Pete Mercier, newly appointed driver of the Northwest SpeedWerx #14 Swift 008.a, rounded the 1-mile oval at Phoenix International Raceway at top speed during last week’s testing session. A rookie driver to the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship series, Mercier was pleasantly surprised with his speedy performance for his first time on an oval in the Swift, “I was thrilled with the way the car handled on the oval track. We were fast, right on pace with the PPI team.” said Mercier.
World Speed is gearing up to go racing at Homestead in Miami, March 25 – 26, when the CART Toyota Atlantic series “goes green” to kick-off the 2000 season with a double-header around the modified oval, part of the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami CART FedEx Championship weekend.
Chuck West, who is entering his seventh year as Atlantic team owner of World Speed, knows his team illustrates championship potential this season. “I’ve known Pete for several years and have seen him do some pretty remarkable things with a race car,” said West. “We’ve been testing him pretty extensively for the last couple of months and he’s already coming to terms with the Atlantic car. Our first priority is to go for the rookie title in 2000, which means running in the top five as well as capturing some podium finishes. Pete’s very determined, and we feel that we have all the ingredients in place to make it happen.”
Mercier, of Las Vegas, Nevada, worked his way into the driver’s seat following several years as a professional race car mechanic and engineer. His background includes crew chief responsibilities for the Russell Racing School, engineering a Star Formula Mazda team and car preparation for 1995 Toyota Atlantic Championship winner Richie Hearn. Behind the wheel, Mercier has been a winning driver in shifter karts, Skip Barber Formula Dodge and the Russell Racing series. He has served as a driving coach for Star Formula Mazda competitors and currently instructs at the Derek Daly Academy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
World Speed Motorsports is considered one of America’s most dynamic racing organizations, featuring entries in CART’s Toyota Atlantic Championship, as well as the Star Mazda Pro Series. Founded in 1991 by Chuck West, World Speed initially focused on the Formula Mazda series where West finished third overall and won the Rookie-of-the-Year title in his first season as an owner/driver. 1992 resulted in the series championship by virtue of West’s five wins, ten podiums and three track records. Since then, World Speed has captured six Formula Mazda championship and five pro series Rookie-of-the-Year titles under West’s guidance and Mike Doyle’s engineering expertise, featuring such drivers as Ben Massey, Pete Wise, Mike Conte, Mikel Miller, Jeff Bucknum and Grant Ryley.
World Speed entered the Toyota Atlantic series in 1994, and currently holds the Atlantic qualifying record at Homestead Motorsports Complex – set in 1997 with West behind the wheel. Most recently, World Speed campaigned French-born Brazilian Nicolas Rondet in 1999, capturing a podium finish at Trois-Rivieres, and averaging a top five running position at every race.
The 12-race 2000 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship season begins with a double-header at Homestead Motorsports Complex near Miami, Florida, on March 25-26, part of the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami CART FedEx Championship weekend.