Rice to Forsythe Championship Racing

Fallout from the A.J. Allmendinger move to NASCAR has Buddy Rice in the Champ Car World Series for Forsythe Championship Racing.
Rice, winner of the 2004 Indianapolis 500, the jewel race of the rival Indy Racing League, will be in the Champ Car World Series season finale in Mexico City Nov.12.
Allmendinger was one of two drivers for Forsythe Championship Racing in the Champ Car World Series. He won five races and is second in points. But Sebastien Bourdais clinched his third straight Champ Car World Series championship in Australia and left little reason for Allmendinger to race in Mexico City.
Instead, Allmendinger is headed to NASCAR for Team Red Bull. He will try to qualify for the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend and will be driving full-time for the team in 2007.
“I would like to thank Jerry Forsythe and the whole Forsythe Team for the opportunity that they gave me," Allmendinger said. "The last few months of my life have been incredible and I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Team, we had great success and I’ve made great friends. I am starting a new chapter in my life and I’d like to wish the best of luck to the Team and to Buddy and hope they win in Mexico.�
Rice, a veteran of open-wheel racing, will be making his first Champ Car start in Mexico City. He has been driving for Rahal Letterman Racing in the IRL since 2004.
“I’m very excited! It was looking like being a very long off season so I can’t wait to be back in a car and driving again," Rice said. "Forsythe is one of the top teams out there and there’s no better feeling than knowing that you will be in a competitive car that can run up front and win races. This will be like a homecoming for me; I won the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2000 and that’s where I honed my driving skills, so being back in the Champ Car family is something that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I’m also super excited about going back to road racing; it’s going to take some adapting specially since I haven’t driven a Champ Car in years and the turbos take some getting used to, but I am confident that we’ll be quick right out of the box. I have to thank Jerry Forsythe for giving me this huge opportunity; I’m determined to make the most of it!