Phil Giebler's absence from the Freedom 100 can now be explained, as the versatile American has revealed that he will make his IndyCar Series debut in the biggest race of the year - the Indianapolis 500.
The Indy Pro Series graduate will team up with veteran Jaques Lazier at Playa Del Racing for the 27 May event, having vacated his IPS seat in the support race for Al Unser III. Having attempted to make a name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic, Giebler can't wait to step up to the top flight at the Brickyard.
"It's an amazing feeling," he said, having passed his Indy Racing League rookie test at Kentucky Speedway a week ago, "I've wanted to do this for years. It's the biggest race, the Super Bowl of racing. I just hope to do well and bring home a good result for the team."
Giebler admitted that, at the start of the season, he could not have expected to be making his IRL debut in the championship's blue riband event.
"I got the opportunity to do the Indy Pro Series with Playa Del Racing [at St Petersburg] and we hit it off great," he revealed, "But everybody wanted to do the same thing - go to Indy. That really came up fast for me."
Giebler will drive the #31 Playa Del Racing Panoz-Honda, while the vastly more experienced Lazier will drive the #21 entry. Giebler will participate in the Rookie Orientation Programme at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on this weekend [6-7 May] to pass the final hurdle to his participation in the 'great race'.
"Leading up to the [rookie] test, I couldn't wait to get in the car and see what the IndyCar Series car is all about," he said, "I was real impressed with the car - and with the Playa Del Racing team."
Giebler, a former Snap-on Stars of Karting champion, has also competed in F3000 in Europe and represented America in the A1GP series. He also won at Homestead-Miami Speedway on his Indy Pro Series debut in 2004.
![Phil Giebler. [Pic Credit IRL Dana Garrett]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/174078.jpg)
