Danica Patrick is the latest IndyCar driver to commit to the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Daytona 24 after concluding a deal to race for Childress-Howard Motorsport.

Following in the footsteps of Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, Patrick has been snapped up to race the Pontiac Crawford with Andy Wallace and Rob Finlay, as well as NASCAR star Casey Mears.

Patrick last raced in the event back in 2006 when she competed for the same team under the Howard-Boss banner, alongside Jan Lammers, Allan McNish and Rusty Wallace.

For team manager Richard Childress, a six-time championship winning car owners in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the acquisition of Patrick and Mears makes for a formidable driver line-up.

"We think we've got a real good package, running with Richard Howard and Max Crawford, We've got a great driver lineup. Danica will do a real good job here. She's a great road racer, and we're excited to have her in the car. Casey's really excited. He won this race three years ago with Chip Ganassi, and he called me and said, 'If you've got a seat, put me in.'"