Benjamin Pedersen

Benjamin Pedersen
NationalityDenmark Danish
Born (1999-05-11) 11 May 1999 (age 25)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Related toChristian Pedersen (CEO-Global Racing Group)
Racing licence FIA Silver
IndyCar Series career
17 races run over 1 year
Best finish16th (2023)
First race2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race2023 Grand Prix of Monterey (Laguna Seca)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Previous series
2021-2022
2019-2020
2018-2020
2016-2018		Indy Lights
BRDC British F3
F3 Americas Championship
F4 United States Championship

Benjamin Pedersen (born 11 May 1999) is a Danish racing driver. He last raced in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 55 Chevrolet for A. J. Foyt Racing.[1]

Personal life

[edit]

Benjamin Pedersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. At the age of four, his family emigrated to the United States, settling in Sammamish, Washington.[2][3]

After joining A. J. Foyt Racing, Pedersen relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2022.[2]

Career

[edit]

Lower formulae

[edit]

Pedersen began his single-seater career in 2016, driving for the Leading Edge Grand Prix in cooperation with Global Racing Group, a team set up by his father Christian Pedersen,[4][5][6] in the F4 United States Championship.[7] While he had strong start with a podium finish at Mid-Ohio, Pedersen ended up tenth in the drivers' standings.

For the 2017 season, Pedersen remained in the F4 US series, partnering Justin Sirgany and Jacob Loomis at Global Racing Group.[8][9] This season yielded more success, as the Dane took podiums in the first two events,[10] before ending the campaign on a particularly impressive note, winning twice in the penultimate round and once more at the season finale, held as part of the 2017 United States Grand Prix weekend. These results led to Pedersen finishing fourth overall, beating both of his teammates.[citation needed]

In 2018, Pedersen returned to tackle the F4 US Championship for the final time, where he took two victories, placing fifth in the standings.[11][12]

Formula Regional & BRDC F3

[edit]

Parallel to his F4 campaign, Pedersen competed in the inaugural season of the F3 Americas Championship.[13] Despite missing two events, Pedersen finished third overall, being beaten by fellow GRG driver Baltazar Leguizamón.[14]

In 2019, Pedersen performed double-duties in the F3 Americas and BRDC F3 championships, the latter becoming his first venture into European racing.[15][16] In the former, Pedersen won seven races, which included a triple of victories at Sebring, which put him second in the standings.[17] Over in British F3, a victory in the reverse-grid race at Silverstone, coupled with a further podium in Snetterton, left the Dane 14th overall.[18]

A full season of the BRDC British F3 Championship was on the cards for Pedersen in 2020, driving for Double R Racing.[19] He ended the season ninth in the drivers' standings, having taken three podiums including another win in Silvestone.[20]

Indy Lights

[edit]

Pedersen switched to the Road to Indy ladder for 2021, driving for Global Racing Group in Indy Lights.[21] The season began with a second place at Barber, although he would fail to take any podiums throughout the following three rounds.[22] The Dane, who by this stage was racing under an American licence, bounced back with a podium appearance at Road America before going on to experience a strong second half of the campaign, with four third-placed finishes elevating him to fourth overall.[23][24]

In 2022, Pedersen returned to Indy Lights for his sophomore season.[25][26] Having scored five podiums, which contained his first win in the category at Portland, Pedersen took fifth in the championship.[27]

IndyCar Series

[edit]
Pedersen competing in the 2023 Indianapolis 500.

