Andretti Autosport picks Townsend Bell for fifth Indy 500 seat
Townsend Bell will drive Andretti Autosport's fifth entry in the 2016 Indianapolis 500
The American joins Andretti's full-season IndyCar Series drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy winner, Marco Andretti, Carlos Munoz and Formula 1 convert Alexander Rossi.
"I'm thrilled to have another chance at Indy, especially the 100th running," Bell said.
"It's always a privilege to be there but to do it with Michael and Andretti Autosport, I'm thrilled.
"It's my best chance with the best team that I've raced for in terms of pedigree at Indianapolis. They have won the race three times.
"To get a chance to work with Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Carlos Munoz and Alexander Rossi is great. My engineer will be Craig Hampson. I couldn't be happier."
This year will be Bell's 10th Indy 500 start. The 40-year-old's IndyCar outings have been mostly confined to the series' premier race in the last eight years, with his full-time campaigns coming in sportscars.
Last season he won the GTD class title in what was then the United SportsCar Championship alongside Scuderia Corsa Ferrari team-mate Bill Sweedler.
Team owner Michael Andretti said Bell's Indy performances each year proved his lack of regular IndyCar racing was no handicap.
"He hasn't been with the top teams but it seems like he's always there in the top 10 and I feel like if we can put a good car under him he has a good shot at winning the race," said Andretti.
"Even though he is not in the car full-time, Townsend has proven he can quickly get up to speed - he's shown it's possible to compete once a year and be competitive."
EXPECTED EXTRA INDIANAPOLIS 500 ENTRIES SO FAR
AJ Foyt Racing: Alex Tagliani
Andretti Autosport: Townsend Bell
Dale Coyne Racing: Pippa Mann, Bryan Clauson
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Sage Karam
Ed Carpenter Racing: JR Hildebrand
Grace Autosport: Katherine Legge
Team Murray/KVSH: Matthew Brabham
Previous article
Helio Castroneves on Phoenix IndyCar pole as Chevrolet dominates
Next article
Honda stumped by deficit to Chevrolet in Phoenix IndyCar qualifying
Indy500: Starting grid
IndyCar: Colton Herta takes victory at St. Pete
Barber IndyCar: Lap 1 Crash
Barber IndyCar: Palou wins at Birmingham
The lasting legacy of a fallen Indycar rookie
Jeff Krosnoff was plucked out of obscurity to become a respected and highly popular professional in Japan, and then got his big break in Indycar for 1996. But a tragic accident at Toronto 25 years ago cut short a promising career and curtailed his regular team-mate Mauro Martini's passion for racing
The two key areas where Dixon needs to re-assert his authority
OPINION: Having been Chip Ganassi Racing's IndyCar focal point for the best part of a decade, Scott Dixon has been so far outgunned by new team-mate Alex Palou in 2021. After finishing behind the Spaniard at his traditional happy hunting ground at Mid-Ohio, Dixon has work to do to assume his traditional position in the team and the standings
The winners and losers of IndyCar 2021 so far
At the halfway point in the 2021 IndyCar Series season, we've had seven winners in eight races, spread between five teams – none of them Team Penske. In this unusual season, even by IndyCar standards, who’s excelling and who’s dragging their heels?
Castroneves: How I kept it under control to make Indy 500 history
Helio Castroneves’ overwhelming vivaciousness outside the cockpit belies a hardcore racer who knows how to plot his moves – and then recall it all. A day after his fourth Indy 500 win, he explained his tactics
How 'chess master' Castroneves cemented his Indy legend status
Helio Castroneves joined AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears with the most Indianapolis 500 wins after edging past Alex Palou on the penultimate lap of a thrilling race that validated Michael Shank's faith in the veteran Brazilian - who is discovering that there is life after Penske after all
Indy 500 preview: Will experience or youth be victorious at the Brickyard?
A quarter of the drivers racing in the 105th edition of the Indianapolis 500 are former winners - but are they the favourites? The veteran drivers largely impressed in qualifying - but there's also a plethora of young guns looking to secure victory at IndyCar's flagship race...
What will it take to get American drivers in Formula 1?
The FIA says it wants American drivers in Formula 1, but would it take an IndyCar driver to transfer or does an American need to join the European junior ladder system to get there?
Why IndyCar is satisfying Grosjean’s appetite for his second life
After spending the majority of his 179-race Formula 1 career in middling to tail-end machinery, Romain Grosjean finds himself once again with an underdog team in IndyCar. While not without its challenges, he's relishing the more level playing field that means his Dale Coyne Racing crew can expect to claim a few scalps...
