Entered in the No. 98 source: indycar.com / Dave Lewandowski Greg Beck said he sought "a driver for the first race that makes sense" for the resurrected IndyCar Series team. He turned to Alex Barron, who has made 59 series starts. Barron will drive the black No. 98 CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone in the prime-time XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 24. Barron will have to take refresher laps next week before joining the first practice session March 23. "We thought he would be a good fit with the project we're working on," said Beck, who sought the counsel of former IndyCar Series driver Davey Hamilton. "He's a former race winner and just a good guy all around." Click it: Alex Barron career stats | Event info, tickets ... even the weather forecast Barron, 36, who has two victories and 27 top-10 finishes, competed in his first IndyCar Series race in 2001 with Sam Schmidt Motorsports at Gateway International Raceway (21st-place finish). His last start was the 2005 season-ender at California Speedway with Red Bull Cheever Racing (14th-place finish in race and 11th in points). Last year, he finished 14th in the Atlantics standings. In four Indianapolis 500 starts, Barron's best finish was fourth in 2002, when he advanced 22 positions in a Rayovac Blair Racing-prepared car and was named the co-rookie of the year. After filing the entry on March 14, Beck said the team is committed to the Homestead and Kansas (April 29) events plus the 91st Indianapolis 500. Hamilton, who was a spotter for Barron while with Red Bull Cheever Racing, said he is working (on sponsorship and physically) to return to the car for the 91st Indianapolis 500. "This project would not be possible without Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian," Beck said. "Mike and Cary have been longtime supporters and this is an opportunity they have given us to go out and run and build our program. We're excited to be back in the IndyCar Series."
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