Fernandez Confirmed at Patrick

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Fernandez Confirmed at Patrick
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Veteran driver signed by Patrick Racing
The 1998 PPG Cup driver lineup continued to take shape on Monday withPatrick Racing's announcement that veteran Adrian Fernandez has beensigned to drive alongside Scott Pruett in the 1998 PPG CART WorldSeries.
Fernandez and Pruett will each drive Reynard Ford Cosworths onFirestone tires, the same combination Patrick used with success thisseason. Pruett won at Australia and captured poles at Portland andthe U.S. 500 while departing teammate Raul Boesel won the pole in St.Louis last Memorial Day weekend.
Fernandez, 32, is entering his sixth season of PPG Cup competitionand Patrick is his third team after multi-year stints with Galles andthe Tasman Motorsports Group. His one career victory came at Torontoin 1996 in a Tasman prepared Lola Honda on Firestones.
"We are very pleased to have Adrian joining the team," said teamowner U.E. "Pat" Patrick. "We have been following his career withgreat interest since his days in the PPG-Firestone Indy LightsChampionship. He is a very competitive and capable driver. I believe,given the proper equipment and a strong team, he is ready tochallenge for the championship."
One of Mexico's top sports personalities, Fernandez captured the 1991Mexican Formula 3 championship before setting his sights on CART in1992. He won four races and captured Rookie of the Year honors andGalles signed him to his PPG Indy car team before the end of theyear. He ran a partial season of five races alongside then Gallesteammates Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Jr. in 1993 before stepping upas the team's lead driver in 1994 and 1995. He scored a career-bestfinish of third at Michigan with Galles in 1995 but enjoyed evenbetter success in his first year with Tasman in 1996. He won atToronto and qualified in the top three at the U.S. 500, Detroit andToronto. This year he was saddled with an uncompetitive Lola chassisbut still managed to end the year on a high note with an emotionalthird-place finish at the Fontana finale.
"I am very happy to be joining Patrick Racing," Fernandez said. "Ihave known Pat (Patrick) since my days in Indy Lights and I have alot of respect for him and the team. This is a new chapter in myquest to win a championship in CART. I think with the experience theteam has with people like Jim McGee, Steve Newey and John Ward, thedepth and the overall talent, this move is the one that will help meachieve my goal."
Although no sponsor announcements were made, it is expected that oneor both of Fernandez' long-time backers Tecate and Quaker State mayalso join the Patrick effort.
Pruett, 37, has been with Patrick Racing since the team returned toracing as Firestone's official test team in 1994. He won his firstrace at Michigan in 1995 in addition to this year's Australia race.
Pruett was the team's only entry in 1995 and 1996, but Patrick Racingwas expanded this year to include Raul Boesel this season under theaegis of the Brahma Sports Team. Brahma and Boesel will not returnwith Patrick in 1998, but both sponsor and driver are expected to bein competition in the 1998 PPG CART World Series.
Source: CART News Service


		NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Fernandez Confirmed at Patrick ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Veteran driver signed by Patrick Racing The 1998 PPG Cup driver lineup continued to take shape on Monday withPatrick Racing's announcement that veteran Adrian Fernandez has beensigned to drive alongside Scott Pruett in the 1998 PPG CART WorldSeries. Fernandez and Pruett will each drive Reynard Ford Cosworths onFirestone tires, the same combination Patrick used with success thisseason. Pruett won at Australia and captured poles at Portland andthe U.S. 500 while departing teammate Raul Boesel won the pole in St.Louis last Memorial Day weekend. Fernandez, 32, is entering his sixth season of PPG Cup competitionand Patrick is his third team after multi-year stints with Galles andthe Tasman Motorsports Group. His one career victory came at Torontoin 1996 in a Tasman prepared Lola Honda on Firestones. "We are very pleased to have Adrian joining the team," said teamowner U.E. "Pat" Patrick. "We have been following his career withgreat interest since his days in the PPG-Firestone Indy LightsChampionship. He is a very competitive and capable driver. I believe,given the proper equipment and a strong team, he is ready tochallenge for the championship." One of Mexico's top sports personalities, Fernandez captured the 1991Mexican Formula 3 championship before setting his sights on CART in1992. He won four races and captured Rookie of the Year honors andGalles signed him to his PPG Indy car team before the end of theyear. He ran a partial season of five races alongside then Gallesteammates Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Jr. in 1993 before stepping upas the team's lead driver in 1994 and 1995. He scored a career-bestfinish of third at Michigan with Galles in 1995 but enjoyed evenbetter success in his first year with Tasman in 1996. He won atToronto and qualified in the top three at the U.S. 500, Detroit andToronto. This year he was saddled with an uncompetitive Lola chassisbut still managed to end the year on a high note with an emotionalthird-place finish at the Fontana finale. "I am very happy to be joining Patrick Racing," Fernandez said. "Ihave known Pat (Patrick) since my days in Indy Lights and I have alot of respect for him and the team. This is a new chapter in myquest to win a championship in CART. I think with the experience theteam has with people like Jim McGee, Steve Newey and John Ward, thedepth and the overall talent, this move is the one that will help meachieve my goal." Although no sponsor announcements were made, it is expected that oneor both of Fernandez' long-time backers Tecate and Quaker State mayalso join the Patrick effort. Pruett, 37, has been with Patrick Racing since the team returned toracing as Firestone's official test team in 1994. He won his firstrace at Michigan in 1995 in addition to this year's Australia race. Pruett was the team's only entry in 1995 and 1996, but Patrick Racingwas expanded this year to include Raul Boesel this season under theaegis of the Brahma Sports Team. Brahma and Boesel will not returnwith Patrick in 1998, but both sponsor and driver are expected to bein competition in the 1998 PPG CART World Series. Source: CART News Service