Townsend Bell

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Townsend Lorenz Bell[1] (born April 19, 1975) is an American professional motor racing driver competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and also as a motorsports commentator for FOX Sports’ IndyCar Series coverage.

Early career

He spent time in karting, Skip Barber, Formula Dodge and the Barber Dodge Pro Series before graduating to Indy Lights in 2000. He won the Indy Lights championship in 2001. This earned him two late-season starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing. He earned Roberto Moreno's seat at Patrick for 2002. He scored a best finish of fourth at Portland, however a run of disappointing performances and a two probation sanctions from CART Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach Sr. led to his firing from the team after the nine races.[2]

International Formula 3000 career

His efforts shifted to Europe and in 2003 he was teammate to series champion Björn Wirdheim in International F3000 competition. Bell was the first American to score a F3000 podium with a 3rd place at the Hungaroring and he finished 9th overall in a field covered with future Formula One talent – Giorgio Pantano, Patrick Friesacher, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nicolas Kiesa among them.

His performance in F3000 led to Formula One tests with the Jaguar and BAR Honda F1 teams.

Return to IndyCar

File:Townsend Bells IndyCar - Carb Day 2015 - Stierch.jpg
Bell (foreground) participating in the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the 2015 Indianapolis 500

Despite earning a test with British American Racing at year's end, Bell returned to America where he replaced Mark Taylor for Panther Racing in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series midway through 2004, and posted a best finish of fifth. He started one race as an injury replacement for Tomáš Enge in the same car in 2005. He made his first Indianapolis 500 appearance for Vision Racing in 2006, qualifying 15th and finishing 22nd. He returned to the IndyCar Series in 2008 driving the No. 23 car in events where Milka Duno was not scheduled to race. His best result in 2008 was an eighth-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in June. He also was entered in a third team car in the Indy 500, where he qualified twelfth and finished tenth.

In 2009, KV Racing Technology entered Bell in the Indy 500, engineered by Gerald Tyler. Bell was on a limited-month schedule but had an impressive race day, advancing from 24th on the grid up to the top five. Passing Team Penske's Will Power on the last restart, Bell impressed with a fourth-place finish.

Bell posted his best Indianapolis 500 qualifying effort to date in 2011, racing for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, once again engineered by Tyler. By qualifying fourth fastest, he started the 95th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on the inside of the second row.

Bell finished 9th in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, engineered by Tyler. His 2014 Indianapolis 500, back with KV Racing Technology in the No. 6 Robert Graham Dallara-Chevrolet,[3] marked his eighth start in the event and seventh consecutive.

He qualified 4th and led 12 laps in the 2016 Indy 500, racing for Andretti Autosport, before an incident on pit road during caution. He finished 21st.

Sports car career

Bell made his sports car debut in 2012 and won the 12 Hours of Sebring on debut with Alex Job Racing. That season, he drove a Lotus Evora GTE for Alex Job Racing in the American Le Mans Series with Bill Sweedler, before he and Sweedler drove a Ferrari F458 Italia the following year with West/AJR.[4]

He matched his Sebring feat in his first Rolex 24 at Daytona start in 2014, winning that driving with Level 5 Motorsports. Bell and Sweedler won the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup with AIM Autosport, after finishing first or second in three of the four races in the endurance series within the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.[5] The pairing finished fourth overall in the full season GT Daytona class points.

In 2015, Bell and co-driver Bill Sweedler took home the IMSA GT Daytona Championship. In addition, they had a dominant win at VIR and podium finishes in the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of LeMans.[6]

In 2016, Bell along with teammates Jeff Segal and Bill Sweedler won the 24 Hours of LeMans in only their second try.

In the famous Indy500 in 2016 Townsend clocked a top speed of 241.637 mph.[7]

He is competed full-time in the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class with Alex Job Racing in an Audi R8 GT3 and returned to Le Mans with Ferrari in 2017.

Most recently, Bell has competed in the AIM Vasser-Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 for the 2019 & 2020 GTD class seasons.[8]

Television

Since 2025, Bell is a color commentator for FOX Sports with lead anchor Will Buxton and fellow analyst James Hinchcliffe.

Bell has filled in for Formula One coverage on NBC, most notably in 2016 when he replaced Will Buxton, who was on bereavement leave for the races at Sepang and Mexico City.

Bell is also a color commentator for NBC Sports's Global RallyCross Championship. He has also both competed and commented in the Stadium Super Trucks.[9]

At the 2013 X-Games in Munich, Bell competed in Global Rallycross and finished 6th in the final.

Racing record

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1998 SEB
28Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LRP
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET
28Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGI
22Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CLE
16Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
GRA MOH ROA LS1
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ATL
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HMS
23Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LS2
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
16th 36
1999 SEB
30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
NAZ
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LRP
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
POR
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CLE
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ROA
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET
16Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
21Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
GRA
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LS
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HMS
19Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGI
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3rd 104

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
2000 Dorricott Racing LBH
17Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIL
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
POR
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIS
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CHI
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VAN
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LS
18Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
STL
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HOU
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
FON
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2nd 146 [10]
2001 Dorricott Racing MTY
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LBH
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TXS
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIL
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
POR
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
KAN
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TOR
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
STL
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ATL
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LS
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
FON
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1st 192 [11]

CART

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points Ref
2001 Patrick Racing MTY LBH TXS NZR MOT MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS CHI MOH ROA VAN LAU
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ROC
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HOU LS SRF FON 30th 1 [12]
2002 Patrick Racing MTY
19Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LBH
15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOT
14Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIL
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LS
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
POR
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CHI
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TOR
15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CLE
18Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VAN MOH ROA MTL DEN ROC MIA SRF FON MXC 20th 19 [13]

