Panther signs Brit Taylor for IPS.

Just hours before giving Daniel Wheldon his Indy Racing League debut at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Pennzoil Panther Racing snapped up another Briton to leads its first assault on the supporting Infiniti Pro Series for 2003.

British Formula Three race winner Mark Taylor is now set to compete in the United States after securing a drive with the 2001 Indy Racing League champions. The British ace will compete in the new-for-2002 IPS, which has been designed as a feeder series to promote young talent into the IRL ranks.

"Most of you have been to our shop, and there were areas that were getting cobwebs, so we decided to put something in it," joked Panther team boss John Barnes at the announcement, "Actually, we've been very interested in the Infiniti Pro Series since day one. We just wanted to give it a year to get all the bugs worked out and get all the technical side, engine and chassis side done. Then see who the big players are and what we would need to do to be competitive."

Although the team's choice of relative unknown Taylor may have been a surprise, the young Londoner has taken two victories in this season's highly-competitive British F3 series - both at Silverstone - and currently lies sixth in the standings.

"Coming over to America was the best opportunity for me for next year," Taylor said, "I was very excited to talk with John Barnes about the Infiniti Pro Series and with the prospect of working with Panther Racing. As far as next year, working with them is the best thing because I want to move into the IRL, and this series is a good way of getting into that."

Before graduating to F3 Taylor won the European Formula Ford championship and finished second in the British series in 2000. He will now follow in the footsteps of countryman Dan Wheldon who, while not contesting the IPS, decided to ply his trade in the United States before linking up with Panther for last weekend's Delphi Indy 300. Taylor is expected to run a sole Panther entry in the feeder series next year.

"We've always wanted to grow the team, and we've taken our time," commented Panther co-owner Gary Pedigo, "We've never wanted to do anything if you can't do it right - and, with this programme, we're going to do it right."