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The Pagan Family |
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Jack Pagan - Car Owner
After working in a number of sales-related fields, Jack Pagan entered the automobile business in 1957 with an Edsel dealership in Galveston. The son of a Texas oilman, he built a successful franchise before moving down the Gulf Coast to open a Lincoln-Mercury dealership in Corpus Christi.
Pagan-Lewis Motors grew steadily, obtaining the American Motors/Jeep line in 1969, a Honda Motorcycle and Power Equipment store in 1974 and a Budget Rent-a-Car franchise in 1976. Pagan purchased the Aransas Autoplex near Corpus Christi in 1989.
Pagan has long pursued his love for auto racing. His first experience in the sport came as an assistant mechanic to A. J. "Tony" Foyt, Sr. Pagan also drove in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition in a variety of cars and won several Southwest Division races.
The growing business empire kept him away from racing until 1993 when he and his only son allan bought Kenny Bernstein's Indy cars and formed Pagan Racing. Pagan cars have qualified for the Indianapolis 500 since 1993.
Pegan still oversees his business interests, but also adds his years of experience to the race team that is expected to challenge for the 1996-97 IRL Championship.
Allan Pagan - Car Owner
When Jack Pagan took nine-year old Allan to the 1964 Indianapolis 500, little did he realize it was the start of a father-son partnership that would last many years. That day, Allan vowed he would race at the Brickyard.
Well, the vow didn't come quite true, but in 1993 that little boy returned to the Speedway ready to win the Indianapolis 500. Instead of driving, Allan was a co-owner of a race care with the same man who first brought him to the Speedway.
Although he never drove race cars, he was quite proficient on motorcycles. He started in moto-cross in 1971 and raced extensively in the Southwest where he competed in off-road and pavement events and recorded an estimated 80 victories. He retired from racing and returned to Corpus Christi in 1981 to manage Pagan-Lewis Honda, the growing family-owned motorcycle and power equipment business.
Although he still enjoys motorcycles, Allan Pagan spends most of his time now managing the family business and overseeing Pagan Racing's effort.
