Yasukawa joins Indy Japan 300 field

Roger Yasukawa will join Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in September alongside regular driver Michael Conway.

"I am very excited that I will be racing again at the Indy Japan this year," Yasukawa said. "I ended my Indy 500 last year with results that I did not expect, but I feel confident about this year racing with a solid team."

Yasukawa has started 18 of his 38 IndyCar Series races with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, most recently the Indianapolis 500 in 2007. Yasukawa has nine top-10 finishes, with a best finish of seventh (twice).

"I started talking with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing right after the Indy 500 last year and finally came to an agreement," he said. "The team has geared up their engineering staff this year, and I am very confident that we are going to be competitive in the race."

The Sept. 19 event will mark Yasukawa's fifth IndyCar Series start at Twin Ring Motegi.

"We love going to race in Japan every year," team co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. "To be a part of a program to put Roger on the grid in front of his home crowd makes us excited. The Japanese fans are very enthusiastic, and that energy is infectious. We couldn't be happier to be a part of that pride when we race in the Indy Japan 300 in September with Mike (Conway) and Roger."