Open-Wheels

 

As long expected, Townsend Bell was confirmed in the #99 BraunAbility-Schmidt Pelfrey Motorsports entry on Friday. The San Francisco native will again be reunited with team owner Sam Schmidt after driving for him at Indy in both 2010 and 2011. Last season, Bell started on the inside of Row 2 after Pole Day, but finished 26th after an incident with Ryan Briscoe.

The 37 year-old Bell has started in five Indianapolis 500s, with a top finish of 4th in 2009 for KV Racing Technology. He has one other Top 10 Indy 500 finish from 2008, and has garnered a solid reputation as an Indy specialist. He’ll remain busy in the Month of May, between his Indy 500 driving duties, an ALMS race at Laguna Seca, and working as a pit reporter for NBC Sports.