Career 
Biography
Race News
Other News
Photos
Team

Kane to race with MG at Le Mans

Jonny Kane Racing, 23rd January 2001: British driver Jonny Kane was pleased to confirm that he has signed a deal with MG to race at Le Mans in their new MG Lola.

Kane has been racing in America for the last two seasons with Team KOOL Green in their Indy Lights project. During this time Jonny won Team KOOL Green's first ever race in their Indy Lights racing history and also took the crown of Rookie of the Year in 1999.

Jonny is very excited about this new stage in his career and is looking forward to driving the MG Lola with the new AER two-litre turbo charged MG Rover engine. He is confident that he will be able to keep up his winning streak with the new MG team and help to develop a race-winning car.

Kane has an impressive history of seven championship titles, including British Formula Three Champion and the honour of being B.R.D.C. McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year. He hopes that his partnership with MG will flourish and lead to new and exciting opportunities.

Jonny said:

"I am very excited about this season. It has always been one of my ambitions to race at Le Mans and to make my first appearance at such a historic event representing MG is fantastic. There will be a lot to learn including racing at night, but I love new challenges.

"I think the driver line up and the weight of a British manufacturer such as MG will be an impressive combination and should produce great results. I can't wait to get started on the testing programme."

Will Jonny make the move?

Jonny Kane Racing, 28th July 2000: Already teams are deciding on next year's line up and signing contracts. British driver Jonny Kane will be looking to make his move into the big league. Having raced against and beaten the likes of Juan Montoya (British F.3 and again when team mates at Stewarts in Formula Vauxhall), Dario Franchitti, Nick Heidfeld, Pedro de la Rosa, Marc Gene, Oriel Servia and many of the top runners in this year's F.3000 championship; he is confident that a move into CART or Formula 1 is imminent.

There is much talk in paddocks on both sides of the Atlantic about Kane, who has seven championships under his belt including the British Formula 3 title for Paul Stewart Racing. In fact he has won every championship he has competed in full time, including three for Jackie and Paul Stewart. He is also a previous winner of the coveted BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award. Jonny could be on the shopping list for a number of teams as they look for young eager drivers who have the will to win. Jaguar are looking for a British driver and Team Kool Green will need a replacement for Dario Franchitti should he make a move. Other teams shopping around include BAR and Arrows in F1 and Ganassi in CART to replace Juan Montoya. These are exciting times and one where Kane is confident that a move may happen.

Kane is the only British driver to win an international race outside of F1 this year. He has had more pole positions and fastest laps than any other driver in the Indy Lights series this year. Jonny is fast and keen to make the move and go on to prove his ability and determination to win. He will look forward to learning new circuits and developing a new car and most of all winning races.

Jonny Gains at Milwaukee

INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 2000): Team KOOL Green driver Jonny Kane spent a productive two days testing at The Milwaukee Mile in preparation for the second round of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship on June 4th, in which Jonny will be the only British contender. There was a full turn out of teams at the Wisconsin oval.

Kane completed 350 miles around the one mile oval over the two days setting a quickest time of 25.29 seconds. The Team KOOL Green crew worked on improving their short oval set up which has not always been competitive in the past. The team focused on finding a new direction of set up which seemed to suit Kane's driving style better.

Jonny was three tenths off the quickest times of the two days but has made considerable progress towards feeling more confident and consistent. Kane said:

"We have worked on the front of the car a lot which seems to have stabilised the rear so I am much more confident with the rear of the car than I have been in a long time. I am able to break more confidently so I can go deeper into the corner and I think that's where we have gained some time. We are still struggling with the front end grip mid corner but I think we are a lot closer than we were last year and I don't think it will take a lot to improve the car."

Team KOOL Green Chief Engineer Eddie Jones said:

"Although we are about 3 tenths off the quickest time of the day, we are certainly a lot closer than we were last year here. I feel that we have developed a set up that Jonny is generally happier with. He seems more confident in and comfortable with the car so I think it's been a productive test and I feel we have a better opportunity with Jonny this time around."

Following the test the Team KOOL Green Indy Lights crews return to Indianapolis in order to make final preparations for the second round of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship at Milwaukee on June 4.

Jonny quickest on both days at the Mid-Ohio test

Jonny Kane Racing press release, 18th May 2000: Team KOOL Green driver Jonny Kane took to the 2.25 mile Mid-Ohio road course today for a second successful day of testing in his KOOL Green Lola-Buick. The official Dayton Indy Lights Championship test day saw a full turn out of teams for the second day of running.

Kane completed 170 miles, recording a fastest time of 1:14.96, some seven tenths quicker than yesterday's times. This saw Kane heading the time sheets for a second successive day. The Team KOOL Green Indy Lights #27 crew continued to focus on chassis development and fine tuning their damper package in an effort to optimise the KOOL Lola-Buick's performance in road course trim. Kane said:

"We arrived with a good package which we have worked on to get the car to feel more comfortable and consistent. It is a really fun track to drive and I am looking forward to the race here. I feel confident that when we come back in August for the race we will be at the front."

