Andretti Autosport announced today that it is has signed Englishman Mike Conway to a full-season drive in one of the team's IZOD IndyCar Series entries for 2011. Conway, who launched his IndyCar career in 2009, is returning to competition after sustaining serious and season-ending injuries in last year's Indianapolis 500.

The 27-year-old is a veteran of 23 IZOD IndyCar Series events – all with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – including the full 2009 schedule and the first six races of 2010. Conway scored a career-best third-place finish at Infineon Raceway as a rookie in 2009 and then posted three top-10s in 2010 before being sidelined at Indianapolis.

“This is a really exciting moment in my career to be racing for Andretti Autosport," said Conway. "It's going to be an honor working with some great people and great teammates, and I can't wait to get started. Everyone is fired up, especially me, and I'm ready for the challenge ahead. I can't wait to hit the track and start achieving some great results.”

Team owner Michael Andretti commented; “Mike is a great addition to our team, for sure. He is talented, has a lot of potential and should really fit in well with our team here. He was off to a good start last year and had started to show what he is really capable of in the IndyCar Series.

“He's got great credentials, has raced in some very competitive formulas and is a proven winner. We're really excited to be able to bring him to Andretti Autosport.”

Conway's final race of 2010 stands as one of his most-impressive IndyCar efforts thus far, despite its horrifying conclusion. After qualifying 15th at Indy, Conway led 15 laps and was running ninth with two laps to go when he was involved in an incident with Ryan Hunter-Reay, who he will now team with at Andretti Autosport.

Conway underwent surgery for multiple fractures in his lower left leg and also suffered a compression fracture in his back in the crash, and spent the rest of the year recuperating, but is now ready to resume his career.

A veteran of GP2 and F3 racing in Europe prior to his move to IndyCars, Conway is represented by 2mb Sports Management, a talent management agency owned by former F1, IndyCar and sports car driver Mark Blundell.