Foyt and Andretti team up

Bruno Junqueira giving up his ride for Ryan Hunter-Reay. Why? When in doubt, follow the money

An Andretti and a Foyt are teaming up to put Ryan Hunter-Reay back in the Indianapolis 500.

After a disastrous weekend for Michael Andretti's team, the owner and his father's old rival have reached a deal to get Hunter-Reay, the only American to win an IndyCar race since April 2008, into A.J. Foyt's No. 41 car for Sunday's race.

Details of the arrangement weren't immediately available, but it may have come down to cold, hard cash.

"We've been competitors for many years, but it's still the kind of relationship when someone is really down and out, you don't turn your back on them — at least I can't," Foyt said in a statement. "This is going back to the way racing used to be, where if people were in a lot of trouble, you tried to help each other."

Hunter-Reay cannot believe he had just been bumped out of the Indy 500 on Sunday

The paperwork likely will be filed on Tuesday. Series officials still must approve the change, Brian Barnhart, IndyCar president of competition and racing operations, told The Associated Press.

Changing drivers after qualifying is over is not unprecedented. Brazil's Bruno Junqueira, who got the No. 41 car into the field, was involved in a switch previously. Two years ago, he was yanked out of the No. 36 car by Conquest Racing, which replaced him with Canadian Alex Tagliani — this year's pole-sitter.

But seeing drivers switch teams is out of the ordinary and something that usually only happens if there's money involved.

"I can't remember it ever happening with different teams," Barnhart said.

Tony Kanaan sounded off on the deal on Twitter on Monday, urging fans not to blame Hunter-Reay for the change.

"It was not his decision for sure," Kanaan tweeted.

Hunter-Reay will have to start from the back of the field.

Seeing these two big IndyCar names cooperate is strange, too, given the rivalry between the two patriarchs of the families — 1969 Indy winner Mario Andretti, Michael's father, and Foyt, the four-time Indy winner and this year's pace-car driver.

"Obviously, this is a unique circumstance for our team, but the thought of A.J. Foyt joining forces with the Andrettis for the Indy 500 could result in something special," Michael Andretti said. "It's a credit to A.J. for being willing to help us." WRTV