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CART: Lester determined after Indy Lights test

9 December 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Bill Lester of Oakland, Calif. is still beaming following last week's test with the Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team at Firebird International Raceway, just outside of Phoenix.

Lester's test marked the culmination of CART's 1999 African-American Driver Development Program, which was announced in July and is intended to help open doors for minorities in racing. After posting a respectable top lap time of 53.29 seconds in his test at the 1.25-mile Firebird road course, Lester believes he proved that he can compete at a high level in open-wheel racing. He's continuing to try and reach his goal of finding a full-time ride in either the Toyota Atlantic or Dayton Indy Lights series.

"What I need to do now is race in a series," Lester said. "Seeing me test is one thing, but I need to be out there so people can see me racing. I think that would really help bring fans out and show that it can be done."

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