Veteran engineer Eddie Jones joins RLL

[Source: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing press release]

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VETERAN ENGINEER EDDIE JONES JOINS RAHAL LETTERMAN LANIGAN RACING; WILL WORK AS RACE ENGINEER FOR SECOND INDY CAR PROGRAM

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (December 3, 2012) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Eddie Jones has joined the team as race engineer for the second 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series program the team is working to finalize. Most recently Jones spent over 15 years with Team Green/Andretti Autosport as a race engineer in Indy Lights, Champ Car and the IndyCar Series and moved to KV Racing Technology in 2012 to be Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello’s race engineer.

“Our intention all along was to build our engineering department and Eddie is one of the best out there.” said team co-owner Bobby Rahal. “Given his track record, which is impressive, we are obviously very pleased that he has chosen to join our team.  He will be the race engineer for the second program we expect to have, but in the meantime before we finalize that, Eddie will contribute daily to our overall engineering effort.  I have always been impressed with the way he goes about his business, his personality and his strength as of a team player. His addition is a very important part of our future success.”

Jones began his career in racing as a driver and race mechanic in 1971 and has built an impressive career since then.  He worked on race and championship-winning programs in series such as the MARC Midget Championship and British and European F3 series, and was responsible for wind tunnel testing of Ralt F3 and F3000 cars.  His first experience in the United States was as a competitor in the Formula Super Vee series in 1983 and he moved here in late 1991 when he co-founded Shannon Car Corp. with the sole responsibility for design, production and construction of a prototype Olds Pro Series car for its US debut. He was a consultant for various Atlantic and FF2000 programs and was team manager and engineer for FRE Racing’s Indy Lights program from 1994-1996. In late 1996, he was hired as chief engineer to turn around Team Green’s Indy Lights program. He was later promoted to race engineer for the team’s Indy car program and worked with Michael Andretti (2001-2003), Dan Wheldon (2003-2005), Marco Andretti (2006-08, 2011-12) and Danica Patrick (2009-10) through the current name change to Andretti Autosport (AA). Overall, while at AA he engineered 13 Indy car wins, including Dan Wheldon’s 2005 Indy 500 win and series title, and five top-three Indy 500 finishes. His 2012 season as F1 driver Barrichello’s engineer at KV Racing Technology produced an eighth place season-ending standing in his rookie year, two top-five finishes and an 11th place in the Indy 500.

“I am very excited to have joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” said Eddie Jones. “Bobby Rahal has been a winner both as a driver and as a team owner so he fully understands what it takes to be successful at this level and has built a team that is clearly up to the task. In particular I like the emphasis he places on the importance of engineering and am impressed by the group he has assembled under Technical Director Jay O’Connell and with Race Engineer Gerry Hughes. I believe my longstanding Indy car experience and particular skill sets will serve to compliment their existing program and assist in the pursuit of greater competitiveness for 2013 and beyond.”

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing returned to full-time IZOD IndyCar Series competition in 2012 for the first time since 2008. Season highlights include a second place finish in Edmonton and third in Brazil with Takuma Sato in addition to being a contender for the team’s second victory in the Indianapolis 500 on the final lap.  In 2013 the team will begin their 22nd year of open wheel competition and attempt to add to their 20 wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice — their 29 poles and 1992 series championship.

About Eddie Jones

Jones earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London in 1990.  A successful former open-wheel driver, Jones raced from 1971-1978 in various British categories and earned British Formula Vee Rookie of the Year in 1976. He moved to FF2000 in 1979, on to Formula Super Vee in England and Europe in 1982 and ran in the Formula Super Vee series in the United States in 1983.  While racing, he worked in a variety of capacities such as mechanic, design engineer/manufacturer, and design consultant for companies such as Paul Emery Cars, Baty Racing Team and Shannon Cars. After a four year stint with March Engineering as Chief Aerodynamicist – Ralt Cars Division from 1989-1992 where he was responsible for the model shop and wind tunnel testing of Ralt F3 and F3000 cars, he moved to the United States to co-found Shannon Car Corp. with full and sole responsibility for the design, production and construction of prototype Olds Pro Series cars for its USA debut. The program went on to earn multiple wins and poles. He was a consultant engineer with Stuart Moore Racing (Formula Atlantic; 1993-1994) and Team Atlanta Motorsports (Hooters FF2000; 1995-1996) and also established FRE Racing, a new Indy Lights team on behalf of owner Peter Faucetta Sr., from 1994-1996.  Drivers included Robbie Buhl, Jackie Scheckter, Jose Cordova and team owner Peter Faucetta Jr. In late 1996, he was hired as chief engineer of Team Green’s struggling Indy Lights program and went on to produce wins, poles and podiums before he was promoted in 2001 to race engineer for the team’s Indy car program where he worked with Michael Andretti (2001-2003), Dan Wheldon (2003-2005), Marco Andretti (2006-08, 2011-12) and Danica Patrick (2009-10) through the current name change to Andretti Autosport. Overall, while at Andretti Autosport he engineered 13 Indy car wins, including Dan Wheldon’s 2005 Indy 500 win and series title, and five top-three Indy 500 finishes. His 2012 season as F1 driver Barrichello’s race engineer at KV Racing Technology produced an eighth place season-ending standing for the rookie’s year, two top-five finishes and an 11th place in the Indy 500.