Nilton Rossoni

Nilton Rossoni
Nationality Brazil Brazilian
Born April 21, 1981
Curitiba, Paraná
Retired 2002
Barber Dodge Pro Series
Years active 1997-2000, 2002
Starts 35
Wins 10
Poles 6
Fastest laps 7
Best finish 1st in 2000
Previous series
1997-2000
2001
2002
Barber Dodge Pro Series
Indy Lights
Barber Dodge Pro Series
Championship titles
2000 Barber Dodge Pro Series

Nilton 'Niltinho' Rossoni (Curitiba, April 21, 1981) is a former Brazilian racing driver who won the 2000 Barber Dodge Pro Series championship.

Racing career

After winning karting championships in the Paraná and São Paulo regions the young driver graduated into single-seaters in 1997. The sixteen-year-old raced in the Formula Chevrolet Brazil, a support series to the highly popular Stock Car Brasil. He won the rookie of the year title in his inaugural season.[1] Near the end of the racing season the Brazilian made his debut in the Barber Dodge Pro Series. He qualified twelfth out of 27 but had to retire after one lap due to a clutch failure.[2] He returned the following year winning races at Road America and Homestead-Miami Speedway finishing sixth in the standings. The 1999 season was a season in which Rossoni failed to finish six times. At Homestead-Miami Speedway the Brazilian won pole-position but had to retire due to a mechanical issue.[3] The young driver got his revenge in the 2000 season of the Barber Dodge Pro Series. Rossoni won six out of twelve races. Before the final round only Jon Fogarty had a mathematical chance to win the championship. Rossoni won his title in style by winning the final round of the season.[4] After his success the Brazilian graduated into the Indy Lights. But as the economic crisis hit Brazil, his longtime sponsor Fox Distribuidora de Petróleo (owned by the Rossoni family) almost went bankrupt.[5] Rossoni could only compete one race, at Fundidora park supporting the Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey. His weekend started well as he qualified in second place. Rossoni had a poor start of the race as he was passed by Townsend Bell and passed the finish line in seventh place after the first lap. Rossoni failed to finish as he wrecked his car after four laps.[6] After his nightmare 2001 season Rossoni decided to return to the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2002 for two races.[7] After two fourth place finishes he retired from professional racing.

Motorsports results

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1997 United States
STP
United States
SEB
United States
SAV
United States
LRP
United States
MDO
United States
WGI
United States
MIN
United States
MDO
United States
ROA
United States
LS
United States
REN
United States
LS
26
NC -
1998 United States
SEB
22
United States
LRP
21
United States
DET
2
United States
WGI
21
United States
CLE
5
United States
GRA
United States
MDO
United States
ROA
1
United States
LS1
United States
ATL
United States
HMS
1
United States
LS2
3
6th 83
1999 United States
SEB
2
United States
NAZ
7
United States
LRP
21
United States
POR
2
United States
CLE
1
United States
ROA
6
United States
DET
20
United States
MDO
20
United States
GRA
15
United States
LS
18
United States
HMS
18
United States
WGI
1
6th 94
2000 United States
SEB
1
United States
MIA
1
United States
NAZ
16
United States
LRP
13
United States
DET
6
United States
CLE
1
United States
MDO
2
United States
ROA
1
Canada
VAN
4
United States
LS
1
United States
RAT
3
United States
HMS
1
1st 175
2002 United States
SEB
4
United States
LRP
4
United States
LAG
United States
POR
Canada
TOR
United States
CLE
Canada
VAN
United States
MDO
United States
ROA
Canada
MTL
19th 25

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2001 Conquest Racing Mexico
MTY
12
United States
LBH
United States
TXS
United States
MIL
United States
POR
United States
KAN
Canada
TOR
United States
MDO
United States
STL
United States
ATL
United States
LS
United States
FON
16th 1

References

  1. "Rossoni disputa duas corridas". ANotícia. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  2. "SBRS: Laguna Seca final qualifying". motorsport.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  3. "Homestead Results". Skip Barber Racing School. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  4. "Rossoni the Champion". Skip Barber Racing School. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  5. "Niltinho Rossoni: Quando a crueldade da vida impede que um talento do automobilismo se firme". Diario Motorsport. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  6. "Monterrey Sunday race report". motorsport.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  7. "Dois anos após, Rossoni volta a correr na F-Barber Dodge Pro". Speed On Line. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Jeff Simmons
Barber Dodge Pro Series Champion
2000
Succeeded by
Nicolas Rondet