Michael Fitzgerald (racing driver)

Fitzgerald was born in 1961 in Havertown, Pennsylvania.^[3] His interest in motorsport dates to age 10, when he watched Grand Prix (1966).^[3] He studied mechanical engineering at Drexel University.^[4][3] During his time as an engineering student, he used to work on computer numeric control machine and was developed interest in autoracing.^[2]

While still a Drexel undergraduate in the early 1980s, Fitzgerald purchased a small machine shop, which he initially intended to use as a workspace for preparing race cars.^[3][5] The shop grew into Acero Precision, which Fitzgerald has led since its founding in 1985.^[2] Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the company manufactures components for orthopedic and spinal implants, analytical laboratory equipment, oil and gas exploration tools, and motorsport teams, including parts supplied to Team Penske and several Formula One teams.^[5][3] Fitzgerald's wife, Joanne Fitzgerald, serves as the company's director of human capital.^[5]

Fitzgerald competed as a driver at a semi-professional level from 1994 to 1997 before retiring from full-contact racing after sustaining a back injury in a crash in Phoenix.^[5]

In 2001, Fitzgerald won the Historic Grand Prix du Canada.^[2] In 2008, he participated in the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco and attained third place.^[2] His team, Highcroft Racing won American Le Mans Series championship in 2009 and 2010.^[2] Three years later, in 2011, he won the Grand Prix du Canada with Williams FW08.^[6]