Benjamin Pedersen

Last updated

Benjamin Pedersen
24BenjaminPedersen F3Americas RoadAmerica.jpg
Nationality Flag of Denmark.svg Danish
Born (1999-05-11) 11 May 1999 (age 25)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Related toChristian Pederson (CEO-Global Racing Group)
IndyCar Series career
17 races run over 1 year
Best finish27th (2023)
First race 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race 2023 Grand Prix of Monterey (Laguna Seca)
WinsPodiums Poles
000
Previous series
2021-2022
2019-2020
2018-2020
2016-2018
Indy Lights
BRDC British F3
F3 Americas Championship
F4 United States Championship

Benjamin Pedersen (born 11 May 1999) is a Danish racing driver. He last raced in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 55 Chevrolet for A. J. Foyt Racing. [1]

Contents

Personal life

Benjamin Pedersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. At the age of four, his family emigrated to the United States, settling in Sammamish, Washington. [2] [3]

After joining A. J. Foyt Racing, Pedersen relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2022. [2]

Career

Lower formulae

Pedersen began his single-seater career in 2016, driving for the Leading Edge Grand Prix in cooperation with Global Racing Group, a team set up by his father Christian Pedersen, [4] [5] [6] in the F4 United States Championship. [7] While he had strong start with a podium finish at Mid-Ohio, Pedersen ended up tenth in the drivers' standings.

For the 2017 season, Pedersen remained in the F4 US series, partnering Justin Sirgany and Jacob Loomis at Global Racing Group. [8] [9] This season yielded more success, as the Dane took podiums in the first two events, [10] before ending the campaign on a particularly impressive note, winning twice in the penultimate round and once more at the season finale, held as part of the 2017 United States Grand Prix weekend. These results led to Pedersen finishing fourth overall, beating both of his teammates.[ citation needed ]

In 2018, Pedersen returned to tackle the F4 US Championship for the final time, where he took two victories, placing fifth in the standings. [11] [12]

Formula Regional & BRDC F3

Parallel to his F4 campaign, Pedersen competed in the inaugural season of the F3 Americas Championship. [13] Despite missing two events, Pedersen finished third overall, being beaten by fellow GRG driver Baltazar Leguizamón. [14]

In 2019, Pedersen performed double-duties in the F3 Americas and BRDC F3 championships, the latter becoming his first venture into European racing. [15] [16] In the former, Pedersen won seven races, which included a triple of victories at Sebring, which put him second in the standings. [17] Over in British F3, a victory in the reverse-grid race at Silverstone, coupled with a further podium in Snetterton, left the Dane 14th overall. [18]

A full season of the BRDC British F3 Championship was on the cards for Pedersen in 2020, driving for Double R Racing. [19] He ended the season ninth in the drivers' standings, having taken three podiums including another win in Silvestone. [20]

Indy Lights

Pedersen switched to the Road to Indy ladder for 2021, driving for Global Racing Group in Indy Lights. [21] The season began with a second place at Barber, although he would fail to take any podiums throughout the following three rounds. [22] The Dane, who by this stage was racing under an American licence, bounced back with a podium appearance at Road America before going on to experience a strong second half of the campaign, with four third-placed finishes elevating him to fourth overall. [23] [24]

In 2022, Pedersen returned to Indy Lights for his sophomore season. [25] [26] Having scored five podiums, which contained his first win in the category at Portland, Pedersen took fifth in the championship. [27]

IndyCar Series

Pedersen competing in the 2023 Indianapolis 500. Benjamin pedersen (52959116295) (cropped).jpg
Pedersen competing in the 2023 Indianapolis 500.

Having tested for Juncos Hollinger Racing at the end of June, [28] it was announced that Pedersen would be entering the IndyCar Series in 2023, driving for the A. J. Foyt Racing team alongside Santino Ferrucci. [29] [30] In his first Indianapolis 500, Pedersen was named Rookie of the Year. [31]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2016 Formula 4 United States Championship Leading Edge Grand Prix & Global Racing Group1500015710th
2017 Formula 4 United States Championship Global Racing Group2032261474th
2018 Formula 4 United States Championship Global Racing Group1721241665th
F3 Americas Championship 11001101833rd
2019 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Global Racing Group21100220014th
F3 Americas Championship 1073292212nd
2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Double R Racing [32] 2410022999th
Euroformula Open Championship 300001415th
Formula Regional Americas Championship Global Racing Group500003012th
2021 Indy Lights Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports 2000163564th
2022 Indy Lights Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports 1411154445th
2023 IndyCar Series A.J. Foyt Enterprises 17000012927th

* Season still in progress.

Complete Formula 4 United States Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant1234567891011121314151617181920DCPoints
2016 Leading Edge Grand Prix MDO1
1

3
MDO1
2

9
MDO1
3

5
MDO2
1

Ret
MDO2
2

Ret
MDO2
3

Ret
NJMP
1

9
NJMP
2

4
NJMP
3

10
ATL
1

11
ATL
2

6
ATL
3

10
HMS
1

7
HMS
2

Ret
HMS
2

Ret
10th57
2017 Global Racing Group HMS
1

2
HMS
2

11
HMS
2

Ret
IMS
1

18
IMS
2

15
IMS
2

3
MSP
1

25
MSP
2

16
MSP
3

14
MDO
1

16
MDO
2

8
MDO
3

10
VIR
1

5
VIR
2

9
VIR
3

7
COTA1
1

1
COTA1
2

1
COTA1
3

3
COTA2
1

1
COTA2
2

10
4th147
2018 Global Racing Group VIR
1

1
VIR
2

4
VIR
3

5
ROA
1

1
ROA
2

4
ROA
3

3
MDO
1

5
MDO
2

5
MDO
3

4
PIT
1

3
PIT
2

21
PIT
3

7
NJMP
1

8
NJMP
2

Ret
NJMP
3

14
COTA
1

5
COTA
2

Ret
5th166

Complete BRDC British Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718192021222324PosPoints
2019 Global Racing Group OUL
1

Ret
OUL
2

105
OUL
3

10
SNE
1

10
SNE
2

25
SNE
3

8
SIL1
1

18
SIL1
2

1
SIL1
3

10
DON1
1

9
DON1
2

51
DON1
3

10
SPA
1

12
SPA
2

61
SPA
3

17
BRH
1

10
BRH
2

13
BRH
3

14
SIL2
1

Ret
SIL2
2

107
SIL2
3

16
DON2
1
DON2
2
DON2
3
14th200
2020 Double R Racing OUL
1

11
OUL
2

4
OUL
3

12
OUL
4

15
DON1
1

9
DON1
2

55
DON1
3

7
BRH
1

8
BRH
2

61
BRH
3

9
BRH
4

10
DON2
1

6
DON2
2

15
DON2
3

9
SNE
1

Ret
SNE
2

611
SNE
3

3
SNE
4

14
DON3
1

6
DON3
2

21
DON3
3

5
SIL
1

15
SIL
2

12
SIL
3

14
9th299

American open-wheel racing results

(key)

Indy Lights

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617181920RankPoints
2021 Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports ALA
2
ALA
7
STP
10
STP
6
IMS
10
IMS
9
DET
11
DET
6
RDA
2
RDA
7
MDO
7
MDO
8
GTW
3
GTW
3
POR
4
POR
4
LAG
3
LAG
5
MDO
9
MDO
3
4th356
2022 Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports STP
2
ALA
2
IMS
11
IMS
4
DET
2
DET
6
RDA
11
MDO
6
IOW
9
NSH
6
GTW
3
POR
1L*
LAG
5
LAG
6
5th444

IndyCar Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamChassisNo.Engine1234567891011121314151617RankPointsRef
2023 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara DW12 55 Chevrolet STP
27
TXS
15
LBH
24
ALA
22
IMS
24
INDY
21
DET
20
ROA
21
MDO
26
TOR
27
IOW
27
IOW
27
NSH
23
IMS
26
GTW
28
POR
22
LAG
16
27th129 [33]

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
2023 Dallara Chevrolet 1121 A. J. Foyt Racing

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Harvey (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1993)

Jack Joseph Murray Harvey is a British auto racing driver who competes part-time in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 18 Honda of Dale Coyne Racing. He is a former member of McLaren's Young Driver Programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Chadwick</span> British racing driver (born 1998)

