IRL: Rookie Herb to drive for Johathan Byrd/McCormack Motorsports
20 January 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS - Rookie Jon Herb will drive this season in the Indy Racing League for Jonathan Byrd/McCormack Motorsports, team officials announced.
Herb, 25, will compete for league Rookie of the Year honors during the 10-event Indy Racing season in the Jonathan Byrds Cafeteria G Force/Aurora/Firestone. He will make his Indy Racing debut in the season-opening Delphi Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway on Jan. 29.
Im very excited about my first race, Herb said. To be able to race for Jonathan Byrd/McCormack Motorsports is a tremendous opportunity. Its important for me to be able to begin my Indy Racing career with a very good team.
Herb, a Wisconsin native who lives in Indianapolis, comes to the Indy Racing League with vast open-wheel experience. He has competed in the U.S. F2000 series, ARCA, and USAC and NAMARS midget events. Herb earned his Indy Racing League license in 1999 and completed nearly 1,000 miles of combined testing at five tracks, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Initially, my goals for the year are to be the highest-qualifying and highest-finishing rookie at each race, Herb said. Of course, that would put me in a good position to take the rookie of the year titles for the series and the Indy 500. I want to be able to constantly improve my performance and ultimately be able to run at the front of the pack.
As a rookie, I have to be realistic in my expectations, but I believe that by the end of the season I will be able to compete for the win.
Herb also plans to compete in the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series, the USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Series and ARCA in 2000.
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