Toronto racer to suit up for Michael Andretti, George Steinbrenner IV in St. Petersburg, Fla., race.. James Hinchcliffe and Juan Montoya have both done a lot for me over the years
Years ago, in 2012 or so, I did an interview with a young Ontario karter named Devlin DeFrancesco, for which big things were expected. I talked to a lot of kid racers back in the day – Lance Stroll, Robert Wickens and Daniel Morad among them – and it was always fun to ask them about their ambitions.
Stroll, of course, said he intended to be a Formula One driver. He was actually on his way by age 12. His father, Lawrence Stroll, had invested $25 million in the Ferrari Driver Academy, where Lance was already enrolled. The family had moved from Montreal to Switzerland to be near the school. So Lance knew where he was going.
Wickens won everything in sight – he had Red Bull sponsorship – but when it came time to move up to F1, there was always somebody ahead of him in line who had serious money (Wickens didn’t have that much). The following year, Morad won the Formula BMW North America championship, as Wickens had before him, and went to Austria to collect his prize. Helmut Marko, Red Bull driver development director, took one look at him and said: “Get out of here! I don’t need another Canadian.”
All those guys – and others – wanted to make it to F1. But when I asked DeFrancesco in that first interview, he surprised me by saying he wanted to be a NASCAR driver. Why, I asked? “Because there are more races and you get to have that much more fun,” he said. His father, Andy, was standing beside him when he said that and slowly shook his head.
“We’ll see about that,” he said.
Dad was right – then and now but maybe not forever. Devlin DeFrancesco will launch his IndyCar career in St. Petersburg, Fla., next weekend when the NTT-sponsored series kicks off its 17-race championship that will include stops in Toronto (fingers crossed) and the biggest race in the world, the Indianapolis 500.
Now, a reminder: when he was born in 2000, DeFrancesco was 15 weeks premature and barely weighed a pound. His eyes were fused shut. Nobody gave him a chance of living and he was given the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church. But he was a fighter and never gave up. Now, he’s five-foot-five and weighs a solid 138 pounds. He drives racing cars (which he’s done since he was six) and when he’s not on the track he’s in the gym working out twice a day, five or six days a week.
DeFrancesco’s living in Miami Beach at the moment (when he was racing in Europe before deciding on an IndyCar career, he split his time between Toronto and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). When he feels like it, he goes cycling around town with Romain Grosjean, a teammate on the Andretti Autosport team that also includes Colton Herta and Alexander Rossi.
DeFrancesco’s Andretti car is co-owned by George Steinbrenner IV of New York Yankees fame.
“I have a huge opportunity in front of me now,” DeFrancesco said in conversation the other day. “I have a great group of people around me, so I’m very excited to get going.
“To go from Indy PRO 2000 to Indy Lights to IndyCar with the same team has been a huge help. After two years, this place feels like home and that will make the transition into the IndyCar so much easier.”
He said Michael Andretti has been in his corner since he signed with the team to drive in Indy PRO 2000 two seasons ago.
“Michael and I have set goals for the season,” DeFrancesco said. “He’s been a massive help. I didn’t have a good year in Indy Lights (last year) but the plan was for me to move into IndyCar this year where the car might be better suited to my style. For instance, the biggest thing you notice is how incredible these cars are on the brakes compared to Indy Lights. I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for Michael Andretti and George Steinbrenner.”
Unlike many on the current IndyCar and F1 roster, DeFrancesco doesn’t have a coach. However, he receives a lot of unofficial help from friends.
“James (Hinchcliffe) has been in my corner and Juan (Pablo) Montoya has done a lot for me over the years. There are not that many drivers who have the adaptability that he has and I hope to pick up some of that.”
Of all the races on the schedule, however, the Indianapolis 500 is the one most drivers look forward to every year. DeFrancesco is no exception.
“That is the race that stands out for me” he said. “The Speedway cars are being prepared already and I’ve been keeping tabs and asking questions: how we’re looking and how things look in the wind tunnel. Indy is the crown jewel – there’s no bigger race in the world – and although I’m looking forward to all the races, St. Pete and going home to race in Toronto for the first time, that’s what I’m looking forward to as well, but definitely it’s the Indy 500.”
And what about Toronto? The race has been cancelled twice because of COVID-19 and although things are opening up in Ontario, there’s still a cap of 500 people attending any sporting event.
“I think the series wants to come back to Toronto,” DeFrancesco said. “Their decision depends on the situation in Canada – what, if anything, is the situation with sports events and how they want to deal with it. To be honest, I think it’s more of a government situation than a series situation.”
Okay. Devlin. Tell me about your plans to go NASCAR racing, as you told me you planned to do all those years ago. When you do a head count, there aren’t more than 100 (or so) jobs in North American big-league auto racing. You’ve got one now, but who knows what will happen in 10 years when you’re 32 and still keen to race.
“I’d be keen to race in NASCAR,” he said. “I think you have to have an open mind about those things. Stock cars, sports cars – it wouldn’t matter. I want to race now and I’d want to race then. If somebody wants me to race for them, I’d be foolish not to at least listen to them.
“But I love IndyCars and I’m really looking forward to the season. We’re talking way in the future, I know that, but I hope I never have to make that decision.”
Norris McDonald, a past Wheels editor in chief, covers the Canadian automotive and global racing scene for the Star. He is a member of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @NorrisMcDonald2
Keyword: Once-tiny racer to make his first start in IndyCar big league