The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals.

Len Lonnegren, PR boss at Saab Cars USA, had heard that Skip Barber was planning to launch an open-wheel "spec car" professional race series, and that it was to run on the same IMSA programs as the GTPs and Camel Lights.

The engines differed from street versions in that the boost was increased, emission control systems were removed, fuel-injection settings revised and a racing exhaust fitted, together with dry-sump lubrication.

[3] Mondiale, based in Northern Ireland was contracted to supply the series with chassis.

[4] In 1997 it was announced that Reynard would design and build a new car for the Barber Dodge Pro Series.

After the CART organization filed for bankruptcy in early 2004 the Barber Dodge Pro Series was initially put on hiatus.

[10] [11] The Pro series car was based on the Formula Ford 2000 chassis Mondiale had experience with.

The car was initially tested at Mallory Park and Snetterton by Rob Wilson.

[13] Other notable drivers who have raced in the series include Juan Pablo Montoya, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica Patrick, Jeremy Dale, Townsend Bell, Michael Valiante, David Martínez, Memo Rojas, Rocky Moran, Jr., Al Unser III, Andy Swett, Jerry Nadeau, and Ernesto Viso.