By alley - Apr 7, 2016, 4:38 PM ET

INDYCAR: Vickers still hopeful of Indy 500 seat

With just under a month remaining until the start of first practice session for the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers says he still hasn't ruled out signing with an IndyCar Series team in the hopes of making the field of 33.

RACER

first reported in March

that Vickers was a candidate for the third Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry, alongside Townsend Bell, Grace Autosport and 2015 IndyCar Rookie of the Year Gabby Chaves.

Since then, Bell has signed with Andretti Autosport and Grace is in the frame to be aligned with KV Racing. As a result, Vickers is still hopeful that he will be able to secure a ride, especially since he remains week-to-week with Stewart Haas Racing, where he continues to fill in for the injured Tony Stewart.

"I wouldn't rule anything out," Vickers said on Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway. "The Indy 500 would be one of [the things I'd like to do]. I would love to race Le Mans again. I would love to be in sportscar racing, and I would love to be in NASCAR.

"I'm really enjoying this opportunity with Stewart Haas as well. I'm open to all those opportunities. I would love to have something to announce, but unfortunately, there is nothing to announce at this point. [The Indy 500 is] still on the table. It's definitely not off the table yet. We're continuing to explore that and if it happens, that's great and if not, maybe next year."