Junqueira Gets Indy 500 Drive with AJ Foyt

Bruno Junqueira will be part of this year's Indy 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway once more, this time in an AJ Foyt Racing prepared single-seater. The deal includes only the race at the Brickyard and will see the Brazilian join countryman and AJ Foyt Racing regular Vitor Meira.

“I am very happy,” said Junqueira, former pole sitter in the Indy 500 with Ganassi, back in 2002. “First, because I love the race; second, because the biggest champion in that race is AJ Foyt - he won as a driver, he won as a team owner, and third, I'm going to have Vitor as my team-mate who is a good friend and a good driver so I think it's a perfect combination.”

Junqueira hasn't raced regularly in the IndyCar Series since 2008, the first year after the championship's unification with the ChampCar Series. As far as his most recent Indy 500 performances go, he qualified a FAZZT Racing prepared car for the grid on bump day in 2009, only to withdraw for the team's regular driver Alex Tagliani, who had failed to qualify for the race. Last year, he finished in 32nd place

“Bruno certainly knows his way around Indy — every time he's run there, he's been fast,” said team owner Foyt, “plus he and Vitor get along well — they're both from Brazil. I may have to start learning Portuguese... Not really, but I think it'll be great and it will make us a stronger team for Indy.”

Junqueira is currently doing his first full-time programme in the American Le Mans Series, where he competes for RSR Jaguar GT team. His personal best in the Indy 500 race (in 6 starts) are a couple of 5th places, with Ganassi in 2001 and with Newman/Haas Racing in 2004.