Jay Howard, the 2006 Indy Pro Series champion will join veteran owner/driver Marty Roth of Toronto to form a two-car IndyCar Series team for the 16-race schedule.
Roth Racing is the first to capitalize on the TEAM (Team Enhancement and Allocation Matrix) program instituted for IndyCar Series teams. Each full-time participant is guaranteed $1.2 million, and major sponsorship for Roth Racing will be announced soon.
"To say I'm happy is an understatement," said Howard, who had two victories and 13 top-10 finishes in 14 Indy Pro Series starts in 2006-07. "Since the age of seven when I got in a go-kart all I ever wanted to do was be a professional race car driver. It's come true, so it's pretty special for me."
Howard, 26, will join reigning Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) and '07 runner-up Hideki Mutoh (Andretti Green Racing) in moving up for '08.
Antoine L'Estage and his codriver Alan Ockwell of the Yokohama Canada Rally Team won the 2014 edition of the Rallye Defi by winning every stage of the rally.