Mason returns to Firestone Indy Lights

Jesse Mason will return to Firestone Indy Lights with Guthrie Meyer Racing for 2009. The 24-year-old Canadian will drive the team's No. 49 Dallara as a teammate to previously announced drivers Sean Guthrie and Ali Jackson.

"Jesse is going to be a huge addition to our team," team co-owner Jim Guthrie said. "Jesse has the ability to understand and diagnose issues inside the car from his engineering background and that's a valuable asset. We've had some good tests with Jesse this offseason, and we're looking forward to getting this kid out into competition at St. Petersburg."

Mason last competed in Firestone Indy Lights in 2004, recording nine top-10 finishes in 10 starts. Since then, he completed his degree in Motorsports Engineering and Design at Swansea Institute of Higher Education in Wales and started his own company, maseRace, with the goal of developing the Canadian Motor Speedway Project near his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ontario.

"This series has undergone significant changes since I was here last, but with the strength of GMR I am confident we will be contending for race wins this season," Mason said. "Jim (Guthrie) and Butch (Meyer) have incredible histories in racing, and I look forward to learning everything I can from them this season. They have been able to assemble a strong group on the engineering and staff side, as well as two great teammates to work with, so I'm really looking forward to getting the season started in St. Petersburg."