IZOD IndyCar Series drivers E.J. Viso and Hideki Mutoh will contest the 2010 series championship with new teams.
The 24-year-old Viso, a native of Venezuela, will drive a second entry for KV Racing Technology alongside former Formula One standout Takuma Sato. Viso will drive the No. 8 car with support from PDVSA, Herbalife, SBA Airlines, CanTV and Plantronics. He comes to the team after spending two seasons with HVM Racing, where he had limited success (one top-5 finish in 32 starts).
Viso tested last week for KVRT at Sebring, Florida and will be at this week’s IRL Open Test in Birmingham, Alabama.
“As I have said before, KVRT is an outstanding team and I think joining them is the best thing for my racing career right now,” said Viso in a press release. “I believe the structure KVRT has in place will provide for a very productive season.”
“Over the last two seasons, [Viso] has impressed both [KVRT co-owner] Jimmy [Vasser] and I with his race craft and growth as a driver,” team general manager Mark Johnson said. “E.J. brings IndyCar and oval experience to our team, which will be extremely valuable as we progress through the season.”
Viso will look to rebound from a tough second season in IndyCar. He did not finish the first seven races of the 2009 campaign in HVM’s No. 13 car and wound up with nine DNF’s at the end of the year. His top finish was seventh on the road course at Watkins Glen.
As for Mutoh, he is moving from Andretti Autosport to Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, which appears heading for a shift to a one-car operation as their former lead driver Graham Rahal remains in free agency. Mutoh will drive the No. 06 machine with his regular sponsorship from Honda’s Formula Dream program and Panasonic.
“Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing has always been known for their success and I am proud to add my name to all of those who have driven for the team before me,” Mutoh said in an N/H/L press statement. “I started watching Indy car racing when Nigel Mansell came to race in the United States from Formula One, so I am happy to be racing for the same team he raced for. I already have taken my picture with his race car that is in the lobby of the team’s race shop. I’m looking forward to starting the season.”
Mutoh finished 11th in the championship last season, with top-five runs at Iowa, Richmond, Mid-Ohio and Sonoma along the way. He is also slated to run this week’s Open Test sessions.
