Harding Racing has announced that it will run the full Verizon IndyCar Series in 2018 with driver Gabby Chaves.
The team, owned by concrete magnate Mike Harding, made its IndyCar debut in last year’s Indianapolis 500.
Chaves finished ninth at the Brickyard, then fifth in Texas and 15th at Pocono in its other two races.
The 24-year-old Colombian has raced part-time for the past two years after debuting in 2015 with Bryan Herta Autosport.
Harding’s entry was widely expected and comes after news that former IndyCar race director Brian Barnhart had joined as team president.
Barnhart has since been replaced by former IMSA race director Kyle Novak.
The #88 Chevrolet-powered car is the 22nd full-time entry this year, one up on 2017.
Aside from Indianapolis 500 cameos, part-time entries have also been confirmed for Rene Binder and Kyle Kaiser at Juncos Racing, Jack Harvey at Michael Shank Racing, and Helio Castroneves will also run in a fourth Penske car on the Indianapolis road course.
First official on-track action is a test at Phoenix on February 9-10, with Round 1 in St Petersburg on March 9-11.
IndyCar Series 2018 full-time teams and drivers
Team | Drivers |
AJ Foyt Racing | Tony Kaanan |
Matheus Leist | |
Andretti Autosport | Marco Andretti |
Ryan Hunter-Reay | |
Alexander Rossi | |
Zach Veach | |
Carlin | Max Chilton |
Charlie Kimball | |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Scott Dixon |
Ed Jones | |
Dale Coyne Racing | Sebastien Bourdais |
TBA | |
Ed Carpenter Racing | Spencer Pigot |
Ed Carpenter (Ovals)/Jordan King (Roads/streets) | |
Harding Racing | Gabby Chaves |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Graham Rahal |
Takuma Sato | |
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | James Hinchcliffe |
Robert Wickens | |
Team Penske | Josef Newgarden |
Simon Pagenaud | |
Will Power |