Dalton Kellett, who has completed two seasons in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, will move up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder in 2016 to drive the Andretti Autosport-prepared No. 28 K-Line Insulators USA entry in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires.
“I’m very excited to return with Andretti Autosport for the 2016 season in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires,” said Kellett, a Toronto native who recently graduated with an engineering physics degree from Queen’s University. “2015 marked my first year with the team in the Pro Mazda Championship. Having the opportunity to grow that relationship in the upcoming season is an immense honor. I feel like over the last year we did a lot of good work with the Pro Mazda and I’m very excited to get to work with the (Dallara) IL-15 for its second season in competition.
“Having recently graduated, this season will be the first year that I won’t have to go back to school, and I’m looking forward to having the entire offseason to do lots of testing with the team and get fit for the season opener.”
Kellett, 22, raced in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda for two years before spending two additional seasons at the Pro Mazda level. He competed in one Indy Lights event in 2013 on the streets of Baltimore. Before his involvement in the Mazda Road to Indy, Kellett competed in the Ontario Formula Ford Championship as well as multiple karting championships.
“We were first impressed with Dalton’s work ethic and consistency prior to him joining Andretti last season, and he hasn’t disappointed in his time here,” Andretti Autosport COO JF Thormann said. “We’re really happy to be able to help further develop his career and are optimistic about the success he will help bring to our Indy Lights program.”
Indianapolis-based Andretti Autosport holds 76 wins (28 Indy Lights, 30 Pro Mazda, 18 USF2000) across the Mazda Road to Indy programs and has used INDYCAR’s ladder system to aid in the career development of more than 20 open-wheel drivers over the years. Further announcements regarding the team’s development roster for 2016 will be made in the coming weeks.
