F2000 veteran Urlin to compete in IPS.

Zetec Formula Ford 2000 veteran Jonathan Urlin will compete in the 2003 Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series season for Brian Stewart Racing, team officials announced Jan. 16.

Urlin, 20, from London, Ontario, finished third in the 2002 Zetec Formula Ford 2000 championship.

"I'm really excited," Urlin said. "I guess everybody thinks the same way - that the Infiniti Pro Series is the series to be in if you're going to learn and move up to the next level. I'm not going to try to go out and beat everybody right off the start. I'd like to sit in and get a good feel for the series and the rest of the guys I'm running with, and just try to learn as much as I can from Brian Stewart."

Stewart, also from Canada, has a history of developing young talent, including Indianapolis 500 veterans Paul Tracy, Bryan Herta, Airton Dare and Jaques Lazier.

"That's the whole reason we chose to be with him," Urlin said. "The Canadian link is just awesome for us to have, and he's the right guy to gain all the knowledge that I need to get out of this series.

"I'm really excited about the series and running with Brian Stewart."

Stewart, who campaigned Marty Roth in the 2002 Infiniti Pro Series season, is looking forward to another successful season in the Indy Racing League's official development series.

"Jonathan's family has a long history of excellence in Canadian racing," Stewart said. "His father, Russ Urlin, was a well-known Canadian stock car racer, and I'm pleased that Jonathan has chosen to race in the Infiniti Pro Series as part of the 'Road to Indy.'

"We've always been known as the Canadian team, but we didn't always have a Canadian driver. It's a dream come true to have a young Canadian driver who is capable of winning."

The second Infiniti Pro Series season starts March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.