Twenty-one-year old Chase Austin is set to climb behind the wheel today of Car 75 to qualify for Friday’s 2011 Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and he could make history on two fronts.
Austin would be the first African-American to start a Freestone Indy Lights race. Also, Austin’s run at Indy would be first race for the team assembled by Willy T. Ribbs, the first African-American to qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500.
Ribbs, in partnership with Starting Grid Inc. and principal Chris Miles, announced the relationship with Austin earlier this month.
“He had been in NASCAR, but nothing happened there to his benefit,” Ribbs told BlackAmericaweb.com of Austin. “When I learned that he was available, I thought it would be a perfect fit.”
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article courtesy of BlackAmericaWeb.com
