Two new teams join Indy Racing at Chicago Race.

Two new Indy Racing teams will join the field for the inaugural Delphi Indy 300 on September 2nd at Chicagoland Speedway, as 26 cars are entered for what could be the pivotal race of the Northern Light Series season.

Racing Professionals and Conquest Racing will make their Indy Racing League debuts on the new 1.5-mile oval with rookies Jon Herb and Laurent Redon, respectively, behind the wheel. Herb also is the owner of Racing Professionals, which will field the No. 18 Star Registry G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Herb, a Chicago native, has made four Indy Racing starts this season, with a best finish of 16th on April 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Former Formula One test driver Redon, from Chamond, France, will drive the No. 34 Mi-Jack Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Longtime open-wheel sponsor Mi-Jack is returning to the sport with Conquest Racing, which has fielded cars in Indy Lights in recent years. Two-time Indianapolis 500 starter Eric Bachelart is the chief executive officer of Conquest Racing.

Redon passed his Indy Racing League rookie test Aug. 21 at Chicagoland Speedway. Redon spent 1999 as a test driver for the Benetton team in F1 after spending 1998 as a test driver for the Minardi team, also in F1. He finished ninth in Formula 3000 points in 1997 after finishing eighth in 1996. In 1996, he finished second in the French F3000 championship after winning the title in 1995 with four victories and nine podium finishes.

Treadway-Hubbard Racing will field a second car for rookie Rick Treadway, who finished 17th in his Indy Racing debut August 12th at Kentucky in the No. 5 Meijer G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. He will drive the same car at Chicago as a teammate to rookie standout Felipe Giaffone.

Tri Star Motorsports will return to Indy Racing at Chicago with veteran Jeret Schroeder driving the No. 6 Tri Star Motorsports Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Schroeder's best finish this season is 14th on April 8th at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Northern Light Cup leader Sam Hornish Jr. holds a 45-point lead over second place Buddy Lazier and needs to expand the gap to 53 points at this event to clinch his first Indy Racing championship in the No. 4 Pennzoil Panther Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone.