Speed to replace injured Johnson on U.S. team in Race of Champions

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 – Scott Speed, the only American driver in Formula One, will replace injured 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson in the Race of Champions on Saturday, Dec. 16 in Paris.

2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Johnson suffered a broken left wrist when he fell off a golf cart Dec. 8 in Florida.

Speed will pair with 2006 Rally America champion and motocross star Travis Pastrana for the United States team.

Both Speed and Pastrana have racing experience at IMS. Speed competed in the 2006 United States Grand Prix as a rookie with Scuderia Toro Rosso, while Pastrana drove in Porsche Michelin Supercup support races during the USGP in 2003 and 2005.

“It was a surprise to be invited, to say the least,” Speed said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to replace Jimmie Johnson in the Race of the Champions this year. Of course, I’m really excited, and I can’t wait to race against all these guys.

“I’m also really happy to be getting back together and teaming up with my old friend Travis, who I know from the Red Bull days.”

The Race of Champions is a unique, all-star event that pits top drivers from many types of worldwide racing against each other on a special rallycross track inside the 80,000-seat Stade de France soccer stadium. Drivers race in individual and team competition in a variety of vehicles, including a Citroen World Rally car, Porsche 911 GT3 sports car, Renault Megane touring car, Aston Martin GT sports car and an off-road buggy.

It will be the first time Speed has participated in the Race of Champions. This will be the fourth consecutive Race of Champions start for Pastrana.

Other drivers with IMS ties competing this year are United States Grand Prix veteran David Coulthard and Indianapolis 500 veteran Sebastien Bourdais. Coulthard is driving for Scotland and Bourdais for France.