Roth plans Indy 500 debut

The 45-year-old Canadian owner/driver of IPS team Roth Racing, who formed his team after buying Panther Racing's IPS equipment at the end of 2003, will attempt to qualify a Dallara Toyota in the IRL's blue riband event, pending completion of the mandatory rookie orientation programme.

"The goal from the start of joining the IPS has been to move up," said Roth. "We've been waiting for this day. That's been the ultimate mission, to get into the '500' and bring the team up to the IndyCar Series level.

"This is the progression we were after with Roth Racing. It just happened a bit sooner. An opportunity presented itself, and we took it. I'm pursuing a lifelong dream."

If Roth qualifies he will be the first driver to compete in the Freedom 100 IPS support event the week before the main event, and the Indy 500, in the same year.

"It's an opportunity to go out in a car I know and get used to the track and then shift over to the IndyCar Series car," he said. "The fact that I run a Pro Series car will make it a lot easier. I know the Pro Series cars and will be able to get used to the track."

The only other confirmed entries for the Indy 500 so far are the two Fernandez Racing cars driven by team owner Adrian Fernandez, who last week announced his switch to the IRL from the rival Champ Cars series, and rookie Kosuke Matsuura. The closing date for entries is March 31.