John Andretti said:

It would be difficult to script a scenario any better than the one we have here. The relationship I have with Richard, the respect I have for Michael [Andretti] and his team, the partnership I enjoy with Window World and all of it focused on the Indianapolis 500 – it’s really a perfect situation. I can’t wait to get in the car and get to work. May can’t get here soon enough.

The car will feature Petty’s tradition Petty Blue and Day-Glo Red color scheme that The King made famous during his career. The car will have decals for Window World Cares, the charitable foundation of Window World Inc.

Petty said:

I’m excited to be a part of this venture with John, Andretti Autosport, and Window World for the Indy 500. There is so much history around this event and the Andretti’s have such a rich tradition in racing. I’m looking forward to watching John hit the track in May.

Andretti will join teammates Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, and Danica Patrick as a part of Andretti Autosport. If he qualifies, it will be his 11th Indy 500.

Last year, Andretti, Petty, and Window World teamed up with Dreyer & Reibold Racing to field a car in the Indy 500. He finished 19th. The team hopse to improve upon that finish by teaming with Andretti Autosport, which won the Indy 500 in 2005 and 2007.

Team owner, and John Andretti’s cousin, Michael Andretti said:

I’m really excited to be able to be a part of this. Richard Petty is one of the true legends in our sport and someone I have always admired. Window World deserves a lot of credit for bringing all of this together. … I have a lot of respect for John’s talent – I always have. I really think he will fit in very well at Andretti Autosport and can be a factor during the month of May.

Patrick unveiled her GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport, with whom she signed a three-year contract extension earlier this season. The appearance served as her official announcement that she would drive for Andretti Autosport next season.

The deal was held up by Patrick’s current sponsorship deal with Motorola, and the restructuring of Andretti Green Racing, which recently changed its name from Andretti Green Racing to Andretti Autosport.

Patrick said in a news release:

My life long goal is to win the Indy 500, and I’d love to do that in the GoDaddy.com car.

She added:

Michael Andretti has helped me become a better driver and we hope to accomplish a great deal during the next few years together.

Team owner Michael Andretti said:

All of us at Andretti Autosport are looking forward to having Danica back with the team and are excited about working with (CEO) Bob Parsons and everyone at Go Daddy as the primary sponsor on Danica’s car.

The news was a disappointment for some Patrick fans who are waiting to hear confirmation or denial of the loads of rumors circulating about her potential move to NASCAR.

Update: It is being reported that Patrick’s website contained a photo of the driver in a GoDaddy.com uniform with a Chevy emblem and what appeared to be the JR Motorsports and Nationwide Series logos. The picture was later changed to her Indy uniform.

Officials that represent Patrick and JRM declined to comment.

While she has not commented, many still believe NASCAR could be in her future. Tony Stewart believes she’ll make the switch eventually. Before the Atlanta race, Stewart said:

I just know that she’s excited about this and making this change. I can pretty much guarantee at some point she’s going to be over here. … She’s looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Hey, this is what I want to do. It looks like fun. It looks like a lot of work, but it looks like fun.’

It was reported that Patrick would come to NASCAR in 2010, racing select races in the Nationwide Series, the Camping World Truck Series, and the ARCA Re/Max Series. Stewart Haas Racing was rumored to be the team that would help bring her along in NASCAR, and help her adjust. It should be noted that this could still be in the works, because the rumor was that she would still run in the IRL while making the transition.

I’m not sure how a three-year contract will change those plans. I don’t think that a NASCAR team would wait three years for her to make the transition, but AGR could also let her out of her contract early.

I too expect Patrick to eventually make the switch. But, I know many are growing tired of the “will she, won’t she” story, and I have to imagine NASCAR teams are as well. So, I think that the next time she publicizes her intentions to compete in NASCAR, she will really have to make the switch. This is the second time she has used the lure of NASCAR to secure a better IRL contract. If she does it again, without switching, then teams will find her harder to believe in the future.

Brian Vickers is said to be close to a deal to re-sign with Red Bull Racing. Vickers’s contract ends this season, but the team has a option that would lock Vickers up for one more year.

Danica Patrick is said to be considering NASCAR, but many believe she may be using a potential career in NASCAR to secure a better deal in the Indy Racing League.

[Busch] would certainly leave the door open to try it out at some point. At the same time, he’s currently focused on winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series championships for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Busch is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing through 2010. USF1 is planning to go racing in 2010.

The thought of Busch racing in F1 is not that far-fetched. Unlike some other drivers who jump from one type of racing to another, Busch’s potential move wouldn’t be motivated by money.

Instead, I think that Busch would be intrigued to see how he compares to the world’s drivers in a completely different form of racing. It could be a way for him to show just how talented he is.

That’s not to say he will leave NASCAR, but I’m sure the idea is certainly intriguing.

For those of you unfamiliar with F1, learn more about it here.

Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick and Red Bull Racing’s Scott Speed are others who have been linked to the ride. Also hearing that Marco Andretti’s name has been  mentioned, too.

Sadler may be headed to the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s No. 41 entry, or Penske Racing’s No. 77 machine, if Sam Hornish Jr. replaces Helio Castroneves in the Indy Racing League.

Castroneves is facing charges related to tax evasion.

An tax evasion indictment was returned by a grand jury on Thursday. Castroneves is charged with consipracy and six counts of tax evasion. His sister, who is also his business manager, and his attorney are also being indicted.

In the charges, it is alleged that Castroneves, his sister, and attorney used a Panamanian shell corporation called Seven Promotions to fraudulently hide Castroneves’ income from the IRS.

According to the indictment, the driver received $6 million in income over three years, but his tax returns only reflected $1 million. The remaining money was diverted to a company in the Netherlands.

The defendants face up to 35 years in prison, if convicted, but it is highly unlikely that they will receive such a stiff penalty. Actual penalties are expected to much less.

Franchitti drove Ganassi’s No. 40 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series before the team was shut down due to a lack of sponsorship. Franchitti missed a few races because of an injury he sustained at the Nationwide race at Talladega Superspeedway. He also missed some races due to being outside of the top 35 in owner points.

Some believed that Franchitti was the frontrunner to replace Reed Sorenson, who is heading to Gillette Evernham Motorsports next season. Franchitti elected to return to IndyCar instead.

Franchitti said:

 I have really enjoyed this last season in stockcars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up.

Dan Weldon, the driver Franchitti will replace, agreed this week to a multiyear deal to return to Panther Racing, his first team, where he will drive the No. 4 car.