Mark Taylor (driver)
Encyclopedia
Mark Taylor is a racing driver who drove in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
. He drove the entire 2004 season
for two different teams, but could not find a seat for the 2005 season
.
Taylor began racing in Formula Ford
in his native Britain, winning the Winter Championship in 1997 and finishing 8th in the main championship in 1999 while also finishing 4th in European Formula Ford that year. He won the European championship and was runner-up in the British championship the following year. He moved to the British Formula Three Championship
in 2001 and finished 9th. The following year he captured his first win and finished 7th in points.
In 2003
Taylor moved to the American Infiniti Pro Series and dominated what was perceived as a relatively weak field by winning 7 of the 12 races in the season driving the #4 car for the Fulmar Panther team
. He graduated to the IndyCar Series driving the #2 for Team Menard
but while showing good speed, particularly in qualifying, he struggled to adapt to the top series becoming involved in accidents in 5 of his 6 starts with the team before he was dropped in favor of Townsend Bell
.
However, he only missed one race before being drafted in by Greg Ray
's Access Motorsports to drive the #13 car after racing the first half of the season, including the Indianapolis 500
, for Menard. He was unable to repeat his qualifying performances from earlier in the season but showed maturity in the car to finish 7 of his 9 races for Access with a best finish of 7th place.
Having failed to secure a drive for 2005, Taylor has left motor racing and is now living back home in England with his wife Vanessa and daughter Savannah.
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
. He drove the entire 2004 season
2004 in IRL
The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season was dominated by two teams, Andretti Green Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing. While there was great parity in 2003 between Honda and Toyota powered teams, in 2004 Honda began to outshine Toyota bringing their teams Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing down with...
for two different teams, but could not find a seat for the 2005 season
2005 in IRL
The 2005 IRL IndyCar Series season began on Sunday, March 6 and ended on Sunday, October 16. The season, which consisted of 17 races, was the 10th season of the IRL since it split from CART in 1995....
.
Taylor began racing 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....
in his native Britain, winning the Winter Championship in 1997 and finishing 8th in the main championship in 1999 while also finishing 4th in European Formula Ford that year. He won the European championship and was runner-up in the British championship the following year. He moved to the British Formula Three Championship
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
in 2001 and finished 9th. The following year he captured his first win and finished 7th in points.
In 2003
2003 in IPS
The 2003 IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series Season was the series' second. It consisted of 12 races and the champion was Mark Taylor who won 7 of 12 races and only suffered 2 DNF's and 1 DNS. All teams used Dallara chassis and Infiniti engines...
Taylor moved to the American Infiniti Pro Series and dominated what was perceived as a relatively weak field by winning 7 of the 12 races in the season driving the #4 car for the Fulmar Panther team
Panther Racing
Panther Racing is an American open wheel auto racing team. It is one of the oldest continually operating teams in Indy Racing League LLC's IZOD IndyCar Series....
. He graduated to the IndyCar Series driving the #2 for Team Menard
Team Menard
Team Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
but while showing good speed, particularly in qualifying, he struggled to adapt to the top series becoming involved in accidents in 5 of his 6 starts with the team before he was dropped in favor of Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell
Townsend Bell is a motor racing driver. He is married to actress Heather Campbell.He won the last Indy Lights championship in 2001 and was given two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. He earned Roberto...
.
However, he only missed one race before being drafted in by Greg Ray
Greg Ray
Greg Ray is a former IRL IndyCar Series driver.After winning the SCCA national Formula Atlantic championship in 1993, he moved up to the CART-sanctioned Toyota Atlantic series in 1994....
's Access Motorsports to drive the #13 car after racing the first half of the season, including the 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...
, for Menard. He was unable to repeat his qualifying performances from earlier in the season but showed maturity in the car to finish 7 of his 9 races for Access with a best finish of 7th place.
Having failed to secure a drive for 2005, Taylor has left motor racing and is now living back home in England with his wife Vanessa and daughter Savannah.
IndyCar results
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Panther Racing Panther Racing Panther Racing is an American open wheel auto racing team. It is one of the oldest continually operating teams in Indy Racing League LLC's IZOD IndyCar Series.... |
 HMS 19 |
PHX 12 |
 MOT 16 |
INDY 2004 Indianapolis 500 The 2004 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis on Sunday, May 30, 2004. It was part of the 2004 IndyCar Series season and the ninth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Pole winner Buddy Rice led the most laps and won the race for team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman.After... 30 |
TXS 17 |
RIR 18 |
KAN |
17th | 232 | |||||||||
| Access Motorsports Greg Ray Greg Ray is a former IRL IndyCar Series driver.After winning the SCCA national Formula Atlantic championship in 1993, he moved up to the CART-sanctioned Toyota Atlantic series in 1994.... |
NSH 7 |
MIL 14 |
MIS 21 |
KTY 19 |
PPIR 14 |
NZR 22 |
CHI 17 |
FON 10 |
TX2 7 |