Team KMA eyeing Indy 500 attempt

American driver Pecorari, who has joined Team KMA's IPS programme after racing in Champ Car Atlantic last season, revealed the team's intentions in a news conference yesterday.

"Hopefully we'll be able to put a package together for the 500, which would be great," he said.

"Right now it's just through the talks with the team. (Team owners) John Lewis and Ingo (Strachkerjam) have a lot of people they know, trying to find a car, something that's affordable just to get some track experience.

"It's only in the talks right now. There's nothing definite at all.

"I think it would be a great accomplishment if we could get that through the team."

KMA is a new alliance between Formula BMW teams Atlantic Racing and American Spirit Racing, and rock guitarist Sammy Hagar.

Pecorari admitted that an Indy 500 programme would be a major challenge given his limited experience on ovals.

"I definitely agree it could be rushing it a little bit since I've only done two oval races and one test in the Indy Pro Series car," he said.

"Thinking of it that way, it would definitely be great to be able to do it this year.

"If it doesn't happen this year, then hopefully it will next year."

With only 18 full-time entries in this year's IndyCar Series, there have been been suggestions that the Indy Racing League will be hard-pressed to attract the traditional 33-car field for the 2007 Indy 500.

But despite similar fears on several occasions since the IRL/Champ Car split, so far enough additional entrants have come forward to fill the grid every year.