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Charlie Kimball

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Charlie Kimball
Kimball during Carb Day at the 2015 Indianapolis 500
NationalityUnited States American
BornCharles Newton Kimball
(1985-02-20) February 20, 1985 (age 39)
Chertsey, Surrey, England
IndyCar Series career
157 races run over 10 years
Team(s)No. 4 (A. J. Foyt Enterprises)
2019 position25th
Best finish9th (2013, 2016)
First race2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (Long Beach)
First win2013 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 6 1
Previous series
200910
2008–09
2006, 2008
2007
2005
2004
2003
2002
Indy Lights
A1 Grand Prix
Formula 3 Euro Series
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
British Formula Three
British Formula Ford
US Formula Ford
Formula Dodge
Awards
2003Team USA Scholarship
Signature

Charles Newton Kimball (born February 20, 1985) is an American former race car driver who most recently competed in the IndyCar Series with A. J. Foyt Enterprises. He has scored a win, six podiums, and 13 top 5s during his IndyCar career. His best season results were ninth in 2013 and 2016. In addition, he won the 2013 24 Hours of Daytona.

Career

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2002–2005

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Born in Chertsey, England, Kimball's single-seater career started in 2002 when he took part in the American Formula Dodge national championship, finishing the season in 10th place overall. He also won three races in the SCCA Formula Ford series. For 2003 he moved up to Formula Ford US, finishing third overall with two race wins and seven podium finishes. He also contested the UK Formula Ford winter series, taking one race win to finish third overall.

In 2004, he competed in the full UK Formula Ford championship for Team JLR, taking two race wins and eleven podiums on his way to fourth in the championship. In the end-of-season Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch he finished in eighth place. His performances earned him a drive with front runners Carlin Motorsport in the 2005 British Formula 3 Championship, where he took five race wins to finish an impressive second behind teammate Álvaro Parente. He also finished 12th in the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort, but failed to finish the season-ending Macau Grand Prix.

2006–2008

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For 2006 Kimball stayed in Formula Three, but moved up to the Formula 3 Euro Series with the French Signature-Plus team. He took one race win and three podiums to finish the season in eleventh place. Once again, he took part in the Masters Formula 3 race at Zandvoort and the Macau Grand Prix, finishing in 9th and 21st places respectively.

Kimball driving for Victory Engineering in the Donington Park round of the 2007 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season.

In 2007, he competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series for the Italian Victory Engineering team, alongside Dutchman Giedo van der Garde.[1] He competed in 12 races (leaving the series with 2 race weekends remaining) and finished 24th in points with a best finish of 8th in the Monza and Nurburgring sprint races. His departed the team due to the onset of Type 1 diabetes which required hospitalization. As part of his ongoing treatment he wears a wireless blood sugar monitor and carries sugar water on board the car while racing.[2] In 2008, he returned to F3 EuroSeries for 6 races with Prema Powerteam. Late in 2008 he competed in the first round of the A1 Grand Prix series for A1 Team USA.

Firestone Indy Lights (2009–2010)

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For 2009 Kimball signed to drive in Indy Lights for the new Team PBIR outfit. He stated that an influencing factor in his return to the U.S. is to increase Diabetes awareness in his home country.[3] Kimball finished 10th in points with a best finish of 4th at Watkins Glen International.

He returned to Indy Lights in 2010 and signed with AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport. Despite not winning a race or pole, Kimball had four second-place finishes on the season and captured 4th in points, one spot behind his teammate Martin Plowman.

IndyCar Series (2011–2021)

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Kimball driving the Novo Nordisk Ganassi car at the 2015 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

It was announced on December 16, 2010, that Kimball would move up to the IndyCar Series in 2011, in which he would drive the No. 83 entry for Chip Ganassi Racing.[4] Kimball finished 19th in points with a best finish of ninth at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Kimball returned to the team in 2012 and again finished 19th in points despite missing a race due to injury. He finished second at the Honda Indy Toronto, his first career podium finish. Kimball won his first IndyCar race on August 4, 2013, at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. He also finished second at Pocono and fourth at Barber and ranked 9th in points. In 2013, he competed in his first 24 Hours of Daytona race with Ganassi and was on the race-winning team with co-drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, and Memo Rojas.

In the 2014 IndyCar season, Kimball scored four top 5 finishes and placed 9th in points. In 2015 he finished third at the Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix of Sonoma, and finished 5th at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The driver finished fifth at both Indianapolis races and got 11 top 5s in 16 races, which earned him a 9th overall position in 2016. He scored no top 5s in 2017, and he parted with Ganassi afterward.

