Photo Credit: IndyCar/IMS
As reported earlier this week by OnPitRoad.com, Andretti Autosport on Friday officially confirmed that it has secured the services of nine-time Indianapolis 500 starter Townsend Bell to fill its fifth and final entry in the 100th edition of event on May 29th. Bell, will pilot the team’s No. 29 Honda, likely to be backed by Robert Graham clothiers, for the first time on May 16th, the opening day of practice for the event. The latter announcement also means that it is unlikely that Bell will participate in the series’ open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Wednesday.
In addition to his annual one-off efforts at the Indy 500, Bell also races full-time in the GT Daytona division of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and serves as an on-air analyst for NBC Sports Network’s coverage 0f the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Global RallyCross Championship. In addition to live racing as both a driver and a commentator, Bell is also the host of Fox Sports 1’s “What ‘Cha Got?” a made for TV racing reality series that pits top players in Major League Soccer against one another on the race track.
During a press conference Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, team owner Michael Andretti believes he has added another potential race winner to his squad for Indy, an event he has won three times as an entrant, with the most recent being Ryan Hunter-Reay’s triumph in 2014.
“We’re really pleased to be able to field a fifth entry for Townsend,” said Andretti on Friday. “Even though he is not in the car full time, Townsend has proven he can quickly get up to speed and he’s shown it’s possible to compete once a year and be competitive. We see a lot of promise in his ability and are looking forward to having five cars challenging for a win at the 100th Running this May.”
Bell has been a contender in years past at the Indianapolis 500, finishing a career-best fourth in 2009 and running as high as second in 2014, before he crashed out of the event in turn two just nine laps from the finish.
“Driving in the 100th Running of the Indy 500 with Andretti Autosport is a great opportunity,” said Bell. “I think I’ll benefit from being part of a strong, multi-car team with a winning pedigree at Indy. This is my ninth-consecutive start and I’m glad it’s all come together the way it has – I’m looking forward to working with Honda again and having the chance to race for one of the best teams in the sport.”
With Bell’s ride secured, there are only a few seats remaining to be claimed for the 100th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. KV Racing is reportedly looking to field a third car alongside Sebastien Bourdais and Matthew Brabham, as is Schmidt Petersen Motorsports. Trevor Carlin’s Indy Lights operation is also looking at fielding an entry for the Indy 500, while Grace Autosport, who announced their formation last year during the 99th Indy 500’s festivities is still seeking to align themselves with a team for May.
Stay tuned to OnPitRoad.com for further updates on the Road to the 100th Indianapolis 500, presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.
