Rice

INDIANAPOLIS -- Team Rahal on Thursday announced that Buddy Rice will be the substitute driver for Kenny Brack in the opening races of the 2004 IndyCar Series. Brack was injured in the final 2003 IndyCar Series race in Texas on Oct. 12, and is rehabilitating at his home in Upper Arlington, Ohio. He is scheduled to return to the driver's seat in 2004.

Rice and Brack will drive a Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone package in 2004.

Rice, the 2000 Toyota Atlantic Series champion, has 18 IRL IndyCar Series starts and finished second in his debut in 2002 at Michigan. Rice will begin testing the Pioneer/Argent Mortgage car for Team Rahal on Jan. 28 at Homestead, Fla.

Rice drove for Eddie Cheever's team last year, making 13 starts and finishing 16th in points. He finished a season-best ninth three times. Brack ended the year ninth in points and finished a season-best second in Japan.