Giaffone returns with Foyt

Team boss and four-time Indy 500 winner AJ Foyt first worked with Giaffone at this season's Indy 500 when he called him up at the eleventh hour to offer him the chance to make this year's field on bump day. The Brazilian had been out shopping at the time.

"After working with Felipe at Indy last year, I was impressed," Foyt said of his driver, who eventually finished 15th.

"Coming in to qualify on Bump Day for the biggest race in the world in a car you've never driven before for a team you've never worked with before, well you're either crazy or a real race driver. He proved to me that he's a real race driver."

Giaffone has a strong pedigree in Indy Racing, winning the rookie of the year title in 2001 before finishing fourth in the championship in 2002, with one victory in Kentucky.

"I am glad to be coming back to the IRL with a good team that has a good engine package," he said. "The little time that I had to work with A.J. last year, we had a good race set-up and now that we will have a strong engine, I am excited about our chances for the season, especially Indianapolis.

"I'm also looking forward to driving on the road courses because until I came to the Indy cars, my whole career was on road courses. Last year the IRL added them to the schedule but I didn't have a ride. Now I can look forward to those races along with the others."

Giaffone replaces Foyt's Grandson A.J. Foyt IV at the team, who has left to pursue a NASCAR career.