Dana to drive for Kenn Hardley Racing in IPS.

Open-wheel racing veteran Paul Dana has signed to drive for Kenn Hardley Racing during the 2003 Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series season, team manager John Paul Jr. announced Jan. 29.

Dana, a St. Louis native who lives in Indianapolis, has an impressive background in open-wheel racing.

Open-wheel racing veteran Paul Dana has signed to drive for Kenn Hardley Racing during the 2003 Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series season, team manager John Paul Jr. announced Jan. 29.

Dana, a St. Louis native who lives in Indianapolis, has an impressive background in open-wheel racing.

After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, Dana worked as a mechanic and driver at the Bridgestone Racing School in Canada. Over the 1998-99 season, Dana moved to Indianapolis and contested the Barber Formula Dodge series, where he earned six victories, 10 other top-three finishes, seven poles and seven fastest race laps. He also was invited to the inaugural Formula Dodge National Championship shootout.

Dana's performance in Barber Formula Dodge attracted the attention of CART team owner Gerald Forsythe, whose support helped Dana race in the U.S. F2000 championship in 2001. Dana recorded best finishes of third and fifth, scoring a total of four top-10 finishes in 11 starts. Dana also made his debut in Formula 3, finishing second at Mosport Park in Canada.

"Dana is a bright young guy with a strong desire to succeed," said open-wheel racing veteran Paul, a former IRL IndyCar Series race winner. "We're lucky to have him as our driver."

Kenn Hardley Racing is a new Infiniti Pro Series team based in Pittsboro, Ind. Team owner Kenn Hardley is a successful businessman who founded and is president of Integrated Services, Inc., a leading transportation, logistics and warehousing company.

Mark Olson is the team's chief mechanic. Olson, who has an extensive background in open-wheel racing, was Paul's chief mechanic when Paul won the Michigan 500 in 1983.

"Kenn Hardley is committed to building a first-class race team, and he has shown that in the quality of the people he has hired," Dana said. "John Paul Jr. and Mark Olson both bring a ton of experience to the table. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from them.

"It looks like the Infiniti Pro Series is going to be competitive this year. It's definitely the place to be, and I couldn't be happier."

"Ethanol" will be the title sponsor of Dana's Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone car. The sponsorship was created from a number of companies within the ethanol industry. The list of associate sponsors includes the engineering and technology firms Fagen, Inc., ICM, Inc. and Broin Companies. The program also will receive promotional support from the American Coalition for Ethanol.

"Ethanol is a high-performance fuel that is domestically produced and renewable," Dana said. "Racing is a perfect platform to promote ethanol's growing role in this country's energy policy."

The team will participate in the Infiniti Pro Series portion of the Test in the West on Feb. 3 at California Speedway and Feb. 6 at Phoenix International Raceway. The second IRL Infiniti Pro Series season starts March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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