E. J. Viso

Venezuelan racing driver


title: "E. J. Viso" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1985-births", "living-people", "racing-drivers-from-caracas", "venezuelan-racing-drivers", "indycar-series-drivers", "indianapolis-500-drivers", "international-formula-3000-drivers", "gp2-series-drivers", "british-formula-three-championship-drivers", "formula-renault-eurocup-drivers", "karting-world-championship-drivers", "24-hours-of-daytona-drivers", "weathertech-sportscar-championship-drivers", "x-games-competitors", "stadium-super-trucks-drivers", "manor-motorsport-drivers", "isport-international-drivers", "starworks-motorsport-drivers", "hvm-racing-drivers", "andretti-autosport-drivers", "kv-racing-technology-drivers", "racing-engineering-drivers", "durango-(racing-team)-drivers", "p1-motorsport-drivers", "oak-racing-drivers", "fortec-motorsport-drivers", "core-autosport-drivers", "12-hours-of-sebring-drivers"] description: "Venezuelan racing driver" topic_path: "engineering" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._J._Viso" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Venezuelan racing driver ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox racing driver"]

FieldValue
nameE.J. Viso
imageEJ Viso 2009 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.JPG
captionErnesto Viso at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2009.
nationalityVenezuela Venezuelan
birth_date
birth_placeCaracas, Republic of Venezuela
racing_licence[[File:FIA Platinum Driver.png
current_seriesStadium Super Trucks
years_active20142016
car_number5
starts27
wins7
poles5
best_finish5th
year2014
prev_seriesSkip Barber Formula Dodge
British Formula Renault
FR 2000 Eurocup
British F3 Championship
GP2 Series
IndyCar Series
prev_series_years2001
2002
2002
200304
200507
2008-13
titlesNational Class British F3 Champion
title_years2003
::

| name = E.J. Viso | image = EJ Viso 2009 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.JPG | imagesize = | caption = Ernesto Viso at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2009. | nationality = Venezuela Venezuelan | birth_date = | birth_place = Caracas, Republic of Venezuela | racing_licence = [[File:FIA Platinum Driver.png|12px]] FIA Platinum | current_series = Stadium Super Trucks | years_active = 20142016 | car_number = 5 | starts = 27 | wins = 7 | poles = 5 | best_finish = 5th | year = 2014 | prev_series = Skip Barber Formula Dodge British Formula Renault FR 2000 Eurocup British F3 Championship GP2 Series IndyCar Series | prev_series_years = 2001 2002 2002 200304 200507 2008-13 | titles = National Class British F3 Champion | title_years = 2003 | awards = | award_years = Ernesto José "E. J." Viso Lossada (born March 19, 1985) is a Venezuelan professional racing driver. He has raced in the 2005 and 2006 GP2 Series seasons, and has also driven the third car for Spyker MF1 Racing. In 2007 he competed in the GP2 Series for Racing Engineering. In 2014 he made his season debut for the Stadium Super Trucks in the Long Beach Grand Prix. He most recently drove for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series.

Career

Early racing

Born in Caracas, Viso spent time in his early career in both Europe and America. He attended Rolling Hills Prep high school in California. Viso's career started in karting back in 1993, where he stayed until 2001 when he moved to US Barber Formula Dodge East, becoming champion with confidence. He also raced in the Italian Formula Renault Winter Series at the end of that year, moving to British Formula Renault for 2002. In 2002, he also drove in one race of Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup, and at the end of the year in the British Formula 3 Winter Series.

2003 saw a move to British Formula 3, where he raced in the B-Class and became champion after a controversial collision with his main rival during the final race of the season. He then moved to the main class in 2004, racing part of the season for the P1 team, his performances attracting the attention of F3000 team Durango who lured him to the series for the remainder of the season.

GP2

In 2005, Viso raced in the inaugural season of the GP2 Series for the BCN Competicion team, alongside Hiroki Yoshimoto. In 2006, he again raced in the GP2 Series for the iSport team. He won the San Marino Sunday race and the Spain Sunday race. He also drove the third Spyker MF1 Team car in the Friday practice sessions of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Before the 2007 French Grand Prix, it was confirmed that Viso would replace the underperforming Sérgio Jimenez at Racing Engineering. His race ended on the first lap in a spectacular collision with Michael Ammermüller and Kazuki Nakajima in which his car somersaulted over the barriers at tremendous speed, smashing through an advertising hoarding and narrowly missing a bridge (as luck would have it, hitting the board saved him from clouting the bridge and probably more severe injuries), leaving him only a severe concussion and painful arm. This crash was very similar to the one of Marco Campos that happened on the same track in 1995, leading to Campos's death. Campos died of severe head trauma after hitting his head on the concrete barrier. Viso was only inches away from the same fate. For the British round, he was replaced by Filipe Albuquerque. Viso took part in the following race meeting, but was then replaced by Marcos Martinez.