Unfortunately testing was cut short in the mid afternoon due to a storm which moved in. The Team KOOL Green Indy Lights Team return to Indianapolis to prepare the car for a two day test next week on the one mile oval at Milwaukee.

Jonny Kane Racing press release, 17th May 2000: Team KOOL Green driver Jonny Kane was amongst a full turn out for an official two day test at Mid-Ohio, May 17-18, in preparation for the seventh round of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship later this year on August 13.

The Mid-Ohio track was a new challenge for Kane having never tested there before. However, within thirty laps Jonny had taken his KOOL Green Lola-Buick to the top of the time sheets, ahead of a full field. Kane completed nearly 190 miles around the 2.25 mile road course, with a quickest time of 1:15.66 seconds. This saw Jonny remain at the top of the time sheet at the end of the first day's testing.

Jonny enjoyed a productive day learning the circuit and working on chassis development. By lunchtime he was a clear four tenths ahead of the field, but due to a heavy downpour in the late afternoon, Kane was unable to have a final run on new tyres. Jonny said:

"I am really pleased with our first day here. I had never been to this track before so I have a little bit of learning to do. We managed to get down to quick times right away, setting the quickest time after about 30 laps. The KOOL Green car feels good and I think we've had a very promising first day."

The Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team look forward to a second day of testing at Mid-Ohio.

Testing 1, 2, 3, 4...

KOOL Racing Press Release, 7th May: What have Team KOOL Green Indy Lights drivers Jonny Kane and Jeff Simmons been doing with their time between the mid-April race in Long Beach and the next event on the schedule, at The Milwaukee Mile on June 4?

They've been going through testing sessions, plenty of them, in fact. In a three-week stretch starting in early April, the drivers spent a day testing on the Firebird East track in Phoenix. They then travelled to Long Beach for race weekend activities, moved on to Laguna Seca for two days of testing before arriving in Portland on April 25 for a two-day session, the first day of which was rained out.

While the inclement weather cost Team KOOL Green some valuable testing time, the one day it was able to put in was extremely productive, as crews for both the Kane and Simmons teams focused on chassis development and set-up on the two-mile circuit that is site of the fourth race on the Dayton Indy Lights schedule, on June 25. Kane completed 180 miles, consistently lapping in the high 66s, with a best quick lap of 66.20 the third fastest clocking of the day, closely behind Casey Mears and Felipe Giaffone.

"The day went pretty well," remarked Kane. "We were one of the quickest cars all day. We worked hard on trying to get rid of some understeer that we picked up. We eventually succeeded, but we stayed out on the old tires too long and I wasn't able to match my time from the morning session."

Simmons, meanwhile, lapped in the mid 67s and managed to get down to a fastest time of 66.93 seconds on new tires.

"The car was a little unpredictable at first," said Simmons. "We got that sorted out but then somehow oversteer started creeping in. We put the car on the pad and took a few steps back. We must have gone too far because we were fighting oversteer when we came back. Still, I think with a bit more time and a few more changes, we could have been right there. I don't think we're too far off."

Eddie Jones, Chief Engineer for the KOOL Green Indy Lights team, said that despite the problems encountered with understeer and oversteer, the testing session achieved the goal of trying a couple of optional set-ups and doing some damper work around them. Team KOOL Green's next testing session is at Mid-Ohio on May 18.

Looking forward to the new season

KOOL Racing Press Release, 12th April: JONNY KANE, #27 Team KOOL Green Lola T97/20:

"We finished strong last season, winning the season-finale at California Speedway and taking the rookie title. Our goals are a little higher this season with the focus squarely on winning the championship for Team KOOL Green. Having the added benefit of team-mate Jeff Simmons will no doubt help us because we’ll have twice as much data at every race. It’s time to get it done, score points and chase the championship."

Curtain rises for Kane in 2000 season

Kane Racing Press Release, INDIANAPOLIS (APRIL 6, 2000): Sunday April 16th Long Beach California will be the setting for the opening round of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship.

Brit Jonny Kane in his Team KOOL Green prepared car will be the only driver representing Great Britain and Ireland in this year's series in America. Sunday's race is the featured support race to the CART FedEx Championship Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Indy Lights is the official development series for the CART FedEx Championship with current Champ Car stars including Scot, Dario Franchitti and Englishman Mark Blundell. It is a "spec" series in which all the teams use identical equipment; a Lola T97/20 chassis, GM V6 Buick engines and Dayton Daytona tyres. This places the emphasis on driver talent and team preparation.

Lou Schollum, Team Manager for the KOOL Green Indy Lights Team said:

"Even though, it is the start of a new season we anticipate a strong field. We do not underestimate the competition from the veterans and the new bunch of rookies."

Kane made his American debut in 1999 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which was his first ever experience of oval racing. He started 11th, and finished 7th which would be his first of nine Top-10 Results in the Team KOOL Green car. Jonny improved throughout the season, earning pole positions at Michigan and California Speedways.

Bringing the year to a close he landed on the podium in three of the last four races, finishing with a high of a race win in the final round at Fontana, California. This victory saw Kane crowned the "1999 Rookie of the Year", a first for Team KOOL Green.

