INDIANAPOLIS – Reigning Indy Pro 2000 champion Kyle Kirkwood has joined Andretti Autosport to pursue the Indy Lights championship.
Kirkwood is slated to drive the No. 28 for Andretti Autosport in Indy Lights competition.
“We are very excited about the addition of Kyle to our Indy Lights program,” said Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman of Andretti Autosport. “We’ve followed Kyle’s career from when he started in 2018 with the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and have been impressed with his success in every race that led to his Indy Pro 2000 Championship last year. As a championship-caliber team, Kyle displays the desire and talent that we look for in our drivers and are excited to see him hit the track for the 2020 Indy Lights season.”
A native of Jupiter, Fla., Kirkwood started his Road to Indy journey in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in 2018, where he claimed 12 wins in 14 races (a series record tied with J.R. Hildebrand) and stood on the podium 13 times. In dominating fashion, Kirkwood captured the championship, earning a scholarship to compete in the Indy Pro 2000, where he won nine races in 2019 in his fight for the series title.
“I am ecstatic that I can now say I am competing in Indy Lights with Andretti Autosport this season,” said Kirkwood. “They have established a winning program in Indy Lights and we plan on carrying that reputation throughout 2020. We are a fantastic match for each other and our Sebring test in December proved that.”
Without a family background in racing, Kirkwood has earned four championships in three years [F4 United States Championship in 2017, USF2000 Championship in 2018, F3 United States Championship in 2018 and Indy Pro 2000 Championship in 2019]. Since 2017, the 21-year old has racked up 47 wins and 55 podiums in 71 starts.