Kurt Bush to compete in the Indy 500

NASCAR star Kurt Busch has announced that he will attempt the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport later this season, becoming the first full time NASCAR driver to compete in the event in a decade.


Busch is set to become the fourth driver to compete in both the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race which takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina on the same day. His NASCAR team mate Tony Stewart is the only person to complete both races, finishing sixth at Indianapolis and third in the Coca Cola 600.

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion tested for Andretti Autosport in May last year 
and it was then when the journey to the 500 began.

"It got my mind going and my juices flowing on 'I want to do this.' The adrenaline and excitement was there, but last year just didn't seem like the right timing." He said. "Now 11 months of chewing on the fat and working on the details, I'm more excited than ever to do this."

Busch will embark on a testing program that will fit in with his stock car commitments, with the other Andretti IndyCar drivers said to be helping with the process.

"It's going to be a steady progression that I have to follow Andretti Autosport's lead," he said. "We have a full-blown test program to be the best-prepared we can for the Month of May. I will be a rookie, but I bring a lot of oval experience in and we'll see how we can blend that in."

Kurt Busch is the latest big name to announce his Indianapolis 500 participation with 1995 winner Jacques Villenuve returning withSam Schmidt Motorsport in a one off drive whilst 2000 winner Juan Pablo Montoya will embark on a full IndyCar return, contesting the season with Team Penske.