Blair Racing to compete in IRL with Barron.

Blair Racing officials announced Jan. 9 that the team will compete in the Indy Racing League in 2002 with driver Alex Barron.

Barron, from San Diego, will drive a Dallara chassis with Chevrolet engines.

Entering his second year in motorsports, team owner Larry Blair announced a new partnership for his Indy Racing League venture. Hayden Harris, a dynamic and successful businessman, has joined forces with Blair to compete in the 15-event Indy Racing schedule in 2002.

Blair and Harris have hired industry veteran Tom Gloy to be president of Blair Racing and oversee the team. John Dick will serve as engineer for the team, which has moved into expanded facilities on the north side of Indianapolis.

"Since May of last year, I have continued to make dramatic changes, improving and expanding the team to be competitive in the top levels of racing," Blair said. "For 2002, I have restructured Blair Racing to put together a compact and A-caliber group."

"It is my continued goal to make this a successful endeavor. Hayden's business acumen will help us reach our goals. Having Tom's experience and leadership will enable the operation to run smoothly. Alex has already proven his ability in running for us at two events last year. His superspeedway experience is important to me as a team owner."

Blair, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, held key positions with businesses that laid the foundation of the Internet. His former posts include vice president of marketing for both Redback Networks, Inc. and Ipsilon, and co-founder of Kalpana Networks, Inc., the inventor of the Ethernet switch.

Barron, the 1997 KOOL/Toyota Atlantic champion and KOOL/Toyota Rookie of the Year, made his Indy Racing League debut last August with Sam Schmidt Motorsports at Gateway International Raceway, his lone Indy Racing start. Barron also has raced in CART for Blair Racing, Marlboro Team Penske, Dan Gurney's All-American Racers and Dale Coyne Racing.

"I am looking forward to racing for Larry again," Barron said. "We had good results as a team for the last two races in 2001."

"Larry has put together a program that I feel will be a competitive package. Drivers always look for the right program and a winning combination. I am looking forward to the next few weeks with preseason testing starting in February and the first race in March."

Harris is a general partner and co-founder of EDF Ventures, a venture capital company, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 1977, Harris founded Enterprise Management, Inc. a provider of financial and managerial assistance to companies with high-growth prospects.

Harris also is a member of the board of directors of Emerald BioAgriculture, Inc. and Media Station, Inc. He co-founded TherOx, Inc. and Xtera Communications, Inc. He was chairman, CEO and majority shareholder of Software Services Corporation. Harris was appointed by the Michigan governor to the Corporate Board and Executive Committee of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state's leading economic development authority. He also is chairman of the board of McLaren Performance Technologies, Inc., a provider of high-performance automotive equipment and services.

"I am very excited about joining Larry and Blair Racing," Harris said. "I believe the IRL is the premier open-wheel venue in the United States, and I respect what Tony George has done with the series. My roots in racing go back to midgets and sprint cars, so I feel very strongly about open-wheel racing and its heritage."

"Larry has assembled the important ingredients and talent; I trust our efforts will be fruitful. We will be fielding an extremely competent entry. I have been competitive and mechanically oriented my whole life; I know I am on the right team."

Gloy's accomplishments as a driver and team owner rank among the most significant in motorsports over the past 30 years. Gloy's team competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for three years and the SCCA Trans-Am Series for 14 years.

He also raced in many different series, winning the 1979 North American Formula Atlantic drivers' championship, the 1984 Trans-Am drivers' championship and competed in IMSA and CART. Gloy has one career Indianapolis 500 start, finishing 14th in 1984.

"I thank Larry for the opportunity to work with such a dynamic group," Gloy said. "Since meeting Larry when he started Blair Racing last May, I have watched the many changes and hard work he has put forth to build the strong team necessary to participate in the competitive ranks of the IRL."

"It will be good to be back at the Speedway and to work with Larry and Alex. John is a great addition and adds to the positive chemistry needed to run at the front."

Dick's vast engineering experience includes working with drivers Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan, Hut Stricklin, Arie Luyendyk, John Andretti, Paul Tracy, Max Papis, Gloy and Davy Jones. He has engineered cars in CART, NASCAR, IMSA GTP and SCCA Trans-Am.

In 1990, Dick was on the winning Indianapolis 500 team with Luyendyk.