IndyCar Series

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Ernesto_José_Viso_at_2008_Indianapolis_500_practice.jpg" caption="E. J. Viso in 2008."] ::

Viso competed in the newly united IndyCar Series in 2008 for HVM Racing. He made his first series start in the first oval race of his career on March 29. His next start, at St. Petersburg, was a superb performance ending with a fourth-place finish. At Milwaukee he ended with an eighth place. Shortly after the Watkins Glen race (in which he finished tenth but forced Vítor Meira off the track, causing Meira to run back onto the track to confront Viso on the next lap) he was diagnosed with the mumps and was forced to withdraw from the next race. Viso finished eighteenth overall in the 2008 series and has signed a contract to drive for HVM in 2009. On February 21, 2010 KV Racing confirmed that Viso would drive the No. 8 car for the team for the entire 2010 season.

For the 2011 IndyCar campaign, Viso remained with KV Racing. He showed flashes of speed, particularly in Brazil where he was in contention for a win. He remained one of the more accident-prone drivers in the series, which led to questions about his seat for 2012 . Viso finished eighteenth in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship on the strength of four top-ten finishes with a season best seventh place showing in Texas Race No. 2.

For 2013, Viso remained in the IndyCar Series with Andretti Autosport, in the No. 5 with sponsorship from oil company PDVSA, recording a best finish of fourth at Milwaukee and finishing fifteenth in the final points standings.

In 2014, Viso failed to find an IndyCar drive. In May, he was called in by Andretti Autosport to take part in practice for the Indianapolis 500 while James Hinchcliffe recovered from a concussion suffered at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Viso drove in the first four days of practice, and led the speed charts on the third day, before Hinchcliffe was cleared to drive in time for Fast Friday practice.

Stadium Super Trucks

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Long_Beach_Grand_Prix_2014_-Day_3(13900079186).jpg" caption="Viso in the 2014 Stadium Super Trucks race at Long Beach"] ::

In 2014, Viso made his Stadium Super Trucks series debut in Long Beach, California where he finished second after a last lap battle with series founder Robby Gordon. On May 30, Viso got his first ever win in an SST on only his second ever series appearance at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, where he finished 1st ahead of Robby Gordon in an eventful last lap finish. Viso also captured his second win a day later beating 16-year-old Scotty Steele. Viso swept all three Detroit events on June 1, and won race 1 at Coronado. The Venezuelan finished fifth in the season standings.

Driving style

During his stay in IndyCar, Viso was known for his very aggressive driving style, which resulted in a large retirement rate due to contact, and repeated criticism from his fellow competitors.

Personal life

During his racing career, Viso rode unicycles as a hobby.

Racing record

Complete Formula Renault UK results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) ::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | DC | Points | nowrap| Manor Motorsport | 20th | 40 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2002 | BRH 18 | OUL 18 | THR Ret | SIL 16 | THR Ret | BRH Ret | CRO 20 | SNE 17 | SNE 20 | KNO 23 | BRH 10 | DON 9 | DON Ret | | | | | | | ::

Complete British Formula 3 International Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) ::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | DC | Points | nowrap| P1 Motorsport | nowrap| Dallara F301 | nowrap| Mugen-Honda | Scholarship | 1st | 323 | nowrap| P1 Motorsport | nowrap| Dallara F304 | nowrap| Mugen-Honda | Championship | 11th | 66 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2003 | DON 1 Ret | DON 2 Ret | SNE 1 10 | SNE 2 12 | CRO 1 16 | CRO 2 14 | KNO 1 13 | KNO 2 9 | SIL 1 22 | SIL 2 26 | CAS 1 12 | CAS 2 11 | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 13 | ROC 1 13 | ROC 2 7 | THR 1 9 | THR 2 8 | SPA 1 20 | SPA 2 16 | DON 1 13 | DON 2 9 | BRH 1 13 | BRH 2 Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004 | DON 1 5 | DON 2 5 | SIL 1 7 | SIL 2 C | CRO 1 Ret | CRO 2 Ret | KNO 1 1 | KNO 2 6 | SNE 1 12 | SNE 2 5 | SNE 3 9 | CAS 1 4 | CAS 2 Ret | DON 1 | DON 2 | OUL 1 | OUL 2 | SIL 1 | SIL 2 | THR 1 | THR 2 | SPA 1 | SPA 2 | BRH 1 | BRH 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) ::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Points | nowrap| Durango Corse | 12th | 7 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2004 | IMO | CAT | MON | NUR | MAG 8 | SIL 11 | HOC 7 | HUN 6 | SPA 10 | MNZ 8 | | | | | | | ::

