Andretti Autosport announced Friday that it has signed 14-year-old Austin Cindric, son of Penske Racing's President Tim Cindric, to pilot the No. 77 Nightrain Clothing machine for the 2013 USF2000 season. The upcoming USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest will mark Cindric's Mazda Road to Indy racing debut.
"I can't thank the Andretti Autosport team enough for the opportunity," said Cindric. "I am very grateful to be surrounded by such capable people. I realize that I have a lot to learn but I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead. It should be really fun to represent Nightrain Clothing (Austin's brother, Tanner, is a founding member) while I pursue my dream."
Cindric most recently took victory behind the wheel of his INEX U.S. Legends Car at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. He raced over 40 times in the Legend Series in 2012 in a season that included his first feature win at the Indianapolis Speedrome (ABOVE) this past May. Outside of his Legends car, Cindric is also entered in the Skip Barber Racing Winter Series where he has captured two victories at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and a win from the pole in his most recent Skip Barber race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest will officially kick off Feb. 5-6 at Sebring International Raceway and continue Feb. 9-10 at Palm Beach International Raceway. The 2013 USF2000 Championship race events will begin March 14-15 at Sebring International Raceway, before joining all levels of the Mazda Road to Indy on the streets of St. Petersburg March 23-24.