Wattles moves from driving seat to pit-wall.

After a long period of deliberation, Stan Wattles has elected to retire from the cockpit and move into team ownership following a disappointing start to the 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series Championship with Hemelgarn Racing.

Stan Wattles, who made 17 career starts in the Indy Racing League since its debut in 1996, has elected to retire from driving and will take an ownership role for the remainder of the 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season. Wattles' No.92 Hemelgarn/Metro Racing plans to resume competition in July, and a new driver will be announced within the next few weeks.

"I came into this year with all the right stuff," Wattles said. "I had great equipment, an awesome team and the opportunity to compete for the reigning IRL champions, Hemelgarn Racing, but unfortunately the luck of racing was absent."

Wattles competed in the first three Indy Racing Northern Light Series events this season, posting a best finish of 12th on April 28 at Atlanta. A series of racing-related incidents throughout the first quarter of the season and failure to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 played a key role in Wattles' decision process.

"I've thought long and hard about retiring," Wattles said. "After having been beat up emotionally, physically and financially for long enough, it's time. I've got a wonderful wife, two adorable children and endless opportunities. I have nothing to prove. I love the speed, the balance and the skill that it takes to handle an Indy car. It's in my blood and always will be.

"But given the luck I have had in IRL competition, I think someone is trying to tell me that it's time to move on. The fun has definitely gone."

Wattles, from Sewall's Point, Fla., will continue to pursue race driving as a hobby. He plans to compete in sports cars and karts but will turn his primary focus toward his family and other business opportunities.

Holding black belts in the Korean martial arts of Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Kum Ye Do, Wattles plans to open a martial arts school in the near future.

"I would like to take a moment to thank my team for sticking by me," Wattles said. "They are truly some of the best individuals I have ever worked with. Running under the Hemelgarn Racing banner was a wonderful opportunity, and I appreciate the support that Ron Hemelgarn, Lee Kunzman, Buddy Lazier and the rest of the Hemelgarn team gave me.

"The Indy Racing League is an exciting concept, one that allowed me the opportunity to compete in the Indy-car ranks. I want to extend my appreciation to Tony George and the entire Hulman-George family for developing such a series."

Wattles, who competed in the first ever Indy Racing League event at the Walt Disney World Speedway in January 1996 started the first three IRL events of that year before focusing his attention on the Indianapolis 500 where he finally made his debut in 1998 under the Metro Racing Systems banner. In three Indy 500 starts Wattles' best finish was 17th in 1999 but he failed to qualify this year and his car was handed over to Steve Knapp who also failed to make the cut. Wattles' best IRNLS finish was an eighth place effort at Las Vegas in 1997, a feat he repeated in Texas a year later.