Andretti Autosport confirms Munoz

Carlos Munoz

Four-time IndyCar Series champions Andretti Autosport confirmed today that Carlos Munoz will return to the team's roster for 2016 IndyCar season. Munoz, who will pilot the No. 26 Honda, returns alongside teammates drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti.

"Really happy to join the team again for 2016 – it will be my fifth year with Andretti," said Munoz. "I'm really thankful to Michael (Andretti), JF (Thormann, COO) and the whole team. I'm really happy to be able to return for another year. The 2016 schedule looks really nice and we hope to fight for an Indy 500 win and a championship."

Munoz made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut at the 2013 Indianapolis 500 where he earned Rookie of the Year honors for starting on the front row and, after leading the historic race for 12 laps, finishing in the second position. The 23-year-old continued with Andretti to complete two full seasons (2014, 2015), taking him to his first career win on the streets of Detroit (2015) along with seven top-10 finishes during the 2015 season.

"Carlos has been part of the Andretti family of drivers for several years now," said team owner Michael Andretti. "We're really pleased with his growth as a driver and look forward to a competitive 2016."

Prior to joining the IndyCar ranks, the Colombian recorded five Indy Lights pole positions and four wins (Barber, Long Beach, Pocono and Fontana) in 2013, marking his career-best year in two seasons of Indy Lights competition. Throughout his time spent at the final step of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, Munoz has accrued six wins, six pole positions, 10 podiums and 20 top-10 finishes. The Indy Lights veteran came away with a fifth-place finish in the 2012 championship points standings and third for 2013.

Andretti Autosport