTY
6
SNM1
12
SNM2
13
CHI
6
14th274
2008Guthrie RacingHMS
11
STP1
15
STP2
5
KAN
6
INDY
12
MIL
10
IOW
20
WGL1
13
WGL2
10
NSH
8
MDO1
13
MDO2
7
KTY
7
SNM1
13
SNM2
9
CHI
17
10th322
2009Guthrie Meyer RacingSTP1
22
STP2
12
LBH
22
KAN
18
INDYMILIOWWGLTOREDMKTYMDOSNMCHI27th65
RLR Andersen RacingHMS
11
2010Andersen RacingSTPALALBHINDYIOWWGLTOREDMMDOSNMCHIKTYHMS
30th20

Notes and References

  1. http://seanguthrie.com/sean/index.cfm?cid=2224 Meet Sean
  2. http://www.champcarstats.com/ips/drivers/GuthrieSean.htm Sean Guthrie
  3. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/racing/04/30/Guthrie.ap/index.html Sean, Jim Guthrie suspended indefinitely by IRL
  4. http://www.indycar.com/indylights/news/?story_id=15239# Clear to return
  5. Web site: K&N Pro Series Adds Two Locals to Tonight's Race. Christ. Bob. September 29, 2012. Albuquerque Journal. 2012-10-01. Albuquerque, NM.
  6. Web site: 2012 NAPA Auto Parts 150. Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. 2012-10-01.