Chris Griffis Memorial Test

The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is a two-day test event for Road to Indy racing series. The testing is conducted after the regular season. The test is used by teams to test new drivers as well as for the organization to test new cars for the following season.

Chris Griffis

Chris Griffis (11 May 1966 – 12 September 2011) was a former team manager for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Griffis started his career at Patrick Racing, working with Gordon Johncock, Emerson Fittipaldi among others. In 1990, Griffis joined Chip Ganassi Racing before moving to King Racing in 1993 and later joining Panther Racing in 2002. At Panther Racing, Griffis was the crew chief of Mark Taylor winning the 2003 Indy Lights title.[1]

Griffis collapsed and died after a basketball game. He was survived by his wife Mari and daughters (Clair and Sophia). Griffis was buried in Akron, Indiana.[2]

Fastest times

YearIndy LightsIndy Pro 2000USF2000
2011 Peter Dempsey (1:20.6546)[3] Jack Hawksworth (1:25.431)[4] Scott Hargrove (1:29.6937)[3]
2012 Zach Veach (1:19.2209)[5] Spencer Pigot (1:24.859)[6] Matthew Di Leo (1:27.623)[7]
2013 Alexandre Baron (1:15.726)[8] Alfonso Celis Jr. (1:20.490)[9] Aaron Telitz (1:23.283)[10]
2014 Spencer Pigot (1:19.8039)[11] Patricio O'Ward (1:23.6525)[12] Nico Jamin (1:26.3304)[13]
2015 Kyle Kaiser (1:54.2235)[14] Patricio O'Ward (2:04.7677)[15] Nikita Lastochkin (2:09.5454)[16]
2016 Garett Grist (1:14.7396)[17] Victor Franzoni (1:22.6179)[18] Neil Verhagen (1:24.8661)[19]
2017 Nico Jamin (1:25.7173)[20] Oliver Askew (1:29.8142)[21] Darren Keane (1:25.1424)[22]
2018 Ryan Norman (1:14.9283) Darren Keane (1:19.2971) Hunter McElrea (1:24.5064)
2019 Rinus VeeKay (1:15.4790) Hunter McElrea (1:19.4553) Christian Rasmussen (1:24.9311)
2021 Benjamin Pedersen (1:25.4619) Louis Foster (1:30.4354) Jagger Jones (1:35.4672)
2022 Danial Frost (1:16.2526) Jack William Miller (1:21.9745) Simon Sikes (1:25.8876)
2023 Louis Foster (1:14.8432) Simon Sikes (1:21.8032) Hudson Schwartz (1:25.8372)

Track

PeriodTrackLayoutLength
2011–2012Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5134 miles
2013Barber Motorsports Park 2.38 miles
2014–2019, 2021–presentIndianapolis Motor Speedway 2.439 miles

Drivers who tested but not raced

The below table contains drivers who tested during the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in Indy Lights, USF Pro 2000 or USF2000 but not competed in any of the classes.

YearSeriesDriverTeam
2012USF2000 Joe Ruch[23]Afterburner Autosport
Yukio Duzanowski[23]Belardi Auto Racing
Nick Neri[23]
Michael Adams[23]JAY Motorsports
Kevin Aabol[23]JDC MotorSports
Antti Buri[23]
Tristan Viidas[23]Pabst Racing Services
Star Mazda Jose Carlos Sandoval[6]JDC MotorSports
Renan Guerra[6]Juncos Racing
Andre Solano[6]Team GDT
Luca Orlandi[6]Team Pelfrey
Chris Yano[6]
Indy Lights Nick McBride[24]Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2014USF2000 Jordan Bernloehr[13]Afterburner Autosport
Christian Ross[13]
Indy Lights Parker Kligerman[11]Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
2015USF2000 Chase Owen[16]Afterburner Autosport
Cameron Hill[16]JDC MotorSports
Chase Pelletier[16]Team Pelfrey
Max Mallinen[16]SWAN Motorsports
Pro Mazda Henrique Baptista[15]Team Pelfrey
2016USF2000 Leandro Wolther[19]ArmsUp Motorsports
Ryan Norberg[19]JDC MotorSports
Hugo de Sadeleer[19]Pabst Racing
Neil Verhagen[19]
Indy Lights Richard Gonda[17]Andretti Autosport
2017USF2000 Zoey EdenholmBN Racing
Elliott Finlayson
Justin GordonExclusive Autosport
Jaden ConwrightTeam BENIK
Pro Mazda Leonard HoogenboomBN Racing
2018USF2000 Tyler O'ConnorCape Motorsports
Ryan BjerkeDEForce Racing
Logan CussonPabst Racing
2019USF2000 TJ ThompsonHMD Motorsports
Alexander KoreibaJay Howard Driver Development
Jonathan KotykLegacy Autosport
Rick BouthoornPabst Racing
Harry VoigtTeam E Jay Racing
IP2000 Raoul HymanExclusive Autosport
Indy Lights Egor OrudzhevAndretti Autosport
2021USF2000 TJ ThompsonJay Howard Driver Development
IP2000 Arias DeukmedjianDeuk Spine Racing
Nicholas RiversJay Howard Driver Development
Blake UptonTurn 3 Motorsport
2022USF2000 Jason PribylTurn 3 Motorsport
Matthew ReesVRD Racing
USFP2000 Callum VoisinJay Howard Driver Development
Raoul HymanTJ Speed Motorsports
2023USF2000 Michael BoyiadzisJay Howard Driver Development
Jason PribylPabst Racing
Connor RobertsTeam Roberts

References