Bell Completes Andretti Autosport Indy 500 Lineup

Andretti Autosport confirmed that veteran driver and NBCSN analyst Townsend Bell will drive its fifth entry for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May. The 40-year-old American will drive the No. 29 Honda.

Bell has made nine career Indianapolis 500 starts with a best finish of fourth in 2009. He won the 2001 Indy Lights championship and has victories in a pair of prestigious sports car endurance races, the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“Driving in the 100th Running of the Indy 500 with Andretti Autosport is a great opportunity,” Bell said. "I think I’ll benefit from being part of a strong, multi-car team with a winning pedigree at Indy. 

“It’s such a well-oiled machine, so professional from top to bottom in every facet of business, and not only in INDYCAR. I always have to remind myself that they’re a Global Rallycross championship team and in Formula E, there’s so many exciting things going on in this organization.”

Team owner Michael Andretti was pleased to add Bell to the driver lineup that includes Marco Andretti, 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Munoz and Alexander Rossi.

“If you look at his record at Indianapolis, he does very well there,” Michael Andretti said. “He hasn’t been with the top teams, but it seems like he’s always there in the top 10 and I feel like if we can put a good car under him, he has a good shot at winning the race.”