Newbury to engineer title for Helio?

Marlboro Team Penske has announced that Grant Newbury will be double Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves' race engineer for the 2003 Indy Racing League (IRL) IndyCar Series season.

Grant Newbury, 48, joined Penske Racing in 1989. During his tenure, the team has recorded 59 race wins including five Indianapolis 500 victories and three CART Championships. While he's been a race engineer for a number of Penske drivers, 2003 marks Newbury's first season as race engineer for Helio Castroneves.

Most recently, Newbury served as an engine track support engineer. From 1998-2001, Newbury's primary role was development engineer.

Between 1990 and 1997, Newbury served as race engineer for legendary drivers Danny Sullivan, Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr. In 1990, he worked with Sullivan to capture two wins; from 1991-93 he engineered Fittipaldi to eight wins including the 1993 Indianapolis 500; and from the Milwaukee race in 1995 through the 1997 season, Newbury worked with Unser Jr. to score three wins.

Prior to joining Marlboro Team Penske, Newbury was a member of Truesports Racing. He first worked with the Team on a part-time basis from 1982-84 assisting mechanics at the track, changing tires during races and developing onboard instrumentation systems. Newbury rejoined Truesports full-time from 1985-89. He was race engineer for Bobby Rahal from 1986-88 scoring 11 wins including the 1986 Indianapolis 500 and two CART Championships (1986-87).

In 1989, Newbury focused on development of the Judd engine for the TruPower division of the team -- during which time he worked with then summer intern and current Penske Racing President, Tim Cindric.

From 1978-84, Newbury developed advanced engine and emission control systems for General Motors Advanced Product Engineering. He also joined US Racing (CanAM) on a part-time basis from 1978-81 working with George Follmer, Bobby Rahal and Tom Klausler.

Newbury received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1978 and was granted a GM Fellowship in 1980 to attend the University of Michigan where he earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He resides in Birdsboro, PA with his wife, Carol.