Hornish, Sharp picked for IROC.

Two-time IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr and rival Scott Sharp have again been picked to represent that Indy Racing League in the annual International Race of Champions [IROC] series, but Indy 500 and 2005 IRL kingpin Dan Wheldon will be missing from a largely American-dominated line-up.

Only sportscar racers Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Max Papis - natives of South Africa and Italy respectively - break the US stranglehold on a series that revels in the 'international' part of its title, perhaps prompted by Sebastien Bourdais beating the 'good ole boys' in their backyard last season...

The four-race invitational series matches twelve drivers from different disciplines - although notably not F1 or any other European or Asian class - in equal machinery. The winner, who will this year have to master a road course as well as the traditional ovals, will walk off with a $1million first prize. Last year, Buddy Rice and Brazilian Helio Castroneves represented the IndyCar Series.

Sharp, the 1996 IRL co-champion, has previously participated in the IROC series in 1994, 2002 and 2003, while Hornish jumped at the chance to return after a two-year gap since his second appearance.

"It's a great opportunity because it allows us to race against champions from other series," the Marlboro Team Penske driver said, "It's one of the most difficult things I've done because it puts me in something that I've raced eight times. Others guys race eight times in two months in similar cars, so it's a lot different for us. However, when you go there and can be competitive and run well, it sure makes you feel good about your abilities."

The 30th anniversary IROC season opens on 17 February at Daytona, with races following at Texas Motor Speedway, the Daytona road course and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"A road course race will help us a bit because we're used to some more road courses, but [the NASCAR drivers] are used to road courses in a stock car," Hornish reasoned, "It will give us a good opportunity to go out there and see what we can do."

The 2006 line-up is completed by NASCAR's Mark Martin - the defending IROC champion - Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Martin Truex Jr, Craftsman Truck champion Ted Musgrave, Steve Kinser from the World of Outlaws, ARCA/ReMAX stock car champion Frank Kimmel, plus Angelelli, Taylor and Papis, who all competed in Grand-Am in 2005.