IndyCar News

Thiago Medeiros watched 15 other Infiniti Pro Series drivers set their qualifying times for Saturday's Futaba Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - then went out and topped all their efforts.

Indianapolis 500 veterans Richie Hearn and Robbie McGehee are poised to return to the event this season, having landed late deals with Sam Schmidt Motorsport and PDM Racing respectively.

Indy Racing League engine manufacturer Honda received the 38th BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award for its HI4R-A Honda Indy V-8 engine used in the IRL IndyCar Series.

Indy Racing League rookie Kosuke Matsuura maintained his strong start to practice for the Indianapolis 500 by turning the fastest lap of the month during the afternoon of day three at the Brickyard.

The Borg-Warner Trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, is growing to accommodate the likenesses of winners through to the 2034 race.

TAG-Heuer, the official timekeeper of the Indy Racing League and the Indy 500, has announced that it will present a new 'closest finish' award for the 2004 IndyCar Series season.

The Argent Mortgage Company has confirmed that it will serve as the title sponsor of the Indy Racing League's race at Kansas Speedway on 4 July, the first time it has backed an event in the IndyCar series.

Kelley Racing has confirmed its second Indianapolis 500 entry will be driven by Sarah Fisher after revealing that Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems had signed up as primary sponsor.

Felipe Giaffone will take over the #24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold ride from the recently-retired Robbie Buhl for the remainder of the 2004 Indy Racing League season, beginning with next month's Indianapolis 500.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing has revealed that Luis Diaz will be behind the wheel of one of its G-Force-Toyotas during this Monday's Indy 500 Rookie Orientation Programme, suggesting that the Mexican may fill one of the team's four entries during next month's race.

Robby Gordon fans are being offered the chance to attend both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on 30 May in order to cheer on their driver's efforts to do the elusive 'double'.

Brit Dan Wheldon is now a serious contender for Indy Racing League title honours after giving Honda its first victory in seven races at its home track in Motegi, northwest of Tokyo, Japan.

Team Rahal will open its second full-season of Toyota Atlantic competition with this weekend's Grand Prix of Long Beach, and its new-look line-up is already gunning for what should be a closely-fought title.

Walker Racing has announced the signing of Champ Car driver Mario Haberfeld to pilot the #5 car in the 2004 Champ Car World Series. The 2004 season will also mark the return of Cummins Inc as the car's sponsor, Cummins being a long-time partner of Walker Racing.

Two former race winners - Helio Castroneves and Al Unser Jr - head up the list of entries for this year's 88th Indianapolis 500 and, coincidentally, both will be seeking their third win in the event.

Roger Yasukawa will make his season Indy Racing League debut in next weekend's Japan Indy 300 at Twin Ring Motegi, having joined Team Rahal for a limited programme in the Sammy-sponsored #16 Panoz/G-Force-Honda.

Vitor Meira will make his 2004 season debuts at Twin Ring Motegi with Team Rahal next weekend, and hopes that his performance in the #17 Panoz/G-Force-Honda will be convincing enough to earn him a crack at the Indianapolis 500. MC: Vitor, how are you?

Although the closing date for official entries to this year's Indianapolis 500 was at the end of March, correctly post-marked applications continue to arrive at Indy Racing League headquarters in the 'capital of US motorsport'.

A young Queenslander has been given the chance of a lifetime and will line up in the Champ Car race at this year's Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast in October.

The news that former Team Rahal driver would take his Gigante backing to Champ Car newcomer RuSPORT caught many people on the hop, despite the Mexican having tested rookie AJ Allmendinger's Lola at Sebring. However, the move is being seen as another positive step for the recovering series.

Team Rahal named Vitor Meira as the driver of its #17 Team Rahal Panoz G Force for the Indy Japan 300 on April 17 at Twin Ring Motegi. Meira, who turns 27 on March 27, will join drivers Buddy Rice and Roger Yasukawa in the first three-car entry for Team Rahal in the IRL IndyCar Series.

On the heels of Thursday's announcement that Justin Wilson has been signed by Mi-Jack Conquest Racing to drive in the 2004 Champ Car World Series, the team has announced that Brazilian rookie Alex Sperafico will pilot the team's second entry for the season.

The big red 'V' added to the side of the of the former PK Racing hauler signifies Jimmy Vasser's new commitment as a team owner in the Champ Car World Series, but Vasser showed Friday that he is not yet ready to give up the driving part of the equation, putting up one of the fastest times in the

Futaba Corporation of America, an $800-million worldwide corporation, will sponsor the Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series event May 22 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.