Mike Conway, who has recorded IndyCar Series on the streets of Long Beach and Belle Isle, will drive the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka car for Ed Carpenter Racing in the 12 road and street course events in the 2014 season.
Carpenter, who has won two IndyCar Series oval races, will compete in the six oval races, beginning with the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in May.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Mike Conway to the Ed Carpenter Racing family,” said Carpenter, the only owner/driver in the IndyCar Series. “My partners, (team manager) Tim Broyles and I are committed to building an organization based on culture, sustainability, and performance. We are very proud of the group of people we have assembled and bringing Mike into the fold creates an opportunity for us to show even more value to our partners and strengthen our team by competing for victories at every single event in the 2014 IndyCar Series.”
Carpenter, who qualified on the pole for the Indianapolis 500 in May, recorded five top-10 finishes (high of second at Auto Club Speedway in the Oct. 19 finale) at the six ovals this season. He had a best finish of 13th (Toronto1) and best qualifying effort of 14th (Sao Paulo) on road/street circuits. The team has scheduled its first preseason test for Dec. 18 at Sebring International Raceway.
“Ed has invested his heart and soul in his organization and is willing to put the team, his employees, and his partners first,” said Eric Timmerman, CEO of Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka. “His commitment to excellence and willingness to invest in the team positions the entire organization, ourselves and other partners included, for long-term success.”
Conway, 30, of England, won the first race at Belle Isle in the IndyCar Series' inaugural doubleheader and started from the pole and finished third in the second race in a Dale Coyne Racing car. He recorded consecutive seventh-place finishes in the doubleheader races in Toronto, scored a top 10 in the second of the Houston doubleheader and also competed at Long Beach in a Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car.
Overall, Conway has made 60 IndyCar Series starts, and made his debut in 2009 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
“It is great news to be back in IndyCar next year for all the road and street courses,” said Conway, who also has competed this year in the FIA World Endurance Challenge. “I had a lot of fun this year in the select races that I could do and I hope that I can continue my success with Ed Carpenter Racing next year."