For immediate release;
January 7, 2010
Philip Major to Firestone Indy Lights in 2010
Canadian driver joins Sam Schmidt Motorsports
“Sam Schmidt Motorsports offered me a program for 2010 that I just couldn't pass up,” Major said. “The experience of living and racing in Europe was fantastic, but I feel that the opportunity to join the Firestone Indy Lights Championship and race here, back at home, is the right step in my career.”
After completing his second year of racing in Europe, Major carefully weighed his options for 2010. Ultimately it was a test with Sam Schmidt Motorsports that sealed the deal for Major.
“The team is fantastic, and their record speaks for itself,” Major said. “The test went really well, and I was impressed with the car.”
“Our team had the opportunity to test Philip,” Team owner Sam Schmidt said. “Clearly, his experience in the UK has given him technical ability and discipline beyond his years. He progressed quickly through our program, and I am confident he will adapt to the car and circuits successfully this season.”
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For immediate release;
May 28, 2010
Rookie Philip Major finishes 6th
in Firestone Freedom 100
Major started seventh, finished every lap of the race, and brought the car home in sixth. He battled throughout the middle of the top-10 in the entire event.
"I'm very pleased. For my first time running here in Indy, it was a fairly good result. I'm happy with it, but I want to do much better on my next try. I'm almost out of words because it's such a special place to race at.
I felt fairly confident in the beginning of the race on new tires, but towards the end, I just needed a little bit more adjustment in my car to keep up with the car's changing conditions. For my first oval race, it was a solid effort and something to build on heading to Iowa. I'm really looking forward to getting onto the next oval."
Team Owner, Sam Schmidt: "Philip Major drove an extremely smart race. He got a ton of experience."
Summary:
Started Friday's race from seventh; finished sixth. Top rookie race finish.
Fastest rookie in open test at Indianapolis earlier in May.
Fourth Firestone Indy Lights start.
For immediate release;
June 20, 2010
Saturday Night - Iowa Speedway
After 115 laps around the Iowa Speedway, #49 Firestone Indy Lights rookie Philip Major finishes in 6th place. Philip drove the fastest lap of the entire race field - 160.218 mph (20.076 sec) on lap 104!
Friday’s night practice session was cancelled due to thunderstorms. Philip’s first time ever on the Iowa Speedway was the Saturday morning 45 minute practice. Next was the 2 lap qualifying session after lunch and then onto the race at 8:45PM. It was a full day!
Below is a short video clip on youtube of Philip’s Saturday (June 19th ) morning practice session a the Iowa Speedway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avdkoYBs4EQ
Sam Schmidt Motorsports Press Release:
“Philip Major showed once again his quick progress in adapting to the Firestone Indy Lights cars on ovals. He drove a smart and steady race, and towards the end, turned the fastest lap of anyone the entire evening. His sixth-place result ties his best for the series rookie, and he looks forward to getting another opportunity to crack the top-five in the series upcoming events. “
The next race for Philip Major is a road course on Sunday, July 4th at Watkins Glen, NY
(http://www.theglen.com/ ).
Follow Philip on www.twitter.com/majorspeed
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Corning 100 at Watkins Glen, NY
Watkins Glen third-straight sixth!
#49 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Driver Philip Major (rookie)
Started seventh; finished sixth.
Fifth consecutive top-10 finish; third-straight sixth.
Philip Major tied his career-best finish, again, with another sixth-place result. Starting from
seventh, he fell back a spot on the first lap before the full-course yellow. On the lap five restart,
he'd lose another position. However, he hung in there, and on the lap 17 restart, his car came to
life. He was 10th at the time, but one-by-one, moved his way back into the sixth-spot by lap 23.
Sam Schmidt Motorsports Press Release:
“Philip had another solid day today. Since the second race on this year, he's done a great job of
getting laps and learning. A podium finish is awaiting for him in the not too distant future.”
Philip Major:
"We started seventh, and I guess six is the magic number. That makes it three win a row. In
Toronto, we'll definitely be looking to improve on that spot. Conditions were difficult. It was hot,
and we decided to go with a lower grip setup to be quicker on the straights which paid off. I was
able to make a few good passes. I just struggled a bit with restarts. If we can just gain a bit of
time on the restarts, we'll be able to finish higher in the next race - maybe even on the podium.
We just have to keep working on it. Our race pace isn't bad, it's just those restarts. Other than
that, everything was good. Thanks to my team for a great effort.
A Memorable Day
Posted on: July 23, 2010 By: Cassie
Thursday in Edmonton consisted of crew and driver preparations, Setup Day in other words. As crews worked to set up shop, drivers took part in other activities. Will Power took part in a different event along with Firestone Indy Lights driver Philip Major. A Racing For Kids event landed Power and Major at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital, where they spent memorable time with the patients.
Eighty children were excitedly waiting to meet the drivers and for the chance to sit in a real IndyCar. Hats with the Racing For Kids logo were passed out to the patients. Autographs, photos and laughs were exchanged between the drivers and children. Power and Major helped children in and out of the car.
Philip Major with a Stollery Patient
Power and Major made sure to visit as many patients as possible, traveling from room to room. The event provided memories and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the children. It was a touching day for all involved.
