Andretti Autosport announced today that the 25-year-old Colombian Carlos Munoz will drive its sixth entry in the 2018 Indianapolis 500.
Munoz drove for Andretti Autosport from 2013-16 and posted a pair of runner-up finishes in the Indianapolis 500 – including in his first Verizon IndyCar Series race in 2013. Munoz drove for AJ Foyt Racing in the 2017 season, finishing 16th in the championship standings.
“I am very excited to be a part of Andretti Autosport again,” Munoz said. “The team has been like family to me since Day 1, when I joined them five years ago to race Indy Lights. We have been so close to winning the Indy 500 – twice with the team – so I am especially excited to be back for that race and hopefully we will have a good result this year.”
Andretti Autosport has won three of the past four Indianapolis 500s with drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016) and Takuma Sato (2017).
For the 102nd running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 27, Munoz will team with Andretti’s four full-season drivers – Hunter Reay, Rossi, Marco Andretti and Zach Veach – as well as Stefan Wilson, who was previously announced as the team’s fifth entry for the race.
“We’re thrilled to have Carlos back in an Andretti car for the Indy 500,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti.
“There is no denying that Carlos has talent at (Indianapolis Motor Speedway), he’s finished runner-up twice and that has fueled his determination to get to victory lane. He has already built relationships with his teammates and many of those on our crew, so it should be a seamless process for our six cars when they head out for the first time together.”
Munoz has driven in 70 Verizon IndyCar Series races, winning the first race of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix in 2015 and earning the pole position for the Texas Motor Speedway race in 2016. He also drove for Andretti Autosport in Indy Lights for two full seasons, finishing fifth in the 2012 standings and third in 2013, when he won four races.
“I need to thank Michael and J-F (Thormann, team president) for believing in me and wanting me back in their car for the Indy 500,” said Munoz, who also finished fourth in the 2014 Indy 500.
“I am also excited to be back with my teammates, and I think we will continue to work really well together. We have six cars, so hopefully we will have a strong team working with the new (universal aero kit). I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can finally get that win we’ve been so close to.”
source: indycar.com