Rubens Barrichello Close to IndyCar Seat Following Sponsorship Deal

February 29, 2012

Former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello is set to enter the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series following a reported sponsorship deal with heavy construction equipment rental company Brasil Maquinas.

According to one of Brazil’s biggest newspapers, the Estado de S. Paulo,Barrichello will be sponsored at KV Racing Technology by Brasil Maquinas to a reported amount of nearly $3m. 

The company is said to have previously been negotiating with the Williams F1 team over the winter and had been willing to pay an even greater amount to keep Barrichello in his Grand Prix seat, until the team finally decided to go with Bruno Senna instead. Brasil Maquinas already sponsor a local stock car team. 

If the reports are correct, then lining up the sponsorship backing is the last major obstacle that needed to be overcome in the process of formally signing Barrichello to a year in US open wheel racing.

by Ismail Uddin