INDYCAR: Pigot seals ECR road/street deal

Prior to embarking on his first season in the Verizon IndyCar series, Spencer Pigot said: "The only thing harder than getting an IndyCar ride is keeping one." And according to well-placed sources, Pigot is coming back in 2017.

RACER can report that Pigot is expected to be confirmed as the designated road racer for Ed Carpenter Racing on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Californian, who resides in Indianapolis, was unavailable for comment, as was Carpenter, but the ride had long thought to be destined for either Pigot or Zach Veach.

Helped by Rising Star Racing's sponsors and associates and the $1 million he earned for winning the 2015 Indy Lights title, Pigot began his rookie campaign with Rahal Lanigan Letterman at St. Pete last year, and also teamed with Graham Rahal during May, where he finished 11th in the Angie's List Grand Prix. Carpenter then hired him to run the No.20 Fuzzy's Chevrolet for the rest of the road and street courses. He had a best result of seventh at Mid-Ohio, and finished ninth at Road America.

Carpenter, the lone owner/driver in the series, will run the No. 20 in the six ovals on the 2017 schedule, while Pigot's lone oval appearance will again be Indianapolis.