MONTVALE, N.J. – The 1997 Mercedes-Benz Indy car driver line-up is complete. Canadian sensation Patrick Carpentier, named Tuesday as Bettenhausen Motorsports’ pilot for the coming PPG Indy Car World Series season, joins Marlboro Team Penske drivers Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy; PacWest’s Mauricio Gugelmin and Mark Blundell; and Players/Forsythe Racing’s Greg Moore on the six-driver squad.

"The 1996 season looks very bright for the Mercedes-Benz Indy car program," said Hal Whiteford, vice president, operations for Mercedes-Benz of North America. "Patrick Carpentier round out a talented group of drivers that includes hungry, upcoming stars and proven veterans. We have a collection of four very competitive, professional teams, all capable of winning."

Carpentier, entering his rookie season at age 25, adds to a young, yet experienced roster of drivers (average age: 28.3) that matches the youthful, performance-oriented image of Mercedes-Benz. Unser, at age 34, is the dean of the Mercedes team approaching his 15th full season of Indy car competition in 1997, while Moore, the youngest, heads toward his sophomore campaign at age 21. Unser’s teammate Tracy, 28, will compete in his seventh Indy car season. PacWest pilot Gugelmin drives into his fifth season at age 33, while teammate Blundell kicks off his second campaign at 29.

The 1997 Mercedes IC108D

All four Mercedes-powered teams will use the IC108D, the latest version of Mercedes’ 2.65 liter, V8 engine, designed by Ilmor Engineering, the race engine-building arm of Mercedes-Benz. This potent powerplant, which ran on the dynamometer for the first time in early October, will be installed in Penske, Reynard and Lola chassis in 1997.

"Last season, Indy car competitors learned the value of having the right package," said Steve Potter, manager, sports marketing for Mercedes-Benz. "The competition is just too close to expect success without the right combination of chassis, engine, tires driver, and team. We believe the diversity of our 1997 line-up, and the talent and experience of the people involved, will help us to stay ahead of any fluctuations in the ongoing tire war and chassis development battle."

The Mercedes-Benz Indy car program continues more than a century of sporting involvement and engineering excellence. The PPG Indy Car World Series is part of an extensive Mercedes-Benz sports marketing campaign that also includes PGA TOUR Golf, ATP Tour tennis, worldwide motorsports involvement and professional mountain bike racing.