Raphael Matos, the 2007 Champ Car Atlantics title winner, will forego his $2million Champ Car World Series scholarship prize and has instead signed to drive in the IndyPro Series for Andretti Green Racing. Making what is effectively a lateral move for now; Matos is banking on better long term prospects in the Indy Racing League.

“I'm very honoured to be part of the Andretti Green family. It is the best thing that has happened for my career and I feel that there are a lot of opportunities available by being associated with Andretti Green,” said Matos, 26, who was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil but now lives in Miami.

“I can't thank Michael (Andretti), Kim (Green), Kevin (Savoree) and Gary (Peterson) enough for giving me the opportunity in the AFS car. The team has such great people and I am truly looking forward to being a part of its winning tradition."

By virtue of winning last year's Atlantics title, Matos was given $2million towards a Champ Car World Series ride in 2008. However, the prize is not cash, but is instead credit towards engine leases, tires, and other expenses paid directly to the race team. With CCWS expenses running between $4million and $5million per car, Matos was being asked to find additional sponsorship to land a ride with a top team.

It is believed he could have run for Dale Coyne Racing in 2008, but would receive no salary or expenses while driving for a team that rarely finishes at the front of the field.

Matos, who has the same agent as drivers Michael and Marco Andretti, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Kurt Busch, reportedly insisted on being paid to race in 2008, something no CCWS team was in the position to provide without either the team or driver finding more sponsorship.

While terms of what is believed to be a multi-year deal with AGR deal were not released, Matos will now be on a team that runs four IndyCar Series machines, two IndyPro Series cars, and an LMP2 Prototype in the ALMS series. Matos has sportscar experience, running the Sebring 12 hours in 2006 and 2007, finishing fifth in his class in 2006.

All of those cars, and AGR's usual habit of running a fifth car in the Indy 500, creates many opportunities for Matos in 2008. Additionally, moving into the #27 AGR/AFS car makes Matos the instant favourite for the IndyPro Series championship.

Alex Lloyd won the title in 2007, notching $359,400 in earnings (of which he probably got to keep a 50% share), and landed a lucrative development deal with Ganassi Racing.

Lloyd will run in the IndyCar Series and GrandAm Series in 2008, with Matos looking for a similar advancement to a well paying ride via his association with Andretti Green Racing.

Matos, one of the rising stars in American racing, has posted posting stellar results in recent years.

In 2007, Matos had six wins in 12 starts in the Atlantics series, with a total of nine podiums. Matos previously ran four IPS races in 2006, winning two on the St. Petersburg street course, and finishing fourth on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That same season, he finished fourth in Atlantic points with four poles and one victory. In 2005, he won the Star Mazda title with four wins in 12 races.

Matos joins the AGR IndyPro Series team as they are moving the operation completely in-house for the 2008 season. AGR previously partnered with Gary Peterson's AFS (Automated Fire Sprinklers) racing team, but the entity will now work in the same Indianapolis facility as AGR's ICS and ALMS operations.

Peterson, the owner of AFS, will remain with the newly configured team in a managerial role, and as a sponsor.

"Moving in-house with AGR for the 2008 season is a great opportunity for AFS and we are happy to continue our relationship with such a successful organization (as AGR). There is no doubt that with Raphael Matos' record, we will be competing for the championship this year,” said Peterson.

ORS / CAPSIS International