Bell rejoins Sam Schmidt Motorsports for Indy 500

For the third consecutive year, Townsend Bell will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in a car prepared by the team owned by Sam Schmidt. Bell will drive the Honda-powered No. 99 BraunAbility/Schmidt Pelfrey Motorsports.

Bell, from San Luis Obispo, Calif., will be a teammate to Simon Pagenaud, who drives the No. 77 Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports car full time in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

"Speed and consistency win the Indianapolis 500," said Bell, who has a best finish of fourth in 2009. "Returning to Indy with Sam and his team for the third year in a row will ensure I have both those ingredients again in 2012. For the past two years, my guys have provided me a fast race car, and I know the No 99 BraunAbility/Schmidt Pelfrey Motorsports car will give me another shot at winning."

In 2011, Bell qualified on the second row for the Indianapolis 500 — behind his SSM teammate and pole sitter Alex Tagliani. His day ended early with an accident on Lap 157.

"Townsend is one of those drivers that gets it done at Indy, and I am excited to have him driving the No. 99 BraunAbility car this May," Schmidt said. "To say we have unfinished business together at Indy may be a cliché, but it is true. We've started our first two races together with legitimate shots at winning. This year should be no different."

Based in Winamac, Ind., BraunAbility is an industry leader in personal mobility, including the manufacturing of wheelchair vans, wheelchair lifts and other mobility accessories. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary.