Roberto Guerrero The IRL's Unofficial Ambassador

A few days before the Indy Racing League (IRL) held its initial race of the 1996-97 season in New Hampshire, a reporter asked Pennzoil Pagan race driver Roberto Guerrero if he was "the unofficial ambassador" of the new Indy Racing League.

"Well, I've never thought of it that way, but I guess you could say that," smiled the 38-yar old veteran of numerous open-wheel series. "I think Arie Luyendyk and I are probably the most experienced drivers in the IRL and a lot of people recognize us. People usually come out and talk to the name that sounds a little bit familiar."

I Guerrero is the new league's unofficial ambassador, then the IRL's future looks promising. Guerrero combines a lengthy history of success in the race car and an telegenic personality that transcends the sport, as well as national boundaries and languages.

The Colombia native, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1990, is also a profile in courage. Throughout his career, Guerrero has enjoyed the unbridled triumphs and endured some of the worst aspects of auto racing. Yet, he maintains a down-to-earth attitude few could even fake under such conditions.

After a brief career in Formula One, Guerrero made a startling debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1984. This unknown 24-year-old drove to a second-place finish in his first Indianapolis 500 and shared the co0rookie of the year award with Michael Andretti. He proved the performance was no fluke the next year when he finished third and in 1986, posted a fourth-place finish.

"I have always enjoyed the Speedway and done quite well there. I don't know what it is about that track, but it seems to suit my driving style," Guerrero said.

Not only was Guerrero racing well, but he was winning the hearts of fans with his good humor, engaging smile and a politeness seldom seen with professional athletes.

In 1987, his professional and personal life was on an upswing. Guerrero and his wife Katie were enjoying their first child Marco, then 2, and Roberto won races in Phoenix and Mid-Ohio. He also captured four poles and again finished second at Indianapolis. In his first four years at Indianapolis, the man with a road-racing background posted four top-four finishes.

But on a fall day in Indianapolis to test tires, Guerrero, already slowing down after some very fast laps, entered the second turn of the Speedway. Something broke in the car and he slammed into the wall. The right front tire came off the car and hit the popular driver in the head.

Race fans held their breath for 17 days, as news reports chronicled Guerrero's battle to come out of a coma caused by severe bead injuries. Remarkably, Guerrero not only survived, but with countless hours of therapy and hard work, battled back to return to racing the following year. In 1988, he raced again at the Speedway - the place that nearly took away everything.

"That is part of racing. I know the rewards and the dangers. I think it was quite tough on my family, but for the most part, the sport has been very good to us," he said. "I was quite amazed at the fans for their support and I can't overestimate the help my family gave me during that time."

In the following years, Guerrero say how tough the sport could be professionally. He spent time in cars that were far below his ability.

He rebounded in 1992 and qualified on the pole at an average four-lap speed of 232.618 mph -- then a track record. But, a cold windy day led to miserable race conditions that contributed to a crash on the pace lap as he tried to warm up the cold tires. His was the first of many wrecks caused by the cold tires that also left few cars racing at the end of the day.

Guerrero finished in the back of the field in 1993 and 1994 as skeptics wondered if his career was coming to an end. But in 1995, Guerrero demonstrated his skills hadn't diminished. He finished 12^th in a Pagan Racing car and backed that up by finishing fifth in 1996. He had also put the bright yellow Pennzoil car out front for 47 laps -- the most of any driver.

Throughout the adversity, Guerrero's demeanor never changed. He remains the same friendly person he was when he was at the top of the sport. But, don't let the smile fool you. Guerrero in Spanish means warrior -- an appropriate description of he demeanor inside the car.

Before the race or practice, he meditates, and then the man who was laughing with the crew minutes before, straps his familiar striped helmet on and climbs aboard the Pennzoil car with the look of a prizefighter entering the ring. The fierceness, especially from a veteran driver, inspires the loyalty of his crew.

"We would kill for him and then ask who's next," laughed John Barnes, the veteran team manager for Pennzoil Pagan Racing.

Barnes, Pennzoil-Pagan, and the IRL are Guerrero's future. Gone are the days of lesser equipment and tight budgets. Now he is ready to race for the IRL championship with the Indianapolis-based team owned by Jack and Allan Pagan of Corpus Christi, Texas.

"We have been working very hard to get ready for the new season. We are excited about Pennzoil coming on board," Guerrero said. "Hopefully this will enable us to build up the team more and let us do more of what we want to do to make the Pennzoil car go faster and get it up front."

The team is already showing its mettle. Pagan Racing overcame a potentially race-ending brake problem and finished sixth in New Hampshire and used a back-up car to finish fourth at Las Vegas. And, it's busy working as one of the research teams for the new Dallara chassis, Nissan's Indy Infiniti engine, and Goodyear tires that make their IRL debut in Orlando in January.

For now Guerrero, the son of an Olympic cyclist, concentrates on racing and watching his three your children grow up. And, in his spare time, he doesn't mind spending his time serving as the "unofficial ambassador" for the burgeoning Indy Racing League.