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INDYCAR: AFS Branching Out
One of the most successful partnerships in Indy Lights has dissolved, but it's likely going to be IndyCar's gain in the long run.
Robin Miller  |  Posted December 06, 2010   Indianapolis, IN
If all goes according to plan, the AFS colors will be seen at the Indy 500 and possibly a few additional races. (LAT)
One of the most successful partnerships in Indy Lights has dissolved, but it's likely going to be IndyCar's gain in the long run.

After winning 11 races and a pair of Lights championships, Gary Peterson and Michael Andretti decided to go their separate ways a few days ago.

And Peterson is currently looking for a shop to run his Lights team out of and an alliance with a current IndyCar team so AFS Racing can compete in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.

"I'm going to run three Lights cars next year and I want to partner with an established team for Indy and maybe a couple other races," said Peterson, who joined Andretti Autosports in 2008 and captured the Lights crown that season with Rafa Matos and then J.R. Hildebrand in 2009.

"Michael and I are good friends they're struggling to run three cars so it was time to move on. He's branching out into other divisions and I wanted to concentrate on Lights and Indy."

The 51-year-old Californian competed in the Atlantic series before becoming an owner in Lights in 2002 and he's always had his eye on IndyCar.

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"Last year I wanted to run a car at Indy but John Andretti got a deal together and that gave Michael five cars so there was no way to run six," said Peterson, whose fire protection company is called Automatic Fire Sprinklers.

"I definitely want to run Indy this May but I don't want to do an IndyCar program on my own next year. My goal is to have my own team by 2012 when the new cars and engines come out."

Peterson, who also fielded cars for Alex Lloyd, Arie Luyendyk Jr., Phil Geibler and Sebastian Saavedra through the years, has been talking with several teams and drivers about a 2011 partnership.

"I've almost got my deals done and a place picked out in Brownsburg but it's probably going to be a couple weeks before everything is finalized," he said.

"People like Sarah Fisher and Dennis Reinbold have been so helpful and it's made me feel very welcome. I can't wait for May."

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