Jamie Laura Chadwick is a British racing driver who races for Andretti Global in Indy NXT. She won the inaugural W Series season in 2019, before retaining her title in 2021 and 2022. She holds the records for the most wins, podiums, pole positions and points in the W Series. She has also competed in the Race of Champions for Great Britain alongside David Coulthard, as well as racing in Extreme E. She is a development driver for the Williams Formula One team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enaam Ahmed</span> British Pakistani racing driver (born 2000)

Enaam Ahmed is a British-Pakistani racing driver. He currently competes in the 2023 Indy NXT driving for Cape Motorsports. Ahmed previously competed in the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 Championship driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing and previously drove for RP Motorsport in the 2021 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matheus Leist</span> Brazilian racing driver (born 1998)

Matheus Tobias Leist is a Brazilian racing driver who last raced for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Peroni</span> Australian racing driver

Alexander Peroni is an Australian racing driver, currently competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. He has previously competed in the 2022 European Le Mans Series for Algarve Pro Racing, the 2021 Indy Lights Series for Carlin Motorsport, and in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship for Campos Racing team. Peroni is the 2016 Challenge Monoplace champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raoul Hyman</span> South African racing driver

Raoul Joshua Hyman is a South African racing driver currently competing in the Super Formula Championship for B-Max Racing. He is the 2022 Formula Regional Americas and 2018 F3 Asian Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Kirkwood</span> American racing driver (born 1998)

Kyle MacLean Kirkwood is an American auto racing driver. He currently drives the No. 27 for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linus Lundqvist</span> Swedish racing driver (born 1999)

Linus Hans Fredrik Lundqvist is a Swedish racing driver who currently competes for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. He previously competed in Indy Lights driving for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing, having won the 2022 championship. He is also the 2020 Formula Regional Americas Champion. He made his IndyCar debut in 2023 driving the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Foster</span> British racing driver

Louis Foster is a British racing driver. He currently competes in Indy NXT driving for Andretti Autosport. He is the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 champion. Foster previously competed in the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship with CryptoTower Racing and the 2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Double R Racing where he finished third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnathan Hoggard</span> British racing driver

Johnathan Hoggard is a British racing driver who most recently competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship for Jenzer Motorsport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Yeany</span> American racing driver (born 2005)

Hunter Yeany is an American racing driver who is competing in the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship with TJ Speed Motorsports. Previously, he raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship and Formula Regional Americas. He was the 2020 Formula 4 United States champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaylen Frederick</span> American racing driver

Kaylen Frederick is a German-American race car driver who is set to compete in Super Formula Lights with B-Max Racing Team. He was the last champion of the British Formula 3 Championship in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zak O'Sullivan</span> British racing driver (born 2005)

Zak O'Sullivan is a British racing driver who is currently racing in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix. He previously raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2022 and 2023 for Carlin and Prema Racing respectively. He is the champion of the 2021 GB3 Championship and the 2023 Formula 3 runner-up. He is a member of the Williams Driver Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayrton Simmons</span> British-Spanish racing driver (born 2001)

Ayrton Miguel Simmons Fernández is a British-Spanish racing driver, who last competed in the 2024 Ultimate Cup Series with TS Corse. He last competed in the 2022 Euroformula Open Championship for Drivex School and the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship for Charouz Racing System. He is the vice-champion of the 2018 F4 British and the 2021 GB3 Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter Patterson</span> British racing driver (born 2003)

Dexter Macham Patterson is a British racing driver from Scotland currently competing in the GT4 European Series driving for Mahiki Racing. He previously competed in the British Touring Car Championship in 2022 and 2023, driving for Laser Tools Racing and Team HARD respectively. He was a member of the Sauber Junior Team from 2019 until early 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Browning</span> British racing driver (born 2002)

Luke Browning is a British racing driver who is currently racing in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship, driving for Hitech Pulse-Eight. He previously won the 2022 GB3 Championship and the 2020 F4 British Championship with Hitech and Fortec Motorsports respectively. He is a member of the Williams Driver Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Abel (racing driver)</span> American racing driver (born 2001)

Jacob Abel is an American racing driver who currently competes in Indy NXT for Abel Motorsports. He previously competed in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship for Abel Motorsports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazim Azman</span> Malaysian racing driver

Nazim Azman is a Malaysian racing driver who competes in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Sime Darby Racing Team. He previously competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Hitech Grand Prix. He is a race winner in BRDC Formula 3 and the Euroformula Open Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kush Maini</span> Indian racing driver (born 2000)

