Dare to drive #5 Foyt entry at Texas.

Former IRL series Rookie of the Year Airton Dare has been confirmed to will drive an AJ Foyt Racing entry in the Bombardier 500 at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend [7 June].

Dare will drive the #5 Conseco-backed Dallara-Toyota on the high-banked superspeedway, after joining the squad as team-mate to regular Foyt driver AJ Foyt IV. The Brazilian replaces Shigeaki Hattori, whose backing was for four races at the start of the season.

"I think it'll be good to work with AJ IV, because we have a good relationship from when he used to change my right front tyre last year," Dare smiled, "We'll be able to exchange information, and I think that will help both of us out a lot."

The 25-year old drove the entire 2002 season for Foyt, earning his first career victory in July at Kansas Speedway and finishing third at last year's Bombardier 500 at Texas in Foyt's car.

This year's Texas race will be Dare's second start of the season, having been classified 24th in a third Foyt car at the Indianapolis 500 last month, after being eliminated in an accident on lap 127.