Greg Beck shocked the IndyCar Series world when he announced plans to run at Homestead, Kansas and Indy. With Davey Hamilton apparently unavailable until perhaps Indy, Beck has now made a conservative choice in veteran Alex Barron as his driver for the season opener.

Barron, 26, had been out of the IndyCar Series since the end of the 2005 season when then boss Eddie Cheever lost his Red Bull sponsorship. Unemployed heading into 2006, Barron ran 10 races in the Formula Atlantic series achieving only a best of just fifth before stepping aside mid-season.

The California native will now get a chance to redeem himself with a basically brand new team. "We thought he would be a good fit with the project we're working on," said Beck. "He's a former race winner and just a good guy all around."

Barron has made 59 starts in the IndyCar Series with wins at Nashville in 2002 while driving for the long since shuttered Blair Racing and at Michigan in 2003 where he was subbing for the injured Felipe Giaffone at also closed Mo Nunn Racing.

Officially known as Curb/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports, the team is co-owned by Beck, Cary Agajanian and Mike Curb. The latter duo carries with them a lot of racing history.

Agajanian's family has been involved in the Indy 500 for decades and Cary Agajanian is a successful racing lawyer/agent who has represented many of the biggest names in US racing including former IRL and current NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart.

Mike Curb owns a successful country music record label, and has sponsored all manner of race cars for years including those driven by Dale Earnhart early in his career.

The team acquired their Dallara race car from the now mothballed Fernandez Racing operation. Plans are underway to expand their 2007 schedule to include more racing, but as always this is contingent upon finding the proper funding.

ORS / CAPSIS International