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JR Hildebrand back to Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar with CFH Racing

JR Hildebrand will return to IndyCar next month after securing a deal to drive a third CFH Racing entry at the Indianapolis road course race and the Indy 500

Hildebrand, who has been without a full-time drive since splitting with Panther mid-way through 2013, finished 10th at the wheel of a second entry for the team's former iteration Ed Carpenter Racing at the 500 last year.

"It was really great working with Ed last year at the 500 and I did a little bit of testing in the offseason with Josef [Newgarden], we got along really well," Hildebrand said.

"I expect the relationship that the three of us have to be potent and for us to have great communication.

"That's such a huge piece, particularly at the 500, where there is so much practice, qualifying is so intense and we'll have the new aero kits.

"You need every last ounce of speed you can get out of the cars for both qualifying and race day and we can all work together to reach that goal."

Hildebrand has four previous Indy 500 starts under his belt, but will be making his first appearance on the IMS road course.

"To have the Grand Prix added onto the 500 programme is great," Hildebrand said.

"Having a race under our belts going into the 500 is a huge difference from a one-off scenario.

"It can be tough sometimes when you have guys who haven't done pitstops as a group during a race and you don't have that chemistry yet.

"It will be great for my team of guys to have a warm-up heading into the oval race and great for me to get back in a car on a road course."

The 27-year-old's last road course start came when he finished 16th in a one-off appearance with Bryan Herta Autosport at Sonoma in 2013.

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