To Infiniti and beyond for Conquest.

Eric Bachelart's Conquest Racing team will use Infiniti engines in their inaugural assault on the Indy Racing League Championship in 2002 with French driver Laurent Redon who drove for the team in two end of season IRL events last year now tackling the entire 15 race 2002 schedule.

Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing announced on Friday that former Benetton Formula One test driver Laurent Redon will drive its Indy Racing League entry this season, and the cars will be powered by Infiniti engines.

Redon, 28, passed his Indy Racing League Rookie Test in August at Chicagoland Speedway and he and Conquest Racing made their IRL debut in September at Chicagoland, finishing seventh. Redon finished 11th in the season finale at Texas but the pace he showed marked him out as a potential rookie of the year candidate for 2002 despite his comparative lack of oval racing experience.

"We were impressed with Redon last season, and we are excited that we can continue together for a full season," said Mike Lanigan, president of Mi-Jack Products Inc. "He's shown himself to be a very competitive driver, and we can't wait to get started."

Redon, from Chamond, France, spent 1999 as a test driver for the Benetton team in Formula One after spending 1998 as a test driver for the Minardi F1 team. He finished ninth in Formula 3000 points in 1997 after finishing eighth in 1996. Redon's career started in karts in 1990.

Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing will join Red Bull Cheever Racing and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as teams using Infiniti engines this season. Eddie Cheever, who owns and drives for Red Bull Cheever Racing, has two wins with Infiniti power. Robbie Buhl, driver for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, finished the 2001 season with three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes.

"The Infiniti engine package came on strong at the end of 2001, and with Tom Walkinshaw Racing preparing the motors, we are confident in the level of quality and performance," said Eric Bachelart, Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing team owner. "Also, Infiniti has installed Bernard Dudot as program director for the IRL. Dudot was the man behind Renault's championship-winning involvement in Formula One with Williams and Benetton. He is highly respected within the industry."

Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing also announced the appointment of Craig Perkins as chief engineer. Perkins has been with Conquest for three years. Veteran Indy Racing League engineer Jeff Braun will take on the role of technical director.

"We had a strong run in Indy Lights, and I am pleased that we are now in a position to take on new challenges with the Indy Racing League," Bachelart said. "The IRL is a growing series, and it becomes more competitive every year. For me, personally, this season I will return to the Indianapolis 500 where I have competed as a driver, so I am highly motivated. We're ready."