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| Features |
| EKN 2010 Series Champion Interview: Phil Giebler - Superkarts! USA Pro Tour |
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 | Phil Giebler
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
Ranked among the top karters of past 20 years on many lists, Oxnard, California native Phil Giebler has become an ambassador to the sport. Coming through the ranks in Southern California, Giebler hit the national scene and eventually climbed to the top level. In the late 1990s, Giebler was part of the prestigious Tony Kart Racing Team in Europe, competing in the Formula C and Formula A categories.
From there, Giebler ran the European open wheel ranks, and at one point was one of the top American prospects to race in Formula One. Giebler transitioned back to the states, scoring a win in the Infiniti Pro Series (Indy Lights).
When there was no open wheel ride available, Giebler returned to his karting roots. Teamed up with Champion Racing and Intrepid, Giebler became the Stars of Karting ICA national champion in 2005. That winter, Giebler was invited to be part of the A1Grand Prix USA team, driving for the squad in four events. Back to karting for ’06, Phil moved to the ICC category and was in contention for the national title after earning the Eastern division title. A second straight championship would be put to the side as Giebler was asked to join Team USA once again, and the testing schedule conflicted with the Stars of Karting finale.
His second year as part of the A1GP Team USA squad would help lead him to a ride for the Indianapolis 500 in May 2007. Despite qualifying 33rd and finishing 29th following a crash, Giebler was named the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. While a full-time ride was not open, Giebler continued with karting and helped formed the foundation of the G-Phactory outfit in Southern California. Since then, Giebler and his father (Everett) parted ways with the company and have gone on to form Phil Giebler Racing, utilizing the FA Kart to bring him full-swing back to the OTK brand.
In 2010, with a double-win weekend at the SKUSA SpringNationals and a victory at the SKUSA SummerNationals, Giebler clinched the SKUSA Pro Tour title with a 10th place finish (highest among championship contenders) at the SKUSA SuperNationals to earn a nice $5,000 pay check and part of the Circle of Champions prize for the 2011 Superkarts! USA season.
 | Giebler was a champion in 2005 in the ICA category...
(Photo: EKN) |
eKartingNews.com: First off, congrats on the 2010 season and the SKUSA Pro Tour TaG Senior championship. We know this was not your first championship, but what were the key factors to this one?
Phil Giebler: Thanks. It was not easy, that's for sure. This was an important year for me. We had a lot going on - starting a new shop and race program with new product partners. Having top notch equipment this year was a big key to our success. I never worried about the chassis and I was able to work with other PGR drivers, manage the team and still jump in my kart knowing that it was good enough to win every time. We have a great group of people under our tent and my father is a big key to the harmony of it all. He is also a great tuner, so we are always there when it counts. The other underlying trait for our program is that we never give up. At the first event at SpringNationals, I had to start dead last in the final race because my engine failed to fire at the start of the Prefinal. I came back to win the race. Same in the SummerNationals where I still got on the podium. You can't let those things get you down. You need to use it to fuel your desire to win.
EKN: As you stated, the SpringNationals event set the tone for your season and you were successful once again at the SummerNationals. You battled your way forward once again at the SuperNationals, following a DNF in the heat races and started 17th in the main event. What were your thoughts as you woke up for SuperSunday with the title on the line?
PG: I wasn't thinking too much about the championship I was more focused on that event. I really wanted a victory at the SuperNationals. To be honest, I wasn't too thrilled to start from that position in the year's biggest race. I had a sizable lead in the championship, but at a race like that anything can happen, especially starting in the middle of the field.
EKN: Your dad has been by your side for your entire career. I was able to witness that first-hand when I was a guest of Champion Racing and Intrepid at the 2006 Winter Cup event in South Garda. You two worked well together and showed the Intrepid drivers and mechanics a thing or two. What does that relationship do for your racing and what does it mean to achieve what you have thus far with him right there?
 | ...and added a SKUSA Pro Tour title in 2010
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
PG: That race was a lot of fun. I think I'm still numb from that race. I have never been so cold while racing.
My Dad and I have always worked well together. We both love racing and while I was growing as a driver, he was as a tuner. It's great to have that kind of relationship, both as a father/son and driver/tuner. We communicate very well without having to say much so there's no BS. Just get on with the job. It’s pretty special to have him there to share the many victories and to work through the difficult days. Karting is a great family sport and I hope we set a good example.
EKN: Having bounced back and forth from karting to open-wheel cars a number of times, what is the toughest transition coming from running cars and jumping back into the seat of a kart?
PG: They are really two different worlds. In the race car, things happen at slower rate - it’s much more mental and analytical. Even though you're going 200 mph, the braking, turning and accelerating all take longer - you really have to pay attention about how you balance the car. In the karts, everything is instant and based on feeling and more on rhythm. The first session back in a kart, I typically drive too smooth and not aggressive enough. When getting into the cars from karts, I might overdrive a little and try to hustle the car too much. I think it has helped to go both back and forth. I am always learning and pulling something from the cars and applying it to karts and vice-versa. You just have to check yourself sometimes.
EKN: Qualifying for the Indy 500 and being named the Rookie of the Year is an achievement I’m sure many young drivers look to accomplish one day. If a young driver came to you for advice, what is the one thing you would stress to him/her in order to reach similar accomplishments?
 | Phil has found success in the open wheel ranks as a former Indy Lights winner
(Photo: IMS Photo - Ron McQueeney) |
PG: One thing...never stop learning, analyzing, and pushing yourself. Most of all enjoy the racing, whatever level it is. That's more than one, huh?
EKN: Never stop would be one thing I guess. That ties into my next question. After working with a number of kart shops and teams over the course of your career, you now are operating your own program - Phil Giebler Racing. What now is your outlook at your own racing career over the course of the next five years? Do you see making one more attempt at the IndyCar Series?
PG: I am still very motivated to get into a major professional racing series, I have a lot of unfinished business in the racing world. My main goal is to get a full championship under my belt in something with four wheels. I deserve to give myself a proper shot at it. Doing one-offs like I have been doing for most of my career has been difficult to show what I am capable over the course of an entire season. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have been given and in many ways it has made me a better driver. Not having any testing, jumping into cars, teams, tracks that you have no experience with and still outshining many drivers that have it all. It’s a major pressure situation but it's what I built my career on.
I would love the chance to get back into a full-time IndyCar ride. It's been tough because all the racing series are on shaky ground. The IndyCar series looks like its gaining some stability and the future is looking better. Now I just have to find a team or sponsor that is smart enough to put me in their racecar. The timing is perfect with the new IndyCar coming out and that will level the playing field a bit.
I would really love the chance to race prototypes or sports cars, and NASCAR is definitely the biggest show. I'm very good at adapting to new situations, I love the challenge. If it was easy, I probably wouldn't be that interested in it.
 | In 2010, Phil Giebler Racing was formed and now carries the FA Kart brand
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
EKN: In regards to karting, what are your plans for 2011? With SKUSA’s Circle of Champions program, you were awarded complimentary entries to the Pro Tour events for the season. Will you be back to defend your TaG Senior crown?
PG: I will be competing in the S1 category in all the SKUSA events, gearing up for Pro Tour and SuperNationals. It was great to win the Pro Tour Championship and the ProKart South Championship in the first year of opening our own shop and being on the FA Kart. The awards were a very nice bonus. I’m not sure if I will comeback to defend my title in TaG, not much more to prove there as now it’s on to the next challenge. I would love to back up last year's title by having a driver under our tent win the championship in TaG. I think we have a great shot for the TaG Cadet championship and if I can bring home the S1 championship, it would be one heck of a good year! I have a lot of satisfaction watching my drivers grow and win races, almost as much as when I win myself.
EKN: Thanks Phil for your time and best of luck in 2011 and beyond.
PG: Thank you |
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