Complete GP2 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) ::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | DC | Points | nowrap| BCN Competición | 11th | 21 | nowrap| iSport International | 6th | 42 | nowrap| Racing Engineering | 29th | 0 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2005 | IMO FEA 10 | IMO SPR DNS | CAT FEA Ret | CAT SPR Ret | MON FEA DSQ | NÜR FEA Ret | NÜR SPR 11 | MAG FEA 11 | MAG SPR 8 | SIL FEA 15 | SIL SPR 13 | HOC FEA DSQ | HOC SPR 12 | HUN FEA 6 | HUN SPR Ret | IST FEA 14 | IST SPR 12 | MNZ FEA Ret | MNZ SPR Ret | SPA FEA 2 | SPA SPR 3 | BHR FEA 8 | BHR SPR 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006 | VAL FEA 8 | VAL SPR 2 | IMO FEA 6 | IMO SPR 1 | NÜR FEA 6 | NÜR SPR 11 | CAT FEA 8 | CAT SPR 1 | MON FEA Ret | SIL FEA Ret | SIL SPR 8 | MAG FEA 10 | MAG SPR Ret | HOC FEA 4 | HOC SPR 4 | HUN FEA 4 | HUN SPR 4 | IST FEA Ret | IST SPR 13 | MNZ FEA Ret | MNZ SPR 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2007 | BHR FEA | BHR SPR | CAT FEA | CAT SPR | MON FEA | MAG FEA Ret | MAG SPR DNS | SIL FEA | SIL SPR | NÜR FEA 14 | NÜR SPR 8 | HUN FEA | HUN SPR | IST FEA | IST SPR | MNZ FEA | MNZ SPR | SPA FEA | SPA SPR | VAL FEA | VAL SPR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Complete Formula One participations

(key) ::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | WDC | Points | nowrap| Spyker MF1 Racing | nowrap| Spyker M16 | nowrap| Toyota V8 | – | – | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2006 | BHR | MAL | AUS | SMR | EUR | ESP | MON | GBR | CAN | USA | FRA | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA | CHN | JPN | BRA TD | | | | | | | | | | | ::

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

IndyCar Series

::data[format=table] | Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points | Ref | HVM Racing | 33 | nowrap| Dallara IR-05 | Honda | 18th | 286 | nowrap| Panoz DP01 | nowrap| Cosworth XFE | 13 | Dallara IR-05 | Honda | 18th | 248 | nowrap| KV Racing Technology | 8 | 17th | 262 | nowrap| KV Racing Technology-Lotus | 59 | 18th | 241 | nowrap| KV Racing Technology | 5 | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet | 20th | 244 | nowrap| Andretti Autosport | 15th | 340 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2008 | HMS 17 | STP 4 | MOT1 DNP | | KAN 14 | INDY 26 | MIL 8 | TXS 14 | IOW 13 | RIR 10 | WGL 10 | NSH3 Wth | MDO 22 | EDM 15 | KTY 13 | SNM 6 | DET 24 | CHI 23 | SRF2 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LBH1 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2009 | STP 17 | LBH 23 | KAN 21 | INDY 24 | MIL 18 | TXS 24 | IOW 20 | RIR 12 | WGL 7 | TOR 13 | EDM 12 | KTY 15 | MDO 15 | SNM 22 | CHI 17 | MOT 15 | HMS 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2010 | SAO 12 | STP 17 | ALA 16 | LBH 15 | KAN 27 | INDY 25 | TXS 11 | IOW 3 | WGL 11 | TOR 19 | EDM 8 | MDO 26 | SNM 19 | CHI 27 | KTY 26 | MOT 15 | HMS 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2011 | STP 19 | ALA 23 | LBH 25 | SAO 13 | INDY 32 | TXS 7 | TXS 10 | MIL 20 | IOW 17 | TOR 9 | EDM 20 | MDO 15 | NHM 12 | SNM 9 | BAL 15 | MOT 21 | KTY 23 | LVS4 C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2012 | STP 8 | ALA 18 | LBH 12 | SAO 9 | INDY 18 | DET 18 | TXS 19 | MIL 5 | IOW 24 | TOR 20 | EDM 16 | MDO 20 | SNM 16 | BAL 9 | FON 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2013 | STP 7 | ALA 12 | LBH 22 | SAO 6 | INDY 18 | DET 17 | DET 17 | TXS 10 | MIL 4 | IOW 10 | POC 21 | TOR 14 | TOR 5 | MDO 17 | SNM 14 | BAL 13 | HOU 9 | HOU 16 | FON5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

: 1 Run on same day. : 2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race. : 3 Pulled out of race after contracting mumps : 4 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11. : 5 Missed race after falling ill due to eating bad oysters. Replaced by Carlos Muñoz.

