Yet another new Indy Pro team
Team E, based in Odessa, Fla., is owned by Florida businessman Neil Enerson.
"I met Neil a couple of years ago doing some karting work, coaching his son," said Wilson, who won the Stars of Karting championship in 2003. "Neil went to a few races (in 2007), saw the marketing potential of this series, how it's taking off. We started talking about running a car, went through the numbers and put it all together."
Enerson, who owns a natural gas utility, was impressed with Wilson and the opportunities offered in the Indy Pro Series.
"The Indy Pro Series is the best series to be in," Enerson said. "It's the best bang for the buck and the easiest sell sponsorship-wise. Now is a good time to make this jump. It's a lot to take on, but it's something I want to do and something I can do."
The team acquired all new equipment, including a Dallara chassis and transporter, and hired veteran engineer Dave Conti and veteran team manager Doug Hoy.
"We've put together a first-class operation," Wilson said. "We've got great people, people that want to be here. All of the guys called us. We didn't have to go out looking for people."
Wilson, 26, debuted in the Indy Pro Series in 2005, competing in three races for Brian Stewart Racing, the season after he won the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec championship. In 2006, he split the season between Michael Crawford Motorsports and Kenn Hardley Racing, recording his first series victory in the rain at Watkins Glen. Last year, he returned to Brian Stewart Racing, winning on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Father's Day. He finished fourth in the championship in both 2006 and 2007.
Despite his past success with established teams, Wilson believes this is his best opportunity to win the Firestone Firehawk Cup.
"I'm really pumped about the season," Wilson said after the team's first test at Sebring International Raceway on Jan. 24-25. "The test was the first day that everyone on the team was together, and we came out of the box hitting on all cylinders. There were no hiccups, nothing missing.
"I look at everybody else and ask, 'What will it take to beat them?' I don't see anything that should keep us from being up front. Winning is our only goal, the championship is our ultimate goal."