Kush Maini is an Indian racing driver who is currently competing in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Invicta Racing, having previously drove for Campos Racing in the 2023. He has previously competed in Formula 4, the Formula Renault Eurocup, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, and FIA Formula 3. He is a member of the Alpine Academy and the reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Formula E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Aron</span> American motorsports racing driver

Bryce Aron is an American racing driver with Andretti Global competing in the 2024 Indy NXT Championship. Aron raced in the 2023 Euroformula Open Championship with Motopark Academy where he achieved three wins and five podiums, finishing fourth largely as a result of forgoing the final three races. Aron is a 2024 Formula Regional Oceania race winner with M2 Competition and a race winner in the 2022 GB3 Championship with Hitech GP. Bryce is the winner of the 2020 Team USA Scholarship and made history as the first American to finish top 5 in both events receiving a Podium in the Walter Hayes Trophy Grand Final.

References

  1. "Pedersen Keeping It Simple as Strong 2022 Title Hopeful". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Barnes, Joey (27 April 2022). "Road to Indy, Indy NXT: Q&A with Indy Lights Driver Benjamin Pedersen" . Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. "Benjamin Pedersen". ProFormance Racing School. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. "Advisory and Management Board: Christian Pederson". Global Racing Group. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. Pruett, Marshall (28 September 2022). "Foyt signs Pedersen to multi-year IndyCar deal". Racer. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. Noakes, Karl (3 May 2022). "The Rise of Benjamin Pedersen". Avant. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. "Danish Driver announced for FIA US F4 Championship". 26 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. "Last Minute Entries Increase F4 U.S. Grid to More Than 30 Cars". 4 April 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. "Formula 4 US grid swells to more than 30 cars". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. "Reger and Forcier win at F4 US season-opener". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. "Benjamin Pedersen Set to Compete in Both F3 Americas and F4 U.S. at Pittsburgh". 30 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  12. "Global Racing Group Expands 2018 Campaigns". F4 U.S. Championships. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. "Benjamin Pedersen Set to Compete in Both F3 Americas and F4 U.S. at Pittsburgh". FR Americas Championship. 30 July 2018.
  14. "Kirkwood wraps F3 Americas season with COTA sweep". RACER. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  15. "Full Inaugural Roster Returns to Robust F3 Americas Field for Season Opener". 3 April 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  16. "Benjamin Pedersen joins Douglas Motorsport for 2019 BRDC British F3 assault". 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  17. "Benjamin Pedersen: Sebring Sweep". FR Americas Championship. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  18. Wert, Trevor (21 June 2019). "Benjamin Pedersen wins at Silverstone!". DirtFish. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  19. "Teams & Drivers". BRDC British F3 Championship. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  20. Magazine, Speedsport. "Race result: BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, Race 38 of season 2020 in Silverstone". www.speedsport-magazine.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  21. "Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports Inks Pedersen for 2021". www.indylights.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  22. Media, R. T. D. (26 April 2022). "BENJAMIN PEDERSEN AND GLOBAL RACING GROUP LOOK TO ATTACK BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK THIS WEEKEND". RTD Media. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  23. "Benjamin Pedersen Puts Global Racing Group on the Podium at Road America – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  24. "Ten Wins, Nine Pole Positions and Thirty-Three Podium Results for HMD and GRG – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  25. "Pedersen Keeping It Simple as Strong 2022 Title Hopeful". www.indylights.com. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  26. "Benjamin Pedersen Set for Sophomore Year of Indy Lights with Global Racing Group and HMD Motorsports – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  27. Lambeth, Kobe (4 September 2022). "Benjamin Pedersen Picks Up First Indy Lights Win At Portland". GRID. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  28. "Pedersen To Drive in First NTT INDYCAR SERIES Test with JHR". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  29. "Foyt signs Indy Lights race winner Pedersen for 2023". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  30. Demmendaal, Jeroen (29 September 2022). "Pedersen and Global Racing Group strike deals for a move to IndyCar". Feeder Series. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  31. "Indianapolis 500 Purse Reaches New Peak for Second Year in a Row". IndyCar.com. Brickyard Trademarks, LLC. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  32. "Benjamin Pedersen joins Euroformula grid at Spa with Double R". 10 October 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  33. "Benjamin Pedersen – 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year

2023
Succeeded by