Chaves close to landing Indy 500 seat with SPM

Gabby Chaves

After this morning's IndyCar practice session, I bumped into 2015 IndyCar Sunoco Rookie of the Year Gabby Chaves. The Colombian of course was expected to return with Bryan Herta Autosport in 2016 before funding issues arose. Herta ended up merging his team with Andretti Autosport with Alexander Rossi filling the vacated #98 Honda seat.

Chaves tested with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports here at Phoenix last month filling in while Mikhail Aleshin had visa issues. I asked the 2014 Indy Lights champ if there was any progress on him finding a ride for this year's 100th Running of the Indy 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

"I'm close and the team wants me" said Chaves, who clarified the team was SPM. "But I have competition."

You might be able to put two and two together about who the competition is from this related rumor.

Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying is scheduled to start shortly, so I'm headed down to pit road. I'll have more later.

Brian Carroccio reporting from Phoenix International Raceway