A.J. Foyt Racing Hires Michael
Colliver as Chief Engineer
WALLER, Texas Jan.16, 2008—Michael Colliver,
of Bloomington, IN, has signed with A.J. Foyt Racing
as the team’s chief engineer for the No. 14 ABC
Supply Dallara/Honda to be driven by Darren Manning
in this year’s IndyCar Series.
Colliver’s most recent IndyCar experience lists
these teams as clients for his consulting business
started in 2004: Playa Del Racing (Jaques Lazier –
2007 Indy 500), Dreyer & Reinbold (Ryan
Briscoe--2006) and Access Motorsports (Greg Ray
2004). Prior to starting Advantage Engineering
Services, he spent several years at Kelley Racing
(2002-04 Al Unser Jr.), Treadway Racing (1999-2002
Sam Schmidt, Arie Luyendyk, Jason Leffler, Felipe
Giaffone), CART’s Pat Patrick Racing (1998 Adrian
Fernandez) and Hemelgarn Racing (1996-97).
Colliver, 43, has worked in professional motorsports
since 1994. Earning his bio-engineering degree from
Purdue University in 1988, he worked in the
bio-medical field for six years designing coronary
products. By the time he left medicine, he was
awarded two patents for medical devices with others
pending for approval.
Pursuing his dream to work in motorsports, Colliver
raced Formula Fords, Continental and Mazda in the
SCCA and Skip Barber Series, starting in 1991.
Working on the cars as a mechanic provided him the
skills needed to work full-time at Skip Barber
Racing School in Lime Rock Park, CT in 1994. That
decision to change careers eventually rewarded him
with a trip to Victory Lane in the 1996 Indianapolis
500 as a crew member for Buddy Lazier.
Colliver, who grew up in Greenville, OH -- close to
two race tracks steeped in the tradition of USAC
competition: Winchester Speedway (Indiana) and
Eldora Speedway (Ohio)--has always focused on open
wheel racing.
This year he will be focused on getting the No. 14
back into victory lane. In 2007, Manning posted two
top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes in his
first year with Foyt’s ABC Supply Racing team.
The IndyCar Series opens with a Saturday night race
at Homestead-Miami Speedway March 29th when it will
be televised live on ESPN2 starting at 8 p.m.
