Franck Montagny, who made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut with Andretti Autosport in 2009, returns to the team to drive the No. 26 Honda-powered entry in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10.

Montagny, who tested last month on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course, is scheduled to participate in the Open Test on the 2.46-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit April 30. The 10 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. (ET) sessions are free and open to spectators to watch from the South Terrace grandstand and Turn 2 mounds.

He will join full-season Andretti Autosport drivers Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe and Carlos Munoz in competing in the 82-lap race. The No. 26 entry will be driven in the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on the 2.5-mile oval May 25 by Kurt Busch.

"I am very happy to be back with Andretti Autosport; I have already felt 'at home' during my visits," Montagny said. "Participating in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in the temple of motorsport that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a true moment of happiness." 

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The relationship between Andretti Autosport and Montagny dates to 2008 when he competed in seven races for the team in the American Le Mans Series, teaming with Andretti, Tony Kanaan, Raphael Matos, James Rossiter.

Montagny made his American open-wheel debut in the April 2008 Champ Car finale at Long Beach, finishing second to Will Power. He competed for AFS/Andretti Autosport in August 2009 at Sonoma Raceway (started eighth and finished 20th).

Montagny, 36, of Feurs, France, has four podium finishes in a dozen starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and has made seven Formula One starts with Super Aguri. He also has been a reporter for the French TV Group TF1 and a Formula One consultant and pit reporter for “Canal+”.

Practice for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis kicks off at 10 a.m. May 8, with the three rounds of qualifications starting at 2 p.m. May 9. ABC will televise the race May 10 (3:30 p.m.).