Roth Racing's full-time entry into the IndyCar Series in 2008 is a story of perseverance, bot𝔍h ﷽for owner/driver Marty Roth and for rookie team-mate Jay Howard.

Roth, a long-time competitor in Indy Lights and the I🐼ndy Pro Series, took his first step toward team ownership in 2004, purchasing Panther Racing's Indy Pro Series equipment, before, a few months later, also purchasing IndyCar Series equipment and fielding an entry 🌊in the Indianapolis 500.

In 2006, the Canadian competed in three IndyCar Series races and, last year, made four starts, recording a career-best finish of 14th at Chicagoland. This year, the team expands to a two-car effort for the entire season, essentially as a consequence o𓆉f IndyCar's TEAM [Team Enhancement and Allocation Matrix] initiative.

The scheme provides a minimum of $1.2m to each car entered for the entire IRL season, including the Indianapolis 500, with the purse for the 92nd Indy 500 increasing to at least $13.4m. Roth Racing's expansion to two ca🐼rs is a direct result of the programme, with 2006 Indy Pro Series cha💝mpion Howard joining Roth in the line-up.

"It's a huge step up from where we started from," Roth said, "This is what you need to do to build a product that would attract sponsors. That's what we at Roth Racing♍ have done. This is a product that we offer to a sponsor to represent them in a first-class manner.

"We hope to have a very𒐪 competitive team out there. We're going out there to be a strong, competitive team and win some races."

Howard has also persevered. After winning Formula Ford Zetec championships in both his native Britain and the United States in 2🀅003 and 2005 respectively, he captured the Indy Pro Series title in 2006. After an IndyCar Series ride didn't materialise for 2007, however, Howard waited patiently for the chance ♎to prove his mettle in 2008.

"It was d✨efinitely worth [sitting out a year]," he said, having passed his oval rookie test at the end of February at 🍒Homestead-Miami Speedway, "Things are happening a little faster than in the Pro Series car, but it was really good how much I could relay what I learned in the Indy Pro Series car into the big car.

"That was beneficial to me. We're really happy with the times we race, and now it's forw💖ard, forward, forward for us. Expectations are high."