Owners:
Adrian Fernandez
Tom Anderson
Drivers:
Adrian Fernandez, Mexico City
Luis Diaz, Mexico City
Entering its first season in the American Le Mans Series in 2007, Lowe's Fernandez Racing brings a wealth of motorsports experience to its very competitive road-racing campaign.
One of North America's top racing organizations, the Indianapolis-based team has been successful in each racing category in which it has competed. Led by team owners Adrian Fernandez and Tom Anderson, Lowe's Fernandez Racing brings a factory Acura-powered prototype Lola to the 12-race series that features efforts from Audi, Porsche, Mazda and other auto manufacturers.
Popular Mexican superstar Fernandez will co-drive with another Mexican driving sensation, Luis Diaz, to form a dramatic combination that figures to battle for the point championship in the competitive LMP2 division.
Lowe's, the second largest home improvement retailer in the world, has been very successful in the motorsports arena for several years, including winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup driver championship as primary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson's stock car.
Lowe's Fernandez Racing's first venture into sports car competition came in 2006 with Fernandez and co-driver Mario Haberfeld piloting the Lowe's Daytona Prototype to victory on the tough Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Lowe's machine also scored a win in a qualifying race at Phoenix and five top-five finishes last year.
Fernandez Racing was formed in 2000 and has won races in Champ Car, IndyCar and Grand Am competition. Fernandez, one of Mexico's most celebrated athletes in the last 15 years, and co-owner/managing director Tom Anderson have established a winning method with their racing operation and hope to continue that trend in 2007 with the No. 15 Lowe's Acura Lola B05/40 in the American Le Mans Series.
Adrian Fernandez
Full Name: Adrian Fernandez
Birth Date: April 20, 1963
Birth Place: Mexico City, Mexico
Residence: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Marital Status: Wife, Catalina
Personal:
Began career in motocross before moving to four wheels and his first auto race,
the 24 Hours of Mexico... traveled to Europe to race open-wheel cars before
coming to North America to compete in 1992... enjoyed a 12-year career at the
top levels of open-wheel competition prior to moving to sports cars... ranked
as one of Mexico's top athletes and celebrities... has won numerous awards including
"Athlete of the Year" in Mexico... recognized as one of the 300 most influential
people in Mexico by a national magazine... became a team owner in 2000 with
partner and racing veteran Tom Anderson... the team has won in every category
it has contested including Champ Car, IndyCar and Grand Am.
Career Highlights:
- Drives the No. 15 Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura Lola sports car in the LMP2 class of the 2007 American Le Mans Series
- Teamed with Mario Haberfield to capture the first sports car victory for Lowe's Fernandez Racing in the Grand American Rolex Series race at Mid-Ohio in 200Recorded five top-five finishes in his first season in the Grand Am Rolex series in 2006
- Has made eight NASCAR Busch Series starts, driving for Team Lowe's Racing and Hendrick Motorsports in 2005 and 2006
- Enjoyed driving in North American open-wheel racing for 12 years in the IndyCar and Champ Car series.
- Won three IndyCar races and finished fifth in the series championship in 2004 In 11 seasons in Champ Car racing (1993-2003), won eight races, four pole positions and claimed 21 podium finishes in 178 starts
- Finished second in the Champ Car series championship in 2000
- Earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1992 Indy Lights series
- Won the Formula 3 title in Mexico in 1991
- Placed fifth in the RAC British Formula Ford 1600 Championship in 1989
- Raced and worked as a mechanic at famed Brands Hatch circuit in England
- Two-time Mexican Formula Vee Series champion (1983-84)
- Named Rookie of the Year in Mexican Formula Vee Series in 1982
Luis Diaz
Full Name: Luis Miguel Diaz
Birth Date: December 1, 1977
Birth Place: Mexico City, Mexico
Residence: Mexico City, Mexico
Marital Status: Wife, Carolina
Personal:
Has the nickname Chapulin, which means "grasshopper" in Spanish...
began racing karts at age 12... won various national karting championships
in Mexico to establish himself as one of Mexico's brightest young racing
talents... graduated to car racing at age 18 in Mexico... a rising star
in open-wheel competition, moved to the sports-car ranks in 2004, claiming eight
wins over the past three years... was named "Driver of the Year"
in Mexico in 2006.
Career Highlights:
- Signed to drive the Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura sports car in the 2007 American Le Mans Series
- Teaming with Mexican star Adrian Fernandez to form a strong combination for the LMP2 effort with the Acura factory team
- Driving the Chip Ganassi prototype, teamed with Scott Pruett to win the Grand American Rolex team championship in 2006 and place second in the drivers' championship
- Finished third in laps led by drivers in the Rolex Series last year
- Competed in the A1 Grand Prix Series representing his native Mexico
- Served as a test driver for Fernandez Racing's Champ Car effort in 2003
- Made his Champ Car debut at Mexico City in 2002, subbing for Fernandez
- Finished fourth in the 2002 Formula Atlantic series with two wins
- Competed two seasons in Dayton Indy Lights series in 2000 and 2001
- Won the Rookie of the Year award in the 1999 Mexico Indy Lights Championship
- Captured the Mexico Formula 3 Championship in 1998
- Named Rookie of the Year in Mexico Formula 3 series in 1997
- Won numerous national karting titles, including Super 100cc national championship and Category A national championship