Carlin signed Kimball for the 2018 season. He got a fifth-place finish at Toronto and collected six top 10s. Kimball ran part-time in 2019, scoring two tenth-place finishes. He joined A. J. Foyt Enterprises in 2020, where he scored two top 10s. In 2021, Kimball failed to qualify for the Indy 500 for the first time in his career.

Personal life

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Kimball was born in England but grew up in Camarillo, California.[5] His father Gordon was a designer of Formula One and Indy cars.[6]

At 22, Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was forced to abandon his racing program midseason.[7] Undeterred, he climbed back into the cockpit the following year and claimed a podium finish in his first race after returning.[7] He is also the first licensed driver with diabetes in the history of IndyCar racing[7] (Howdy Wilcox hid the fact he was driving with diabetes in the 1932 Indy 500 but was barred from competing when officials found out before the 1933 race).[8] Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the insulin Kimball uses, became a full-time sponsor of his racing program in 2011.

Kimball married Kathleen, whom he first met in high school, in 2014, the wedding officiated by fellow driver James Hinchcliffe.[9] The couple relocated to Indianapolis, where they live with two dogs.[10] Kathleen earned her MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and works at Kimball Marketing Group.[11]

Kimball is a long-time fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.[12]

Racing record

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Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2006 Signature-Plus Dallara F306/010 Mercedes HOC
1

22
HOC
2

12
LAU
1

9
LAU
2

8
OSC
1

10
OSC
2

Ret
BRH
1

15
BRH
2

11
NOR
1

13
NOR
2

4
NÜR
1

10
NÜR
2

6
ZAN
1

11
ZAN
2

1
CAT
1

6
CAT
2

2
LMS
1

4
LMS
2

2
HOC
1

6
HOC
2

Ret
11th 31
2008 Prema Powerteam Dallara F308/047 Mercedes HOC
1

2
HOC
2

Ret
MUG
1

17
MUG
2

Ret
PAU
1

Ret
PAU
2

23
NOR
1
NOR
2
ZAN
1
ZAN
2
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
BRH
1
BRH
2
CAT
1
CAT
2
LMS
1
LMS
2
HOC
1
HOC
2
17th 8

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

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(key)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DC Points
2007 Victory Engineering MNZ
FEA

Ret
MNZ
SPR

8
NÜR
FEA

16
NÜR
SPR

8
MON
FEA

Ret
HUN
FEA

10
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

13
SPA
SPR

Ret
DON
FEA

Ret
DON
SPR

13
MAG
FEA

Ret
MAG
SPR

17
EST
FEA
EST
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
24th 7

American open–wheel results

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(key)

Indy Lights

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rank Points
2009 Team PBIR STP
10
STP
7
LBH
19
KAN
13
INDY
13
MIL
10
IOW
7
WGL
4
TOR
15
EDM
5
KTY
18
MDO
13
SNM
8
CHI
7
HMS
13
10th 310
2010 AFS Racing
Andretti Autosport
STP
4
ALA
2
LBH
2
INDY
2
IOW
13
WGL
11
TOR
4
EDM
4
MDO
3
SNM
2
CHI
14
KTY
6
HMS
13
4th 388

IndyCar Series

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(key)

