Brian Bonner
Encyclopedia
Brian Bonner is a former driver in the CART
Championship Car series.
Bonner began his racing career on two wheels, racing motorcycles from 1975 to 1985. He attended a racing school at Lime Rock Park
in 1986 and quickly saw success in Formula Ford
competition. He then drove in the Firestone Firehawk Series and Barber Saab Pro Series. In 1990 and 1991 Bonner drove full-time in the IMSA GT Championship
for Essex Racing in 1990 and Tom Milner Racing in 1991. He also made 3 starts in 1989 and 1990 in the American Racing Series.
In 1992 he moved to CART Champ Car and completed his rookie test at Sebring Raceway
. He qualified for his first CART race, the 1992
Indianapolis 500
driving for Dale Coyne Racing
in the 26th position but was knocked out by a crash after 97 laps. His best CART finish came two weeks later and was 10th position at the 1992 Detroit Grand Prix
driving for Foyt Enterprises. He made one other start in 1992 with Dale Coyne Racing
(Mid-Ohio
). he made his final start in 1993 with Hemelgarn Racing
at the Cleveland Grand Prix after failing to qualify for the 1993 Indianapolis 500
.
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
Championship Car series.
Bonner began his racing career on two wheels, racing motorcycles from 1975 to 1985. He attended a racing school at Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park is a natural-terrain motorsport road racing venue located in Lime Rock, Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the village of Lakeville, Connecticut, in the state’s northwest corner...
in 1986 and quickly saw success in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
competition. He then drove in the Firestone Firehawk Series and Barber Saab Pro Series. In 1990 and 1991 Bonner drove full-time in the IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
for Essex Racing in 1990 and Tom Milner Racing in 1991. He also made 3 starts in 1989 and 1990 in the American Racing Series.
In 1992 he moved to CART Champ Car and completed his rookie test at Sebring Raceway
Sebring Raceway
Sebring International Raceway is a road course auto racing facility located near Sebring, Florida.Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States, its first race being run in 1950...
. He qualified for his first CART race, the 1992
1992 Indianapolis 500
The 76th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 1992. The race is famous for the fierce battle in the closing laps, as race winner Al Unser, Jr...
Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
driving for Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No...
in the 26th position but was knocked out by a crash after 97 laps. His best CART finish came two weeks later and was 10th position at the 1992 Detroit Grand Prix
Detroit Indy Grand Prix
The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by shopautoweek.com is a weekend of professional auto racing held at the Renaissance Center and later the Belle Isle in Detroit, United States. It has been held from 1989-01, 2007–08, and is scheduled for 2012 and beyond...
driving for Foyt Enterprises. He made one other start in 1992 with Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No...
(Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
). he made his final start in 1993 with Hemelgarn Racing
Hemelgarn Racing
Hemelgarn Racing was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier. Along with A.J...
at the Cleveland Grand Prix after failing to qualify for the 1993 Indianapolis 500
1993 Indianapolis 500
The 77th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 30, 1993. Emerson Fittipaldi took the lead with 16 laps to go, and won his second career Indy 500 victory...
.