Ryan Hunter-Reay to Andretti Autosport

Ryan Hunter-Reay finally was revealed today as the fourth driver of the new formed Andretti Autosport. Hunter-Reay’s car will be sponsored by IZOD, and at the moment includes in the 2010 Indy 500 and a handful of other races in 2010. Andretti Autosport is still working on a full 2010 schedule. Parts of the press release are below.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 4, 2010) - Andretti Autosport has signed Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE: PVH) and its IZOD brand to team with driver Ryan Hunter-Reay during the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season and outlined the first phase of Hunter-Reay's program.

The initial focus of Hunter-Reay's effort in the #37 IZOD entry will be the 2010 Indianapolis 500 and will also include a number of other key series events before and after the month of May. The total number and location of those races has not yet been finalized.

The second phase of Hunter Reay's Andretti Autosport program is targeted at running the full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule and is still in development.

Today's announcement deepens the relationship between IZOD and Hunter-Reay, which dates back to the 2008 season and Hunter-Reay's first IZOD IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International. Hunter-Reay was named 2008 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, and claimed 2007 IZOD IndyCar Series rookie of the year honors despite joining the series only mid-season.

In 2003, Hunter-Reay became the first American rookie in 20 years to win an Indy car race when he took the checkers at Surfers Paradise, Australia. He later set the record for most laps led (250) in a single race when he lapped all but the second- and third-place cars at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2004. He has also competed regularly in the Rolex Sports Car Series at the annual Rolex 24 at Daytona and also in the American LeMans Series, Baja 1000 and A1GP World Cup of Motorsport