"Last year we finished up really well" said Kane. "Arriving in a new series with new circuits and a new team meant there was a lot to learn to start with, but we gelled extremely well early on and winning 'Rookie of the Year' was a great boost for the whole team. This year I expect to be running consistently at the front from the word go."

Team KOOL Green General Manager Kim Green said:

"Jonny should be a serious title contender this year based on the experience he gained last year. The fact that the team has been strengthened by the addition of a second driver (American Jeff Simmons) is enabling development on both cars. Jonny certainly proved he is fast and I believe he will be more consistent therefore justifying our position of one of the favourites for the championship."

Kane spent his time off relaxing back home in Northern Ireland before returning to America in January to prepare for the 2000 season with Team KOOL Green. In between daily workouts at the gym, Jonny visits the workshop regularly to help boost the moral amongst an already highly motivated and hardworking crew. This year sees test restrictions put in place, but Jonny has made full use of track time available in productive pre-season testing, turning consistently quick times, often resulting in the fastest of the day among the other drivers.

"Jonny showed the potential last year to be a race winner and should have been on more than one occasion but we made too many tactical errors," said Ed Jones, Team KOOL Green Indy Lights Chief Engineer. "However we broke our duck at Fontana and I really feel that given our successful winter testing we can carry that momentum through into this year"

Kane said, "We raced at Long Beach last year and we were quickest at times during qualifying. I enjoy the street circuits because of their challenging nature and I am really looking forward to the start of the season."

Kane will be hoping for a good result in the opening round at Long Beach setting him up as a serious contender for the title of "2000 Dayton Indy Lights Champion".

Kane off to a quick start for 2000

Jonny Kane Racing press release, Indianapolis, 30 March 2000: Team KOOL Green driver Jonny Kane travelled to Sebring, Florida March 26-27 for two days testing in preparation for the opening round of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship at Long Beach, California April 16. Sunday saw Kane take to the 1.7 mile Sebring circuit with his KOOL Lola-Buick in low downforce trim.

Jonny completed 180 miles with times consistently in the high 57's, with a fastest lap of 57.33s. This topped the times for the day by 0.3s among the other eight Indy Lights cars participating in the test.

"The first day went very well," said Kane, "following on from last month's test where we primarily worked on getting the setup for Long Beach. We made good progress during the day and ended up equalling our best ever time at Sebring."

Owing to heavy rains on Monday track conditions were less than ideal, however Jonny managed to complete 80 miles without incident, lapping in the 58s range.

"With test restrictions now in place for the 2000 season Jonny is making full use of the track time available," said Lou Schollum, Team Manager of the KOOL Indy Lights team. "His road course testing shows that his confidence is very high going into the season opener at Long Beach."

Last season finished with a high of a race win at the final round in California, crowning Kane "1999 Rookie of the Year". The run up to this was 3 well earned podiums from the last 4 races gaining Kane more points than any other driver in the series for the second half of the season. Jonny comes away from this test looking forward to the start of the 2000 Dayton Indy Light Championship Series.

Kane said, "Corning away from Sebring I feel that we are in good shape for the first race. We finished strongly last year and it would be nice to get the season off to a good start. Long Beach is a track I enjoy. I just can't wait to get started."

Team KOOL Green tests at Sebring

Indy Lights, 10th February 2000: Team KOOL Green enjoyed a productive Indy Lights test at Sebring International Raceway in early February, with new team-mates Jonny Kane and Jeff Simmons. Kane, 1999 Dayton Indy Lights Rookie of the Year, is back for a second season with Team KOOL Green while Simmons, 1998/99 Barber Dodge Pro Series champion, is embarking on his rookie Indy Lights campaign with the team.

After rain delayed the start of activities on Wednesday, Kane ran 78 laps in the KOOL Lola and posted a best time of 57.55s, about .2s slower than his fastest 1999 Sebring test lap. Simmons logged 81 laps with a fast lap of 58.3s. Altogether, Kane and Simmons ran 262 miles without incident and without suffering any significant mechanical problems, however rain washed out a planned second day of testing on Thursday.

"We didn't get as much track time as we had planned because of the rain but it was still a good test," said Lou Schollum, Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team manager. "In Jonny's case, we focused on comparing last year's set-ups to what we've developed over the winter on the (chassis) shaker rig. We've made some positive changes to the car, and I'm sure Jonny would have been even quicker had the track conditions been better.

"Jeff is still on the steep end of the Indy Lights learning curve, but he's finding his feet with every lap. Initially, he had a pretty severe understeer and the car was unsettled over the bumps, but we made a lot of progress together. Jeff got more comfortable with the car and the team learned what he likes in the setup, and by the end of the day we had made significant improvements.

"It will take time for Jonny and Jeff to get the most out of working together, but they're both very enthusiastic and their working relationship is starting to gell. Overall, I'd say they're working well together already, and I think they'll only get better."

The next chance for Kane, Simmons and the Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team to work together will come on March 6, when the team travels to Phoenix for a test at Firebird International Raceway.