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref
2011 Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara
IR-05
83 Honda STP
22
ALA
10
LBH
24
SAO
16
INDY
13
TXS
30
TXS
23
MIL
14
IOW
22
TOR
21
EDM
17
MDO
11
NHM
9
SNM
26
BAL
21
MOT
23
KTY
13
LVS1
C
19th 233 [13]
2012 Dallara DW12 STP
9
ALA
25
LBH
18
SAO
8
INDY
8
DET
8
TXS
23
MIL
17
IOW
11
TOR
2
EDM
19
MDO SNM
21
BAL
18
FON
10
19th 260 [14]
2013 STP
12
ALA
4
LBH
21
SAO
10
INDY
9
DET
14
DET
7
TXS
17
MIL
17
IOW
12
POC
2
TOR
21
TOR
6
MDO
1
SNM
20
BAL
6
HOU
11
HOU
8
FON
10
9th 427 [15]
2014 Chevrolet STP
20
LBH
23
ALA
10
IMS
5
INDY
31
DET
9
DET
3
TXS
10
HOU
18
HOU
4
POC
17
IOW
10
TOR
7
TOR
4
MDO
7
MIL
16
SNM
21
FON
12
14th 402 [16]
2015 STP
21
NLA
14
LBH
15
ALA
12
IMS
5
INDY
3
DET
22
DET
11
TXS
7
TOR
20
FON
8
MIL
12
IOW
22
MDO
23
POC
12
SNM
3
12th 372 [17]
2016 STP
10
PHX
12
LBH
11
ALA
9
IMS
5
DET
8
DET
16
RDA
6
IOW
10
TOR
11
MDO
8
POC
15
TXS
6
WGL
6
SNM
9
9th 433 [18]
42 INDY
5
2017 83 Honda STP
18
LBH
21
ALA
15
PHX
8
IMS
21
INDY
25
DET
21
DET
8
TXS
21
ROA
6
IOW
15
TOR
12
MDO
13
POC
16
GTW
7
WGL
7
SNM
11
17th 327 [19]
2018 Carlin 23 Chevrolet STP
20
PHX
17
LBH
10
ALA
23
IMS
20
INDY
18
DET
19
DET
8
TXS
10
ROA
18
IOW
14
TOR
5
MDO
16
POC
9
GTW
19
POR
7
SNM
22
17th 287 [20]
2019 STP
17
COA
ALA
LBH
IMS
INDY
25
DET
DET
TXS
21
RDA
TOR
IOW
MDO
POC
10
GTW
15
POR
10
LAG
15
25th 117 [21]
2020 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 4 TXS
11
IMS
18
ROA
11
ROA
10
IOW
17
IOW
16
INDY
18
GTW
13
GTW
18
MDO
21
MDO
19
IMS
13
IMS
23
STP
8
18th 218 [22]
2021 11 ALA
STP
TXS
TXS
IMS
22
INDY
DNQ
DET
DET
ROA
MDO
NSH
IMS
GTW
POR
LAG
LBH
18
36th 20 [23]

* Season still in progress.

Years Teams Races Poles Wins Top 5s Top 10s Indianapolis 500
wins
Championships
5 1 84 1 1 11 33 0 0

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2011 Dallara Honda 28 13 Chip Ganassi Racing
2012 Dallara Honda 14 8 Chip Ganassi Racing
2013 Dallara Honda 19 9 Chip Ganassi Racing
2014 Dallara Chevrolet 26 31 Chip Ganassi Racing
2015 Dallara Chevrolet 14 3 Chip Ganassi Racing
2016 Dallara Chevrolet 16 5 Chip Ganassi Racing
2017 Dallara Honda 16 25 Chip Ganassi Racing
2018 Dallara Chevrolet 15 18 Carlin
2019 Dallara Chevrolet 20 25 Carlin
2020 Dallara Chevrolet 29 18 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2021 Dallara Chevrolet DNQ A. J. Foyt Enterprises

References

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  1. ^ "Victory completes line-up with Kimball". crash.net. December 22, 2006. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  2. ^ Kelly, Peggy (February 20, 2008). "Charlie Kimball: Diabetes doesn't force Formula driver off the road to fame". Santa Paula Times. Debbie Johnson, Santa Paula Times. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  3. ^ "Road racer signs with Indy Lights team". USA Today. Gannett Company. Associated Press. March 24, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  4. ^ Oreovicz, John (December 17, 2010). "Rahal, Kimball join Ganassi team". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  5. ^ Felton, David (April 13, 2010). "Charlie Kimball aims to win Indy 500 despite Type 1 diabetes diagnosis". Daily Breeze. Ron Hasse, Digital First Media. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  6. ^ Miller, Robin (January 26, 2015). "IndyCar 2018 by Gordon Kimball". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "Full Speed Ahead - Charlie Kimball runs laps around diabetes". ABILITY Magazine. Chet Cooper. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  8. ^ Benbow, Dana. (May 23, 2015) IndyCar's Charlie Kimball: 'There's no gas in the gas tank' The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "At Home with Charlie and Kathleen Kimball". September 15, 2015.
  10. ^ "How They Met: Charlie and Kathleen Kimball".
  11. ^ "Kathleen Kimball". LinkedIn.
  12. ^ Fryer, Jenna (April 18, 2013). "Charlie Kimball awed by Dodgers experience". The Seattle Times. Frank A. Blethen, The Seattle Times Company. Associated Press. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  13. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  21. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  22. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2020 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Charlie Kimball – 2021 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
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