Two-time IndyCar Series champion Panther Racing announced a partnership with Super Aguri on Nov. 6 to run former Indianapolis 500 and Bombardier Rookie of the Year Kosuke Matsuura during the 2007 season. source: indycar.com Super Aguri Panther Racing will field Matsuura in the No. 55 Panasonic ARTA Honda Dallara alongside talented veteran Vitor Meira, who finished fifth in the championship standings last year. Matsuura earned both the Chase Rookie of the Year honors and Bombardier Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, and has collected 17 top-10 finishes in an IndyCar Series career highlighted by a personal best finish of fourth place at Kentucky Speedway in 2004. "We are absolutely thrilled with this partnership with Super Aguri and the opportunity to run Kosuke Matsuura in the IndyCar Series next season," Panther CEO and co-owner John Barnes said. "Kosuke is a great talent and we feel like we have the people to teach him how to finish what he does in his races.'' ''I'm excited to get him into the Panther way of life and watch him grow into the great racecar driver we know he is going to become. This is a great time for us; everybody here knows Super Aguri, Panasonic and Kosuke just made Panther Racing a much better team." The 27-year-old Matsuura is originally from Aichi, Japan and entered the IndyCar Series after successful stints in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup Championship and German Formula 3 Championship. Last season, he finished 13th in the 2006 IndyCar Series standings, with a total of six top-10 finishes and a best result of sixth at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I am very happy to have an opportunity to race in my fourth season in IndyCar Series and realize that it is a big responsibility," Matsuura said. "Panther Racing has won a series championship in 2001 and 2002, so I am very thrilled to be able to join the champion team in this new partnership. I will do the very best and aim to win."
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