Townsend Bell confirms Indianapolis 500 entry

By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer

Townsend Bell has confirmed to The Associated Press that he will enter the Indianapolis 500 with team owner Sam Schmidt.

Schmidt filed a second entry for the May 27 race, but did not announce a driver.

Bell drove for Schmidt in the Indy 500 the last two seasons, and he will attempt to qualify the No. 99 Schmidt Pelfrey Motorsports entry this time around. He’ll have a Honda engine and be sponsored by BraunAbility. He will be teammates to Simon Pagenaud, who drives full-time for Schmidt in the IndyCar Series.

Bell nearly qualified on the front row for last year’s race along with then-teammate Alex Tagliani, who was the surprise pole winner.

Bell wound up qualifying fourth, and started on the inside of Row 2.