FONTANA, Calif. -- George Mack understands he's going to generate more attention than the average rookie driver in the Indy Racing League. But the 30-year-old African-American also knows the color of his skin won't be any more important than the color of his helmet when the green flag drops.

	George Mack enters his first season in the Indy Racing League with his sights set on becoming the second African-American to race in the Indianapolis 500.

"Nobody cares about that, people only care about results and that's how everyone is measured," Mack saud during a break in Wednesday's IRL testing session here at California Speedway. "This isn't about race, it's about results.

"My father and I have been preparing for this opportunity for a long time and racing Indy cars is something we both dreamed about since I got serious about racing."

A karting champion with more than 200 wins, Mack spent the past few years racking up national respect in shifter karts, testing smaller formula cars, searching for sponsorship and even working as a service manager for a Honda dealership in L.A.

But when Marc Laidler, the CEO of an upscale auto customizing company called 310 Motoring of Los Angeles, decided to branch out his four-wheeled interests and form an IRL team, Mack suddenly had the opportunity every driver covets -- a ride in a major series without bringing anything but your helmet.

"It's amazing how fast this thing all came together," said Mack, who practiced at 214 mph on the high-banked, 2-mile oval Wednesday morning in the 301/Cunningham Racing Dallara/Chevy. "We started talking in November and we were testing at Miami in January.

"It's scary how well everyone gets along and that showed in our first test and has continued on. I'm still amazed, but I'm very thankful because timing is everything and I know I've got to make the best of this opportunity."

Mack, whose father Lloyd used to race modified and Figure-8s at Ascot Park, feels indebted to his parents for getting him to this plateau.

"My dad stopped racing to help me and my parents spent their savings helping me. He built my engines and cars and I drove them. Now he's helping my younger brother in shifter karts.

	'This isn't about race, it's about results,' says George Mack, who makes his rookie debut on the IRL circuit.

"He's not much of a talker, my dad, but he taught me to respect everything in this business. And he always tells me to remember that I have two ears and only one mouth."

Mack will be trying to join Willy T. Ribbs as the second African-American starter at the Indianapolis 500 and they've already struck up a friendship.

"He saw me race on ESPN, got my phone number and called me. He pumped me up and told me he'd do anything he could to help me and he did just that.

"I hung out with him here last year when he was running NASCAR trucks and he wanted me to try a truck. But I've always loved open-wheel cars and that's what I've always wanted to do."

Despite his obvious talent, Ribbs never had a steady, first-class ride in his five years of Indy-car racing. Mack appears to have people who believe in him and a good baseline to be successful.

"Marc has partnered with Clayton Cunningham and I've got some good, experienced people on my crew," Mack said. "I know I've got a lot to learn but I think I'm mature enough to handle it.

"I think this is my time and I'm trying to operate on longevity. It's taken me a long time to get here and I want to stay."