Brian Barnhart

Who is Brian Barnhart?

Brian Barnhart is the President of Race Operations of IndyCar. Having previously served as director of race operations for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IRL, he is charged with primarily the safety and competition of the racing. Brian's most well-known on-camera role has been giving final instructions to every Indianapolis 500 qualifying attemptee before their run. He was also the president of the league from 2005 to early 2007.

On March 11, 2007, Robin Miller reported that the IRL was seeking a new leader for the marketing side of the IRL and that once found, Barnhart would return to his operations role. Terry Angstadt has since filled the role of President of Marketing Operations of the league and Randy Bernard has been hired as CEO, leaving Barnhart to focus on operations.

Barnhart previously served as a pit crew member or chief mechanic on prominent IndyCar teams. In 1990, he suffered minor injuries during a pit fire in Al Unser, Jr's pit during the Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland.

In 1992, Barnhart was the left-rear tire changer on the pit crew of Unser, Jr.'s winning car.