Giorgio Pantano

Giorgio Pantano (born 4 February 1979 in Padua ) is an Italian race car driver.

He won in 2000 the German Formula 3 Championship. From 2001 to 2003 he was active in Formula 3000. The second place overall in 2002 was his best finish in this series. In 2004, he participated in several races of the Formula 1 World Championship. He then joined from 2005 to 2008 in the GP2 Series and left this series with the title. 2011 and 2012 he took part in each race of the IndyCar Series.

Pantano has 14 victories the most successful driver after victories in the class below Formula 1

• 3.1 Career stations
• 3.2 Statistics in Formula 1 3.2.1 Individual Results

Career

Beginnings in motorsport (1994-2000)

Pantano began his motorsport career in karting in 1994, in which was active until 1999. Among other things, he was twice European champion Formula A (1995, 1996) and three-time Italian champion kart ( 1993, 1994, 1996).

In 1999 he moved to Formula racing and was 21st in the Euro Open by Nissan. In addition, he went to a race in the British Formula 3 Championship and finished third in the Formula Palmer Audi Winter series. 2000 Pantano went to the German Formula 3 Championship at the start. He succeeded on first attempt to win the title. In addition, Pantano made ​​during test drives for Benetton his first experience with a Formula 1 car.

Formula 3000 (2001-2003)

In 2001, Pantano in the International Formula 3000 championship. He started for the team Astro Mega and won the last race of the season at Monza. In the overall classification, he finished ninth. In 2001 he took, this time in the McLaren, to Formula 1 test driving part.

2002 graduated from Pantano Formula 1 test driving for Minardi and Williams. But did not succeed him to recommend for no ordinary cockpit. So he signed with Coloni F3000 and remained in the formula 3000th As teammate Enrico Toccacelo he won the race in Barcelona, Hockenheim and Spa-Francorchamps and stood at twelve race seven times on the podium. In the end, he was two points behind Sébastien Bourdais runner-up. In 2003 Pantano for the third year in Formula 3000th He joined as team-mate Raffaele Giammaria to Durango. Pantano won the race in Barcelona and Magny-Cours and finished the championship in third place.

Formula 1 (2004)

2004 Pantano moved into Formula 1 and started on the side of Nick Heidfeld for Jordan. He drove mostly in the rear panel and two 13th places were his best results. At the Grand Prix of Canada, he was replaced for a race by Timo Glock, who drove straight into the points. Then again took over Pantano the cockpit to the Italian Grand Prix after he was finally replaced by Glock. The season he finished without points at the 24th place in the World Cup

Pantano then did not return to Formula 1. He competed in 14 Grand Prix.

GP2 Series and IndyCar debut (2005-2008 )

2005 moved Pantano in the GP2 Series, the successor series of the formula 3000th As a team -mate of Adam Carroll he started for Super Nova Racing. While Pantano won a race, but he stood on the podium six times. In the overall classification Pantano finally finished in sixth place behind his team mate Carroll. In addition, Pantano debuted in 2005 in the IndyCar Series. For Chip Ganassi Racing, he joined to two races on road courses. After failing in his first race, he just missed the podium in fourth at Watkins Glen.

2006 Pantano tried to change in the Champ Car World Series, but his efforts were not successful. Therefore, he returned to the GP2 Series during the season. He started for the team of Giancarlo Fisichella, who was in the Formula 3000 under the name Coloni at the start. Pantano returned thus back to the team with which he had in 2002 the champion only just missed. Pantano won three races, including both home race in Monza. In the overall classification, he finished fifth, though he had not participated in the first three race weekends. 2007 Pantano was again in the GP2 series, but moved to Campos Grand Prix. As a team-mate Vitaly Petrov, he was third overall behind Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi. Pantano won the feature race at Magny -Cours and Monza.

2008 Pantano completed his fourth season in the GP2 series. He joined the team again and drove for Racing Engineering. His teammate was Javier Villa. The second main race of the season in Istanbul, he celebrated his first victory of the season. With further won the feature race at Magny -Cours, Silverstone and Hockenheim Pantano worked before to the top of the drivers' standings. The race weekend in Mogyoród was less successful for Pantano: After 14th place in the feature race he moved up to fifth place in the sprint race. At the first race on the new street circuit in Valencia Pantano started from pole position, dominated the race and set the fastest lap of the race. But a curve before the finish line Pantano remained with an empty tank stand. The victory inherited his former teammate Petrov. Since Pantanos rival for the title of Bruno Senna also had fuel problems, the situation remained unchanged in the championship. In the sprint race the next day Pantano scored the third place. In Spa -Francorchamps Pantano was excluded after a collision with Lucas di Grassi from the race weekend. At the last event in Monza Pantano was busy in the lead with a drive-through penalty and dropped back to tenth place. As his rival for the title in the main event did not bring enough points, he was already on Saturday GP2 champion. Bruno Senna was finally with nine points behind runner-up. Pantano also appeared in 2008 to race in the International GT Open, which represented his debut in GT racing.

Since the race weekend at Silverstone 2008 Pantano is the driver with the most wins in the class below Formula 1 (Formula 2/Formel 3000/GP2-Serie ). Pantano won a total of 14 Formel-3000/GP2-Rennen and thus one more than Mike Thackwell with 13 Formel-2/Formel-3000-Siegen. With nine wins Pantano is also the driver with the most wins GP2. Pantano is also currently the only GP2 champion, who then participated in any Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Superleague Formula and Auto GP (2009-2010)

For 2009, Pantano was initially no cockpit and finally launched for assisted by Azerti Motorsport team of AC Milan in the 2009 Superleague Formula, in which he won a race. 2010 Pantano changed in the Auto GP for Super Nova Racing, for which he had already completed a season in the GP2 series. After three race weekends, he left his team and joined to each in a race weekend for Euro Nova Racing and for Ombra Racing. At the end of the season finished with a third place as best result 13th overall. In addition, Pantano part in four races this season at the Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia. He scored two wins and finished ninth in the championship.

IndyCar Series (2011-2012)

After Pantano was again from the beginning without the cockpit, he was taken in August 2011 of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for three IndyCar races under contract. He represented Justin Wilson, who paused due to an injury on the road courses. In his first race he moved up from eleventh to sixth place. He was, however, offset by the race on the 17th position, since it deliberately blocking against Bourdais was assumed in the last corner. In his last assignment, he scored the fastest lap. At the end of the season he was on the 36th place overall.

2012 took Pantano for Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar race at one part. He was represented at the regular drivers Charlie Kimball, who turned out injured. Pantano, who had never tested the vehicle, crossed the finish line in 14th place.

Others

Pantano currently resides in both London and also in his native Padua. Mid-2008, known Nico Rosberg that he was a fan of Pantano in his kart time.

Statistics

Career stations

• 2003: Formula 3000 ( 3rd place)
• 2004: Formula 1 ( 24th place )
• 2005: GP2 Series ( 6th place)
• 2005: IndyCar Series (No. 26)
• 2006: GP2 Series ( 5th place)
• 2007: GP2 Series ( 3rd place)
• 2008: GP2 Series (Master)

• 2008: International GT Open ( 35th place )
• 2009: Superleague Formula
• 2010: Auto GP ( 13th)
• 2010: Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia ( 9th place)
• 2011: IndyCar Series (No. 36)
• 2012: IndyCar Series (No. 31)

Statistics in Formula 1

Individual results

Individual results in the IndyCar Series

( Legend)