From zero to Le Mans: Townsend Bell’s unconventional racing journey

Townsend Bell joins Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging conversation about a racing career that took an unconventional path.

Bell didn't climb into a race car until he was 21, but once he discovered racing at Laguna Seca, he committed completely. He talks about hustling his way through Skip Barber, finding sponsorship at trade shows, winning the Indy Lights championship and making the jump into CART with very little experience compared with the drivers around him.

Bell also opens up about the realities of his IndyCar rookie season, including the mistakes, crashes and lessons that came from trying to prove himself too quickly. He explains why he ultimately chose Europe over another IndyCar opportunity, his F3000 experience, F1 testing opportunities and the BAR test-driver deal that fell apart just before he moved to Europe.

The conversation also covers the business side of racing and how Bell learned to build sponsorships around real business relationships rather than simply selling space on a race car. He shares his approach to networking, the importance of recognizing where money is moving in the business world and why young drivers need an almost obsessive level of desire to make it to the top.