Roth/PDM combine for Indy.

The familiar #18 of stalwart IRL minnows PDM Racing will not be a part of this year's Indy 500 after the team confirmed it had joined forces with Canadian Marty Roth's eponymous outfit for the month of May.

Roth, a 46 year-old veteran with over a decade of experience in lower echelon formulae's, put together a one-off Indy effort last year with support from Toyota and was classified a creditable 24th despite crashing on lap 129.

Roth announced his Indy entry this year with an engine manufacturer to be confirmed while PDM filed their annual entry with a driver (and budget) to be confirmed. With time running short before the start of practice, PDM boss Paul Diatlovich ensured his team would get a full month of over-the-wall action rather than the usual anxious wait for money to materialise by aligning himself with Roth's #25 stable.

"We are very pleased to partner with Marty and his team for the Indy 500," said Diatlovich. "I have known many of the guys on the team for over 20 years and know that they are a very talented group. We are excited for this opportunity, and especially excited about the package in which we plan on competing with for 500 miles."

"I can't wait to run the 500 this year," Roth said. "The team has grown over this past year, and we have been able to improve our staff and equipment. We have really taken a step forward in terms of adding experience and expertise.

"First we brought in Pancho Carter as race strategist, then Steve Erickson as Engineer, and now we have aligned ourselves with PDM who brings with them many years of experience in running the 500, as well as a relationship with Chevy. The combination of Roth Racing, PDM and Chevrolet, whose performance this year has been outstanding, should provide us with a strong entry for the Indy 500."

The PDM/Roth merger brings the number of confirmed driver/car combinations down to 33, with two entries (Beck Motorsport and Roger Penske's third car) yet to announce their driver