Johncox enters IPS as owner/driver.

Short-track veteran Ronnie Johncox will return to the Indy Racing fold with his own Infiniti Pro Series operation after confirming he will pilot the No. 8 Rev 1 Racing entry in the inaugural IPS Championship, which will make its debut July 7th at Kansas Speedway.

Johncox's involvement in the Infiniti Pro Series marks a homecoming of sorts. He contested a total of eight Indy Racing League events in 1999 and 2000 driving for Tri Star Motorsports, a team co-owned by former Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart.

"We are excited about racing in the Infiniti Pro Series," Johncox said. "This is our first revision of a racing team that has plans to add a second Pro Series car to the team and an IRL team in the near future. We have a great group of people with strong racing backgrounds and business savvy on our team.

"The foundation is in place, and now we begin the process of adding the building blocks."

Johncox, who co-owns Rev 1 Racing with his father, Ron Johncox, and Tampa based businessman Rick Ehrgott, is the second owner/driver to commit to the new development series.

"We just started talking about forming an Infiniti Pro Series team at Indy in May," said Johncox, 33. "I feel that this is a good opportunity to race in an Indy-style car and use our participation as a platform for sponsor involvement in both the Infiniti Pro Series and the Indy Racing League. With the Pro Series racing at the same tracks and on the same weekends as the IRL, it's a great way to showcase the benefits of both series."

A veteran of USAC, NAMARS and ARCA competition, Johncox made his Indy Racing League debut in 1999 at Texas Motor Speedway, starting 10th and finishing 11th.

Johncox, from Jackson, Michigan, also serves on the steering committee for Jackson RaceWeek, a week of activities and community events celebrating the inaugural Michigan Indy 400 scheduled for July 28 at Michigan International Speedway.

Other drivers joining Johncox in the Infiniti Pro Series include Arie Luyendyk Jr., son of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk, A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, actor/racer Jason Priestley, short-track standouts Aaron Fike and Ed Carpenter and Native American Cory Witherill.

The 100-mile Infiniti Pro Series "sprints" will take place at the same track and on the same day as Indy Racing League events except for the Texas race, which will be conducted the day before the IRL's season-ending Chevy 500.

Drivers will compete for a $100,000 purse at each Infiniti Pro Series race, and all events will be broadcast by ESPN2 and distributed worldwide via ESPN International.

No less than 14 cars are expected to turn out for the first ever IPS race with a grid of 20 expected for the 2003 season.