PROgression: Gabby Chaves Becomes Driver for 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series Season
Gabby Chaves
2014 Indy Lights Champion Gabby Chaves will pilot the famed #98 for Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. On the strength of four wins, including a win at the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chaves earned last year’s Indy Lights Championship. Chaves joins the team for his rookie Verizon IndyCar Series season, looking to compete for wins and the Rookie of the Year honors for both the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon IndyCar Series.
Chaves after winning the 2012 SKUSA SuperNationals in TaG Senior (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
“We’re excited to have Gabby join the team this year. In December we had the opportunity to test him at Sebring and his speed and feedback were very impressive. Gabby has the skills and mindset to make a real impact in IndyCar, I see no reason why Gabby should not be a top contender for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors,” stated Bryan Herta. “Recent experience has shown that top drivers graduating from Indy Lights have transitioned to IndyCar with great success. We have had the opportunity to work with a few rookie drivers in the last couple years and we believe we have a great environment to support their development and achieve great results.”
Gabby Chaves on joining BHA, “I’m so excited and honored to be the latest Colombian driver in IndyCar! Our country has such a great history in the sport and especially at the Indianapolis 500 with drivers like Roberto Guerrero, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Carlos Munoz ~I can’t wait to make my own history there! I’d like to thank my personal team that has been supporting me since the start of my career. It’s been an incredible journey and to finally become a Verizon IndyCar driver is an awesome feeling and the start of a great future. I’d also like to thank Bryan Herta and the entire BHA team for this opportunity. I’m really excited and prepared to get the 2015 season underway.”
Chaves is one of the latest drivers to rise from the karting ranks and reach the upper echelon of the motorsports ladder. The Columbian-American continues to drive karts, including taking part in the 2013 RoboPong 200 with iKart and American driver Sage Karam. His last major victory coming at the 2012 Superkarts! USA SuperNationals in the TaG Senior division. In 2006, Chaves was the Stars of Karting Eastern Division Cadet champion and finished second at the United States Rotax Grand Nationals in the Mini Max division to Nick Neri. For 2007, the then 13-year old moved into Skip Barber competition which catapulted his open wheel career.
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