HERTA TO DRIVE FOURTH ANDRETTI GREEN RACING CAR IN 2004

Source: IRL Media Relations
Date: 12/16/2003

Herta, who scored his first IndyCar Series victory in July at Kansas, started 11 races in 2003 for Andretti Green Racing, substituting for the injured Dario Franchitti.

Franchitti, Herta, Tony Kanaan and 2003 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon will comprise a four-car team for AGR in 2004.

"It's very exciting for Andretti Green Racing to be able to add a fourth car," said Michael Andretti, co-owner of AGR along with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. "Bryan did such a great job for us last year, and we really didn't want to lose him. The IndyCar Series is so competitive that you need every resource and advantage you can get.

"We know it won't be an easy thing to do, but being able to run four cars and keep Bryan Herta in our lineup should give us a great shot to contend for the 2004 championship. We would like nothing better than to be able to deliver that to Honda and all of our partners in 2004."

Herta, 33, from Warren, Mich., made his IndyCar Series debut with AGR in June 2003 at Texas Motor Speedway, and won at Kansas and scored six top-five finishes in 11 starts. He had three consecutive top-three finishes at Kentucky (Aug. 17), Nazareth (Aug. 24) and Chicagoland (Sept. 7).

"I couldn't be happier to be back with Andretti Green and Honda," Herta said. "Last year was a great opportunity, and it is awesome to be able to continue with the team and expand on what we achieved in 2003."

Herta, who lives in Valencia, Calif., scored CART wins at Laguna Seca in 1998 and 1999 and finished ninth as a rookie in the 1994 Indianapolis 500. He won the 1991 Barber Saab Pro Series championship and the 1993 Indy Lights championship.

The sponsorship package for Herta's car, which will carry No. 7, is being finalized.

The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season begins with the Toyota Indy 300 on Feb. 29, 2004, at Homestead-Miami Speeedway. The race will be broadcast live on ESPN.

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