Having tested for Juncos Hollinger Racing at the end of June,[28] it was announced that Pedersen would be entering the IndyCar Series in 2023, driving for the A. J. Foyt Racing team alongside Santino Ferrucci.[29][30] In his first Indianapolis 500, Pedersen was named Rookie of the Year.[31]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2016 Formula 4 United States Championship Leading Edge Grand Prix & Global Racing Group 15 0 0 0 1 57 10th
2017 Formula 4 United States Championship Global Racing Group 20 3 2 2 6 147 4th
2018 Formula 4 United States Championship Global Racing Group 17 2 1 2 4 166 5th
F3 Americas Championship 11 0 0 1 10 183 3rd
2019 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Global Racing Group 21 1 0 0 2 200 14th
F3 Americas Championship 10 7 3 2 9 221 2nd
2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Double R Racing[32] 24 1 0 0 2 299 9th
Euroformula Open Championship 3 0 0 0 0 14 15th
Formula Regional Americas Championship Global Racing Group 5 0 0 0 0 30 12th
2021 Indy Lights Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports 20 0 0 1 6 356 4th
2022 Indy Lights Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports 14 1 1 1 5 444 5th
2023 IndyCar Series A.J. Foyt Enterprises 17 0 0 0 0 129 27th
2024 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Nielsen Racing 3 0 0 0 0 1 22nd

Complete Formula 4 United States Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2016 Leading Edge Grand Prix MDO1
1
3 		MDO1
2
9 		MDO1
3
5 		MDO2
1
Ret 		MDO2
2
Ret 		MDO2
3
Ret 		NJMP
1
9 		NJMP
2
4 		NJMP
3
10 		ATL
1
11 		ATL
2
6 		ATL
3
10 		HMS
1
7 		HMS
2
Ret 		HMS
2
Ret 		10th 57
2017 Global Racing Group HMS
1
2 		HMS
2
11 		HMS
2
Ret 		IMS
1
18 		IMS
2
15 		IMS
2
3 		MSP
1
25 		MSP
2
16 		MSP
3
14 		MDO
1
16 		MDO
2
8 		MDO
3
10 		VIR
1
5 		VIR
2
9 		VIR
3
7 		COTA1
1
1 		COTA1
2
1 		COTA1
3
3 		COTA2
1
1 		COTA2
2
10 		4th 147
2018 Global Racing Group VIR
1
1 		VIR
2
4 		VIR
3
5 		ROA
1
1 		ROA
2
4 		ROA
3
3 		MDO
1
5 		MDO
2
5 		MDO
3
4 		PIT
1
3 		PIT
2
21 		PIT
3
7 		NJMP
1
8 		NJMP
2
Ret 		NJMP
3
14 		COTA
1
5 		COTA
2
Ret 		5th 166

Complete BRDC British Formula 3 Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos Points
2019 Global Racing Group OUL
1
Ret 		OUL
2
105 		OUL
3
10 		SNE
1
10 		SNE
2
25 		SNE
3
8 		SIL1
1
18 		SIL1
2
1 		SIL1
3
10 		DON1
1
9 		DON1
2
51 		DON1
3
10 		SPA
1
12 		SPA
2
61 		SPA
3
17 		BRH
1
10 		BRH
2
13 		BRH
3
14 		SIL2
1
Ret 		SIL2
2
107 		SIL2
3
16 		DON2
1 		DON2
2 		DON2
3 		14th 200
2020 Double R Racing OUL
1
11 		OUL
2
4 		OUL
3
12 		OUL
4
15 		DON1
1
9 		DON1
2
55 		DON1
3
7 		BRH
1
8 		BRH
2
61 		BRH
3
9 		BRH
4
10 		DON2
1
6 		DON2
2
15 		DON2
3
9 		SNE
1
Ret 		SNE
2
611 		SNE
3
3 		SNE
4
14 		DON3
1
6 		DON3
2
21 		DON3
3
5 		SIL
1
15 		SIL
2
12 		SIL
3
14 		9th 299

American open-wheel racing results

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(key)

Indy Lights

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rank Points
2021 Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports ALA
2 		ALA
7 		STP
10 		STP
6 		IMS
10 		IMS
9 		DET
11 		DET
6 		RDA
2 		RDA
7 		MDO
7 		MDO
8 		GTW
3 		GTW
3 		POR
4 		POR
4 		LAG
3 		LAG
5 		MDO
9 		MDO
3 		4th 356
2022 Global Racing Group w/ HMD Motorsports STP
2 		ALA
2 		IMS
11 		IMS
4 		DET
2 		DET
6 		RDA
11 		MDO
6 		IOW
9 		NSH
6 		GTW
3 		POR
1L* 		LAG
5 		LAG
6 		5th 444

