Beaux Barfield Announced as 2012 Race Director

Beaux Barfield, most recently the Race Director with the American Le Mans Series, has accepted the vacated post of Race Director for the Izod IndyCar Series. Barfield assumes the role Brian Barnhart held with INDYCAR since 1996, when it was then known as the Indy Racing League. Barnhart was removed from the position following season filled with inconsistent calls and non-calls.

"Though Beaux's most recent experience is in sports car racing, his roots are in open-wheel racing," INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard said of the 40-year-old Barfield. "He has built a strong reputation as a race director with ALMS and bringing him on board ensures that INDYCAR has a dedicated Race Director with the right level of expertise for the IZOD IndyCar Series."

Barfield's former experience behind the wheel (he made up as far as Indy Lights in open wheel racing) will give him added insight in directing race weekends. "I grew up around racing, so I've been involved in it all my life," said Barfield, who served as a race steward with Champ Car from 2003-2008 and also served as Race Director for the Atlantic Championship and Trans Am Series during that same period. "The one thing that I wanted to do as a racing driver growing up in America was to be involved with the Indy 500. When my driving career took a change of course and I found myself officiating, it was still a goal of mine to get to Indy car racing and the Indy 500. In that regard, it represents the pinnacle of my aspirations as a race official. I'm truly honored to be a part of INDYCAR."