Jim Guthrie (born September 13, 1961 in Gadsden, Alabama) is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He debuted in the Indy Racing League in 1996 with moderately successful results. When the IRL moved to purpose-built chassis in 1997, Guthrie was forced to take out a second mortgage to purchase a new chassis. With no sponsorship and the prospects of losing his house if his venture was unsuccessful, he won the second race in the new chassis at Phoenix International Raceway. He got sponsorship from Jacuzzi for the Indianapolis 500 and was able to finish the season (placing twelfth in season points) winning Rookie of the Year honors and kept his house. Guthrie contested four races in 1998, but then during the Indianapolis 500, he was seriously injured in a multi-car crash, but he returned later in the season for two different teams. He attempted the 1999 Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify his Coulson Racing entry.
Guthrie was later an owner of Guthrie Meyer Racing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series that fielded a car for his son Sean, who raced in the Star Mazda Series in 2005. The team began with 2005 IPS driver Travis Gregg at Homestead, and 2005 Star Mazda champion Raphael Matos scoring the team's first two wins at St. Petersburg (there were two races on that weekend). For the 2008 season, the team had three cars with Logan Gomez filling the second seat and the third was run by Tom Wieringa and Robbie Pecorari. Franck Perera joined the team for the second half of the season and captured a win at Infineon Raceway.
Guthrie later started competing in Formula Drift with a Chevrolet powered Mazda RX-7 sponsored by Car Crafters of Albuquerque.
On September 25, 2012, Guthrie under-steered, crashed and flipped his 2011 Ford Mustang into a tire wall at Formula Drift/Pro Am Round 4 (After Dark); the result of a driver error.
Today, Guthrie is actively involved in the local community in Albuquerque. His business, Car Crafters, has recently expanded to five locations around the Albuquerque area. One of his latest interests is triathlons, as he completed his first Half-Ironman in April 2016 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Racing record American Open Wheel Racing results (key)
Indy Racing League Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points Ref 1996 Blueprint Racing Lola T93/00 27 Menard Indy V6tWDWPHX15INDY18 20th 74 1996-97NHM23 12th 186 Buick 3300 V6tLVS13 Dallara IR7 Oldsmobile Aurora V8WDW6PHX1INDY26TXS21PPIRWthCLT12NH224LV24 1998 ISM Racing G-Force GF01B 53WDWDNQPHXDNQINDY29TXSNHM 33rd 41 CBR Cobb Racing 23 Infiniti VRH35ADE V8DOV7 Oldsmobile Aurora V8CLT22PPIRATLTX2 Riley & Scott Cars Riley & Scott Mk V 15LVS24 1999 Coulson Racing Dallara IR9 34WDWPHXCLTINDYDNQTXSPPIRATLDOVPPI2LVSTX2 NC - 2001 Blueprint Racing G-Force GF05B 27PHXHMSATLINDYTXSPPIRRIRKANNSHKTYSTLCHITX2 NC -
Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish 1996 Lola Menard-Buick 19th 18th 1997 Dallara Oldsmobile 6th 26th 1998 G-Force Oldsmobile 20th 29th 1999 Dallara Oldsmobile Failed to Qualify 2001 G-Force OldsmobilePractice Crash
References