Panther Racing announced Thursday it has signed 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice to drive the team’s No. 44 entry in the 100th Anniversary of the Indy 500.
Rice will be making a return to the IZOD IndyCar Series after a two-year hiatus and will team with league rookie JR Hildebrand, driver of the team’s No. 4 National Guard entry, to solidify Panther’s Indianapolis effort.
The team has finished runner-up in three consecutive Indy 500s, in 2008 with Vitor Meira and in 2009-2010 with former Indianapolis champion Dan Wheldon.
Rice becomes the third former Indy 500 winner to drive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Panther, joining Buddy Lazier and Dan Wheldon.
The American driver last competed in the IndyCar Series in 2008 with Dreyer & Reinbold, and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 while driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing.
Rice will be making a return to the IZOD IndyCar Series after a two-year hiatus and will team with league rookie JR Hildebrand, driver of the team’s No. 4 National Guard entry, to solidify Panther’s Indianapolis effort.
The team has finished runner-up in three consecutive Indy 500s, in 2008 with Vitor Meira and in 2009-2010 with former Indianapolis champion Dan Wheldon.
Rice becomes the third former Indy 500 winner to drive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Panther, joining Buddy Lazier and Dan Wheldon.
The American driver last competed in the IndyCar Series in 2008 with Dreyer & Reinbold, and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 while driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing.