Simona de Silvestro will drive the second car for KV Racing in 2013. She will make her debut with the team on Monday, where they have a test scheduled at Barber Motorsports Park.
This will be the first time she has had a teammate in the IndyCar Series, as she pairs up with veteran driver Tony Kanaan. Even better news, she will make the switch from the sputtering Lotus engine, to Chevrolet power. Her sponsor, Nuclear Clean Air Energy, will follow her to KV. It was believed earlier in the week that KV and HVM Racing would form some sort of merger, as Panther and Dreyer & Reinbold did last season with JR Hildebrand and Oriol Servia. As it is, HVM will not be involved with Simona or KV Racing in any capacity.
Simona is one piece of the silly season puzzle, and one that not many people saw coming. It’s just a matter of time before Graham Rahal announces his move to his father’s team, and Ryan Briscoe is still trying to iron out sponsorship dollars to stay at Penske as the third car. Former KV Racing driver Rubens Barrichello is likely going to end up with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2013.
It’s too early to tell which direction HVM is now headed in. An official announcement from the KV Racing team should come on Monday.
Born and raised 30 miles west of the greatest race track in the world.
Chad Smith
