NASCAR Cup Series

USAC champ to get Indy Lights ride

Published Oct. 21, 2010 7:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Road to Indy has added a rung.

IndyCar announced Wednesday it will award a scholarship to USAC's inaugural national champion to compete in Indy Lights during the 2011 season, the latest step in the open-wheel circuit's plan to draw in the best American drivers.

''INDYCAR is the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing and USAC is honored to have this opportunity to share this new relationship and build the Road to Indy through USAC,'' USAC president and CEO Kevin Miller said. ''We look forward to extending our heritage with IndyCar racing while presenting new, exciting opportunities for our participants.''

The scholarship will allow the 2010 national champion to race an oval schedule in Indy Lights next year, starting with Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. This year's USAC champion will be crowned based on points in all three of the circuit's series: Silver Crown, Sprints and Midgets.

Bryan Clauson currently leads Levi Jones by 22 points headed into the final month of the season. IndyCar did not announce what team the USAC champion will drive for in 2011.

''As we look forward to the future of IndyCar, we feel it is important that we embrace our roots,'' IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said.

USAC was once the breeding ground for IndyCar's best drivers, including A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford and Mario Andretti. Over the past 20 or so years, it's become more of a stepping stone for stock car drivers instead of open-wheelers.

One of Bernard's top priorities since taking over earlier this year has been to find ways to get the best American drivers into the IndyCar Series instead of heading to other circuits. IndyCar created the Road to Indy earlier this year to provide a stepladder system for American drivers to reach the IndyCar Series.

''As we look forward to the future of INDYCAR, we feel it is important that we embrace our roots,'' Bernard said. ''This is an important initiative to continue the tradition of USAC oval racers competing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.''