Mears to replace Spencer on Ganassi ride

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Casey Mears is the surprise choice to replace Jimmy Spencer next year in the No. 41 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge. <br> <br> Mears, the nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and son of off-road racing star Roger Mears, is coming off his first full season in NASCAR&#39;s Busch Series. He had two top-10 finishes and wound up 21st in the season standings. <br> <br> Ganassi said Thursday that veteran crew chief Jimmy Elledge will work with the 24-year-old Mears, who joins fellow rookie Jamie McMurray and veteran Sterling Marlin on the team. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re confident that Casey&#39;s work ethic and talent coupled with Jimmy&#39;s experience can help us do just that for Target,&#39;&#39; Ganassi said. <br> <br> Mears started his career in open-wheel racing, spending four years in the Indy Lights series. In 1999, his last season in Lights, Mears finished second in the points and became just the fourth driver in the series to complete every lap. <br> <br> He tested Indy cars for several teams in 2000 and debuted in CART with a fourth-place finish at California Speedway for Team Rahal. He also ran in three IRL races in 2001, and finished the season by filling in for the injured Alex Zanardi in CART. <br> <br> Spencer was fired after only one season driving for Ganassi. He was 27th in the points.