Munoz to rejoin Andretti Autosport for Indy 500

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Munoz scored six Indy Lights wins for Andretti Autosport 2012-’13, but in the latter season caused an even bigger stir at Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving a fifth entry as a one-off. The Colombian qualified and finished second at IMS having led 12 laps on what was his Verizon IndyCar Series race debut.

Joining the team full time for 2014, he scored three podium finishes and took eighth in the title race, before clocking his first win in a rain-soaked Detroit race in 2015. In 2016, he finished second again at Indy, having made a final fuel stop that didn’t quite allow him to catch cruising teammate Alexander Rossi, and he scored his first IndyCar pole at Texas Motor Speedway.

Last year Munoz switched to AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolet, but has been replaced in the #14 car for 2018 by Tony Kanaan. However, he will join Andretti Autosport-Honda alongside the squad’s fulltimers – Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Marco Andretti and Zach Veach – and a fifth car to be piloted by Stefan Wilson.

Said Munoz: “I am very excited to be a part of Andretti Autosport again,” said Muñoz. “The team has been like family to me since Day 1, when I joined them five years ago to race Indy Lights. We have been so close to winning the Indy 500 – twice with the team – so I am especially excited to be back for that race and hopefully we will have a good result this year.

“I need to thank Michael [Andretti, team owner and CEO] and J-F [Thormann, team VP and COO] for believing in me and wanting me to back in their car for the Indy 500.

“I am also excited to be back with my teammates, and I think we will continue to work really well together. We have six cars, so hopefully we will have a strong team working with the new [aerokit]. I am really looking forward to it – hopefully we can finally get that win we’ve been so close to.”

Added Andretti: “There is no denying that Carlos has talent at Indy – he’s finished runner-up twice and that has fueled his determination to get to victory lane.

“He has already built relationships with his teammates and many of those on our crew, so it should be a seamless process for our six cars when they head out for the first time together.”