IndyCar Series

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref
2004 Panther Racing Dallara 2 Chevrolet HMS PHX MOT INDY TXS RIR KAN
17Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
NSH
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIL
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIS
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
KTY
21Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
PPIR
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
NZR
18Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CHI
22Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
FON
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TX2
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21st 193 [14]
2005 HMS PHX STP MOT INDY TXS RIR KAN NSH MIL MIS
15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
KTY PPIR SNM CHI WGL FON 30th 15 [15]
2006 Vision Racing 90 Honda HMS STP MOT INDY
22Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL TXS RIR KAN NSH MIL MIS KTY SNM CHI 34th 12 [16]
2008 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 23 HMS STP
21Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOT1
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LBH1
DNPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
KAN MIL
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TXS IOW RIR
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL NSH MOH EDM
25Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
KTY SNM
19Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET CHI SRF2
23Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26th 117 [17]
99 INDY
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2009 KV Racing Technology Dallara IR5 8 STP LBH KAN INDY
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL TOR EDM KTY MOH SNM CHI MOT HMS 32nd 32 [18]
2010 Sam Schmidt Motorsports 99 SAO STP ALA LBH KAN INDY
16Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TXS IOW WGL TOR EDM MOH SNM CHI KTY MOT HMS 38th 18 [19]
2011 STP ALA LBH SAO INDY
26Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
TXS2 TXS2 MIL IOW TOR EDM MOH NHM SNM BAL MOT 35th 40 [20]
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 22 KTY
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LVS3
CScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2012 Schmidt–Hamilton Motorsports Dallara DW12 99 STP ALA LBH SAO INDY
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET TXS MIL IOW TOR EDM MOH SNM BAL FON 30th 26 [21]
2013 Panther Racing 60 Chevrolet STP ALA LBH SAO INDY
27Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET DET TXS MIL IOW POC TOR TOR MOH SNM BAL HOU HOU FON 35th 10 [22]
2014 KV Racing Technology 6 STP LBH ALA IMS INDY
25Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET DET TXS HOU HOU POC IOW TOR TOR MOH MIL SNM FON 32nd 22 [23]
2015 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24 STP NLA LBH ALA IMS INDY
14Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET DET TXS TOR FON MIL IOW MOH POC SNM 35th 32 [24]
2016 Andretti Autosport 29 Honda STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY
21Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET DET RDA IOW TOR MOH POC TXS WGL SNM 27th 55 [25]
1 Run on same day.
2 Non-points race.
3 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(non-win)
Top 10s
(non-podium)
Indianapolis 500
wins
Championships
12 6 31 0 0 0 9 0 0

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2006 Dallara Honda 15 22 Vision Racing
2008 Dallara Honda 12 10 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
2009 Dallara Honda 24 4 KV Racing Technology
2010 Dallara Honda 10 16 Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2011 Dallara Honda 4 26 Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2012 Dallara Honda 20 9 Schmidt–Hamilton Motorsports
2013 Dallara Chevrolet 22 27 Panther Racing
2014 Dallara Chevrolet 25 25 KV Racing Technology
2015 Dallara Chevrolet 24 14 Dreyer & Reinbold Kingdom Racing
2016 Dallara Honda 4 21 Andretti Autosport

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
2003 Arden International IMO
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CAT
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
A1R
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MON
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
NUR
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MAG
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SIL
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HOC
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
HUN
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MNZ
RetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9th 17
Sources:[26][27]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Class
Pos.
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2015 Template:Flagicon Scuderia Corsa Template:Flagicon Jeff Segal
Template:Flagicon Bill Sweedler
Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 GTE
Am
330 24th 3rd
2016 Template:Flagicon Scuderia Corsa Template:Flagicon Jeff Segal
Template:Flagicon Bill Sweedler
Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 GTE
Am
331 26th 1st
2017 Template:Flagicon Scuderia Corsa Template:Flagicon Bill Sweedler
Template:Flagicon Cooper MacNeil
Ferrari 488 GTE GTE
Am
331 29th 3rd
Source:[28]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Pos.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Points
2014 Level 5 Motorsports GTD Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Ferrari 4.5L V8 DAY
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4th 293
AIM Autosport SEB
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LGA
14Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
BEL
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOS
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
IMS
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ELK
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VIR
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
AUS
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ATL
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2015 Scuderia Corsa GTD Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Ferrari 4.5L V8 DAY
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LGA
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
BEL
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LIM
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ELK
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VIR
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
AUS
6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
PET
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1st 281
2018 Scuderia Corsa GTD Ferrari 488 GT3 Ferrari F154CB 3.9L Turbo V8 DAY
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
17Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
BEL
WGL
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
PET
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17th 109
2019 AIM Vasser Sullivan GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0L V8 DAY
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DET
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOS
3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LIM
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ELK
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VIR
7Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LGA
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
PET
11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8th 236
2020 AIM Vasser Sullivan GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0L V8 DAY
12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
DAY
2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ELK
1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
VIR
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
ATL
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
MOH
10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
CLT
4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
PET
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
LGA
8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
9Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6th 251
2021 Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0L V8 DAY
13Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
MOH
DET
5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
WGL
WGL
LIM
ELK
LGA
LBH
VIR
PET
66th 202
2022 VasserSullivan GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Toyota 2UR 5.0 L V8 DAY
15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
SEB
LBH
LGA
MOH
DET
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
63rd 190
Source:[26]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

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  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  16. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Sporting positions
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Indy Lights Champion
2001 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:IMSA GTD Pro teams Template:KV Racing Technology Template:Arrow McLaren Template:VisionRacingIndyCar Template:Panther Racing Template:Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Template:Patrick Racing Template:United SportsCar Championship champions