Kite replaces Dana.

Several months after announcing a deal that seemed set to take Jimmy Kite away from his open-wheel roots, the popular Georgia based driver will now step into the void left by the injured Paul Dana at Hemelgarn Racing in the Indianapolis 500.

The 29 year-old Kite, whose last appearance at Indianapolis came with PDM Racing in 2003, will attempt to qualify Hemelgarn's Ethanol backed #91 Dallara-Toyota this weekend.

Kite is currently 38th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings after two top 20 finishes in two starts with the MRD Motorsports team and the late call by Hemelgarn will mark his first IRL start in two years.

"Over the years, Hemelgarn Racing has built a great heritage at Indianapolis and I am honoured to be asked to drive the car at Indy," Kite said. "I know Paul really wants to be in the car and I am going to do my best to make everyone associated Team Ethanol proud of our effort."

Kite was an IRL regular between 1997 and 2000, notching up a total of 23 starts for a number of teams, most latterly PDM for whom he finished 13th at Indy two years ago.

Although Hemelgarn are no longer the force they were when they won the Indy 500 with Buddy Lazier in 1996 and the IRL title with Lazier four years later, the ride offers Kite a chance to impress a team who may be looking for a driver for the next couple of IRL races after Indy as Dana heals.

Team officials indicated Kite will be in the car when practice resumes at the Speedway on Wednesday.

"I am excited to have Jimmy part of our team as the substitute driver for Paul Dana in the #91 Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing car," said Hemelgarn. "I have known Jimmy since the late 1990s and he has always done a great job here at Indy. He is truly a driver that deserves a break. We can't wait to get him on the track and we are looking for a great showing from the Ethanol car at this year's race."

Last Friday, Dana was practicing for last weekend's qualifying when he did a quarter spin in turn two and made heavy contact with the safer-barrier wall. The St. Louis native suffered a fracture in the T-7 and T-8 vertebrae during the crash. No surgery will be required, as doctors will allow the injury to heal on its own in a brace.

"Our team's focus now is to qualify the Team Ethanol car for the race," said Dana. "We felt we were making some progress on getting up to speed before the accident on Friday and while I wish I was in the car, I am confident Jimmy can help us get it in the race. Our ethanol group, as well as our associate sponsors Remy and Life Fitness, are extremely supportive of our racing programme and this is an important event for all of us."