PJ Jones in for wounded Lazier

Jones will make his first Indy 500 start as team-mate to fellow Californian Robby Gordon, as regular driver Lazier suffered a fractured vertebra in a recent accident at Nazareth after a clash with Tomas Scheckter.

"To have the opportunity to jump into this seat for my first run at the Speedway is fantastic," said Jones. "But you do hate to take it at someone's expense. I feel for Jaques; he's one of the good guys, and he certainly deserved to be here in this car.

"Right now, I'm just going to keep the seat warm for him and hopefully carry the torch while he's out. I know this car is a rocket ship," he declared.

Jones, a veteran of 59 CART starts, will not be required to take a rookie test to participate in the Indianapolis 500 due to his high-speed oval experience in CART.

Team boss John Menard said: "I've known PJ for a long time, and I did a lot of homework on this selection. Not only did everyone I called in the business for recommendations say PJ was up to the task, I noticed that he's never truly had a shot in really good equipment. And the few times he has had the tools, he's been spectacular."