::data[format=table] | Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win) | Top 10s (Non-podium) | Indianapolis 500 Wins | Championships | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 6 | 3 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | ::

Indianapolis 500

::data[format=table]

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
2008DallaraHonda2626nowrap
2009DallaraHonda2924nowrap
2010DallaraHonda1925nowrap
2011DallaraHonda1832nowrap
2012DallaraChevrolet918nowrap
2013DallaraChevrolet418nowrap
::

Complete American Le Mans Series results

::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points | nowrap| CORE Autosport | 15th | 24 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2012 | PC | nowrap| Oreca FLM09 | nowrap| Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | | SEB ovr:12 cls:1 | LNB | MON | LIM | MOS | MID | AME | BAL | VIR | PET | | | | | | | ::

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

::data[format=table] | Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points | nowrap| Starworks Motorsport | P | nowrap| Riley Mk XXVI DP | nowrap| Dinan (BMW) 5.0 L V8 | 55th | 15 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2014 | DAY 17 | SEB | LBH | LGA | DET | WGL | MOS | IMS | ELK | COA | PET | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

  • Season still in progress.--

Stadium Super Trucks

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.) ::data[format=table]

Stadium Super Trucks resultsYear12345678910111213141516171819202122SSTCPtsRef20145th28020156th344201614th99
STPSTPLBH
2*IMSIMSDET
1*DET
1*DET
1AUS
15TORTOROCF
3OCF
10CSS
5LVV
10*LVV
10
ADE
1*ADE
4ADE
10STP
4*STP
5LBH
1*DET
2*DET
1DET
5AUS
7TOR
8TOR
9OCF
Rpl†OCF
Rpl†OCF
Rpl†SRFSRFSRFSRFSYDLVVLVV
ADEADEADESTPSTPLBHLBHDET
8DET
C1DET
2TOW
10*TOW
7TOW
1*TORTORCLTCLTOCFOCFSRFSRFSRF
† – "Mad" Mike Whiddett drove Viso's truck, with all points earned by Whiddett going to Viso
::

The race was abandoned after Matt Mingay suffered serious injuries in a crash on lap three.

References

References

  1. (September 18, 2006). "Viso and Spyker MF1". Grandprix.com.
  2. (June 28, 2007). "Viso stapt in bij Racing Engineering". GPUpdate.net.
  3. (July 4, 2007). "Silverstone: Racing Engineering preview". flagworld.auto123.com.
  4. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/irl/2008-07-09-viso-mumps_N.htm IndyCar rookie Viso sidelined by case of mumps], Associated Press via ''USA Today'', July 9, 2008
  5. [http://indycar.com/Drivers/IZOD-IndyCar-Series/EJ-Viso EJ Viso drivers page] {{Webarchive. link. (May 30, 2012 , IndyCar.com, May 22, 2012)
  6. (February 8, 2013). "Ernesto José Viso firma con Andretti Autosport de Indycar". [[El Informador (Venezuela).
  7. "Practice for Indy 500 off to a fast flying start".
  8. "Hinchcliffe: 'Vacation over, back to work'".
  9. Chengelis, Angelique. (June 1, 2014). "E.J. Viso sweeps all three races on Belle Isle". [[The Detroit News]].
  10. "Team takes precedence in Viso's on-track outlook".
  11. "EJ Viso on track to change reckless reputation".
  12. Autoracing1. (2008-05-16). "Wheldon warns Viso to respect ovals".
  13. HAYES, REGGIE. "The Indy 500, from A to Z and everything else".
  14. "E. J. Viso – 2008 IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  15. "E. J. Viso – 2009 IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  16. "E. J. Viso – 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  17. "E. J. Viso – 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  18. "E. J. Viso – 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  19. "E. J. Viso – 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.
  20. "2014 Standings". [[Stadium Super Trucks]].
  21. "2015 Official Point Standings". [[Stadium Super Trucks]].
  22. "2016 Overall Point Standings". [[Stadium Super Trucks]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1985-birthsliving-peopleracing-drivers-from-caracasvenezuelan-racing-driversindycar-series-driversindianapolis-500-driversinternational-formula-3000-driversgp2-series-driversbritish-formula-three-championship-driversformula-renault-eurocup-driverskarting-world-championship-drivers24-hours-of-daytona-driversweathertech-sportscar-championship-driversx-games-competitorsstadium-super-trucks-driversmanor-motorsport-driversisport-international-driversstarworks-motorsport-drivershvm-racing-driversandretti-autosport-driverskv-racing-technology-driversracing-engineering-driversdurango-(racing-team)-driversp1-motorsport-driversoak-racing-driversfortec-motorsport-driverscore-autosport-drivers12-hours-of-sebring-drivers