Riley Technologies bringing three cars to Phoenix

SILVER CROWN PROTOTYPE BUILDER RILEY TECHNOLOGIES BRINGING THREE CARS TO PHOENIX

INDIANAPOLIS -- USAC new generation Silver Crown Series builder Riley Technologies is bringing three of its cars to the season-opening "Copper World Classic" this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, with the hopes the several laps of testing and logging laps will pay off with high results.

Purchasing cars from Riley -- the developer of the new pavement prototype car -- were Racing Teams Inc., Sam Pierce and Jim Paternoster. All three continue a long-standing ownership in Silver Crown racing.

Pierce, whose son Aaron will drive the car, has turned over the day-to-day operations to PDM Racing, which has had a long, extensive career in racing. The team has fielded cars for the Indianapolis 500 several times, including last May, when the squad teamed with Marty Roth to form a partnership. Roth drove the car to 31st.

PDM has spent the last several months preparing the prototype for tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Indianapolis Raceway Park. Now, the team will continue its efforts with the same chassis.

Pierce was the 2004 series Rookie of the Year and two years ago came from 33rd to fourth in a 100-lapper at Phoenix.

With PDM transporting and wrenching the car over in mid-September, Riley focused its attention on building more cars. The first one was sold to Racing Teams Inc., made up of longtime series supporter Johnny Vance and multiple-time Indianapolis 500 starter Eliseo Salazar. The duo tabbed Pablo Donoso as the driver, and he'll be one of the most experienced drivers in the new cars this weekend, having logged many laps at Kansas Speedway and Indianapolis Raceway Park.

In December, Paternoster officially announced his intentions to continue his Silver Crown endeavors, and brought Supermodified star Greg Furlong on as the team's driver. Paternoster has had talent in the past, but thinks Furlong has the most natural talent he's ever seen.

"The first time he sat in the car," Paternoster said, "I think he was someone special. I don't think he was ready to leave here until now. He's going to do a fine job in this new series."

While owners have taken possession of their cars, Riley still sees an important need in traveling to Phoenix for assistance on their creations. No other car had tested before September.

"From our involvement and testing to date, we're sure this series of cars is going to provide excitement and entertainment for the race fans," Riley Vice President Ron McMahon said.

And having been commissioned to work on the project for more than a two years and doing the majority of the testing, it would be interesting to see how Riley's final product stacks up to those of the other constructors.

"We're obviously hoping to see our cars go one-two-three, but we're also looking to see where our cars are against everyone else's," McMahon said.

For the latest on the Silver Crown Series or Riley Technologies, check out USAC's website (www.usacracing.com) or Riley's website (www.rileyscott.com).

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