"It is an honor to have Richard driving for our two-car team," stated Kane William, PBIR Vice President of Motorsports. "He is an extremely talented driver and has a wealth of experience to pass along to the team." Philippe joins driver Charlie Kimball who races the No. 35 Team PBIR Firestone Indy Lights car. 

At just 19 years old, Philippe accumulated multiple titles including: Formula BMW Series Champion (2005), Florida Winter Tour Champion (2003), Florida Champion racing Formula Yahama Jr. (2003), Florida Champion and Opa-Locka Champion (2001).

Philippe has forged high-profile racing honors comprising: youngest driver to ever win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (the Formula BMW USA race during the Formula 1 Indianapolis Grand Prix on June 19, 2005 ), to win a Formula BMW USA Championship Race (2005) and to win a Super Pro 125cc Shifter race (2004).

"I am really excited about this opportunity," stated Philippe. "The team's crew is experienced and I think that will build my confidence, get the car setup right and we will be competitive with the rest of the field right away."

After the Corning 100 at Watkins Glen (NY) International, Philippe will pilot the No. 37 car at the Rexall Edmonton Indy, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Infineon Raceway and at his home racetrack - - Homestead-Miami Speedway.

ABOUT RICHARD PHILIPPE
Valence, France native Richard Philippe began racing go-karts in Argentina at age 8 and by 2001 was racing in the HPV Junior Sportsman category becoming the Florida Champion and Opa-Locka (Fla.) Champion with over 20 race wins and finished fourth in the USA Championship. In 2002, Philippe won the Florida Championship racing Formula Yamaha Jr with three pole positions, three wins and five podiums and in 2003 was the Florida Winter Tour Champion with three wins and eight podiums as an official factory driver for Fittipaldi Karts in an 80cc Jr. Shifter and he finished fourth at Super-Nationals in Las Vegas, Rio. At 14-years-old, Philippe was the youngest driver ever
to win a Super Pro 125 cc Shifter race as the official factory driver for Tony Kart and began testing in the Formula BMW program. Having transitioned from karts to open-wheel cars, Philippe was named the Formula BMW USA Rookie and Formula BMW Series Champion in 2005. In the same year, he was the youngest driver in history to win a race at the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway and to win a Formula BMW USA Championship. Moving to ChampCar Atlantic in 2006, Philippe's best finish was second and in 2007, moved to Renault World Series and injury cut his season short. In 2008, Philippe competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series and tested Firestone Indy Lights race cars.

ABOUT PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
PBIR is a newly re-branded and re-designed state-of-the-art motorsports park that sits on 200-plus acres in Jupiter, Fla., and capable of hosting 1,000-plus events from high-level national events to local amateur series. PBIR boasts three tracks: a drag strip, road course and kart track, along with a kart center. NHRA sanctioned, ¼-mile PBIR Drag Strip is one of four tracks in the country made of all concrete. The PBIR Road Course is FIA Grade II certified, 2-mile, 11-turn circuit with a half-mile straightaway. The Kart Track is a WKA Master Track sanctioned, the 7/10-mile and has 11-turns. The PBIR Kart Center is the most recent addition to the facility and provides Sodi rental karts for Arrive & Drive Sessions, H Power Racing Engines Sales, Service and Rental Center, along with a Rotax Service Center and a video game arcade. Professional driving instruction is available on all three tracks.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Howard Wishner, Chief Marketing Officer
Palm Beach International Raceway
(561) 622-1400
e-mail

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Emily Brown, Vice President of Marketing
Palm Beach International Raceway
(561) 622-1400
e-mail