Bucknum to complete year for Foyt.

Jeff Bucknum has been named as Felipe Giaffone's replacement in AJ Foyt's #14 Dallara-Honda for the remainder of the 2006 season.

The American driver, who turned 40 this week, has made five previous IRL IndyCar Series appearances in the past two years with a best finish of tenth in last year's race at the Infineon Raceway, also for Foyt. Earlier this season the son of former Formula One driver Ronnie Bucknum finished 33rd at Indianapolis after colliding with his Hemelgarn Racing teammate PJ Chesson on the second lap of the Indy 500.

Bucknum will drive the final six races of the 2006 season starting with this weekend's Firestone Indy 200 at the Nashville Superspeedway.

"We worked with Jeff a couple times last year, and he did a good job for us," Foyt said. "I know he hasn't got much experience on the ovals, but I think he can adapt to them. The next two ovals that we're taking him to are the hardest on the circuit, so if he can adapt to them, I think he can adapt to any oval. By the same token, I'm not expecting miracles. I told him to just go out and get some experience and try to come home clean."

Foyt will not be in Nashville this weekend because he is still recovering from knee replacement surgery. Noted race engineer Bruce Ashmore, who worked with the Foyt team at Indianapolis in May, will work with Bucknum at the challenging 1.3-mile concrete track.

Primarily a road racer with many years of sportscar experience, Bucknum has made three previous IRL starts on ovals, last year's race in Motegi and two Indianapolis 500's. Despite his lack of experience, Bucknum says he can adapt.

"I don't have a lack of confidence when it comes to ovals," Bucknum said. "But I'm smart enough to know I need someone to tell me the things that I don't know because of my lack of experience. A.J. is one of the best when it comes to the oval tracks and teaching drivers to run the ovals. This is the best opportunity I could ask for. In the long run I think it will pay off for both of us."