Jordan King joins Ed Carpenter Racing in IndyCar

Jordan King will make his debut in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Ed Carpenter Racing this year after joining the team for the road and street course events on the 2018 schedule.

King, 23, spent three years racing in GP2 and Formula 2, taking two victories in the category, and enjoyed a junior role with the Manor Formula 1 team that saw him make two practice appearances at the end of the 2016 season.

The Briton set his sights on an IndyCar move for 2018 after a tough F2 campaign that yielded not a single podium, and announced on Thursday he had signed a deal to race for Ed Carpenter Racing.

King will drive the #20 Chevrolet for 11 of the 17 races on the 2018 schedule, with team boss Ed Carpenter taking over for the oval rounds.

"I am beyond excited to get started in the Verizon IndyCar Series," said King. "After winning at Silverstone in 2016 and being able to drive in F1 practice, 2017 was not what I was hoping for.

"Going into the new season, I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity with ECR to work towards our collective goals. I believe that together, both of us have the capability to do well."

"We are very excited to welcome Jordan to the ECR family and to have him in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet for the 2018 road and street course races,” added Carpenter.

“I first met Jordan at Sonoma Raceway in 2016 as he was exploring opportunities in INDYCAR. He is a very motivated, intelligent and hungry driver, which is exactly what we are looking for at ECR.

"Jordan has had a lot of success and experience in Europe and I can’t wait to see what he is capable of with ECR in the Verizon IndyCar Series."

King will make his IndyCar debut at the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 11.