August 28, 2010
Chicagoland 100
Philip Major on Podium
Started fourth; finished third - career-best finish.
Previous career best of sixth was accomplished at three consecutive races (Indy, Iowa, and Watkins Glen).
Philip Major finished in 3rd place on Saturday at the Chicagoland Speedway, besting his sixth-place trio of Indianapolis, Iowa, and Watkins Glen. Starting from fourth, he never ran lower than fifth the entire race. He stayed up in touch with the leaders throughout the event making laps and learning on the fly. On the same late race restart, he managed to get around his teammate J.K. Vernay, the series points leader, and steal the final spot on the podium. For only his third oval start, Major was thrilled after the race with the excitement of racing wheel-to-wheel and walking away with his first podium finish of his Firestone Indy Lights career. The margin of victory of today's race was .0159 of a second. It's the third-closest finish in Firestone Indy Light history.
Philip Major:
"Oh man, this is probably one of the craziest tracks I have ever raced at.
It's my first time here. I don't remember a lap where we weren't side-by-side and almost banging wheels. It was crazy. In the end, you just have to feel out your car and make adjustments, put yourself in the right place and try to finish at the podium. I have to thank the team for giving me a great car. It's fun having a car like that and running up front, and I can't wait to do it again in Kentucky."
Sam Schmidt:
“A great day for Philip getting his first podium of his Firestone Indy Lights career. He looked like he had a lot of fun.”
Watch the 2010 Chicagoland 100 on YouTube:
Follow Philip on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/majorspeed
Philip Major with Movember CSF delegate Adman Garone
FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS DRIVER PHILIP MAJOR FEATURE GUEST AT CANADIAN SPONSORSHIP FORUM
Talented young Canadian race car driver Philip Major was a feature guest at the Canadian Sponsorship Forum staged during the Montreal Grand Prix Formula One event this past weekend.
Major, a 22 year old race car driver from Ottawa Canada, was invited by the organizers of the Canadian Sponsorship Forum to be a feature guest in order to provide expert insight about the world of professional car racing for the more than 250 delegates attending the conference. In its 8th year, the 2011 Canadian Sponsorship Forum was staged in Montreal during the hugely successful Canadian Grand Prix Formula One event weekend.
More than 250 delegates involved in the sponsorship and marketing industry attended the 2011 Canadian Sponsorship Forum, which featured case studies and strategy workshops from top Canadian marketers. The forum also provided the delegates with an opportunity to tour the Grand Prix site to watch the racing action and also investigate the promotional activities and activation from current year sponsoring brands.
Philip Major participated in the forum events throughout the event, providing delegates with insight gained from his 6 seasons as a professional race car driver and in particular his three race starts at the Montreal Grand Prix event in the Formula BMW USA and Honda Michelin championships.
Major states, What a fantastic experience to be an active participant in the Canadian Sponsorship Forum. Many of the delegates are the top marketers in Canada, and hopefully they enjoyed the excitement that only open-wheel car racing can provide and will join my program at one of the upcoming races on the Firestone Indy Lights schedule.
Firestone Indy Lights has three Canadian racers on the 2011 schedule including the Honda Indy Toronto the weekend of July 10th. The series then makes the long trek to Edmonton for a double-header race weekend on July 24th, followed by the popular Trois-Rivieres Grand Prix in Quebec the weekend of August 7th.
For immediate release: June 28, 2011
WEBISODE SERIES “I CAN DRIVE @ 165” FEATURING CANADIAN RACER PHILIP MAJOR TO BE FILMED AT HONDA INDY TORONTO
Catch a glimpse into the life of a professional race car driver in a series of webisodes featuring talented Canadian Philip Major at the 25th edition of the popular Honda Indy Toronto during the weekend July 8th-10th, 2011.
In a first of its kind project, the webisode series entitled “I CAN DRIVE @ 165” will capture the unique perspective of a professional race car driver including both the high-speed racing action together with the lifestyle perspective of travelling the world to compete at the races.
A play on words, “I CAN DRIVE @ 165” stems from the David Lee Roth song I can’t drive 65. With no speed limits, the stars and cars of the IZOD INDYCAR SERIES will race at downtown Toronto’s Exhibition Park at speeds closer to 200 miles per hour. The 25th edition of the Honda Indy Toronto features three full days of racing action; for more details visit www.hondaindytoronto.com
“Webisodes are a terrific way to engage existing and new fans of car racing”, says driver Philip Major. “Travelling across North America and internationally to race at more than 20 destinations each year creates so many interesting experiences both on and off the track. From in-car filming of the racing action to the glamorous driver parties, “I CAN DRIVE @ 165” should make for some entertaining viewing of what it’s really like to be a professional race car driver.”
“I CAN DRIVE @ 165” series will live on YouTube with integration on racing and lifestyle sites throughout Canada and the United States. Companies interested to organically integrate their brand and marketing message in the webisode series are encouraged to contact team@majorspeed.com for available opportunities.
For information about Philip Major, visit www.majorspeed.com, www.facebook.com/majorspeed , www.twitter.com/majorspeed, email: team@majorspeed.com
For more details about the IZOD IndyCar Series, visit www.indycar.com