IndyCar Series

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
2023 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara DW12 55 Chevrolet STP
27 		TXS
15 		LBH
24 		ALA
22 		IMS
24 		INDY
21 		DET
20 		ROA
21 		MDO
26 		TOR
27 		IOW
27 		IOW
27 		NSH
23 		IMS
26 		GTW
28 		POR
22 		LAG
16 		27th 129 [33]

Indianapolis 500

[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2023 Dallara Chevrolet 11 21 A. J. Foyt Racing

Complete European Le Mans Series results

[edit]
Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2024 Nielsen Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT LEC IMO SPA
13 		MUG
10 		ALG
11 		22nd 1

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pedersen Keeping It Simple as Strong 2022 Title Hopeful". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Joey (27 April 2022). "Road to Indy, Indy NXT: Q&A with Indy Lights Driver Benjamin Pedersen". Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen". ProFormance Racing School. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Advisory and Management Board: Christian Pederson". Global Racing Group. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ Pruett, Marshall (28 September 2022). "Foyt signs Pedersen to multi-year IndyCar deal". Racer. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ Noakes, Karl (3 May 2022). "The Rise of Benjamin Pedersen". Avant. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Danish Driver announced for FIA US F4 Championship". 26 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Last Minute Entries Increase F4 U.S. Grid to More Than 30 Cars". 4 April 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Formula 4 US grid swells to more than 30 cars". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Reger and Forcier win at F4 US season-opener". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen Set to Compete in Both F3 Americas and F4 U.S. at Pittsburgh". 30 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Global Racing Group Expands 2018 Campaigns". F4 U.S. Championships. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen Set to Compete in Both F3 Americas and F4 U.S. at Pittsburgh". FR Americas Championship. 30 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Kirkwood wraps F3 Americas season with COTA sweep". RACER. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Full Inaugural Roster Returns to Robust F3 Americas Field for Season Opener". 3 April 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen joins Douglas Motorsport for 2019 BRDC British F3 assault". 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen: Sebring Sweep". FR Americas Championship. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  18. ^ Wert, Trevor (21 June 2019). "Benjamin Pedersen wins at Silverstone!". DirtFish. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Teams & Drivers". BRDC British F3 Championship. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  20. ^ Magazine, Speedsport. "Race result: BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, Race 38 of season 2020 in Silverstone". www.speedsport-magazine.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Global Racing Group with HMD Motorsports Inks Pedersen for 2021". www.indylights.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  22. ^ Media, R. T. D. (26 April 2022). "BENJAMIN PEDERSEN AND GLOBAL RACING GROUP LOOK TO ATTACK BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK THIS WEEKEND". RTD Media. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen Puts Global Racing Group on the Podium at Road America – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Ten Wins, Nine Pole Positions and Thirty-Three Podium Results for HMD and GRG – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Pedersen Keeping It Simple as Strong 2022 Title Hopeful". www.indylights.com. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen Set for Sophomore Year of Indy Lights with Global Racing Group and HMD Motorsports – Global Racing Group". www.globalracinggroup.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  27. ^ Lambeth, Kobe (4 September 2022). "Benjamin Pedersen Picks Up First Indy Lights Win At Portland". GRID. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Pedersen To Drive in First NTT INDYCAR SERIES Test with JHR". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Foyt signs Indy Lights race winner Pedersen for 2023". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  30. ^ Demmendaal, Jeroen (29 September 2022). "Pedersen and Global Racing Group strike deals for a move to IndyCar". Feeder Series. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Indianapolis 500 Purse Reaches New Peak for Second Year in a Row". IndyCar.com. Brickyard Trademarks, LLC. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen joins Euroformula grid at Spa with Double R". 10 October 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Benjamin Pedersen – 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year
2023 		Succeeded by
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