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Pigot confirmed for encore with Ed Carpenter Racing

Sonoma Raceway - Day 2

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Spencer Pigot, driver of the #20 Samsung/Fuzzyâs Vodka/ECR Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, drives during practice for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 17, 2016 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Spencer Pigot will begin his 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season with the same team he ended his 2016 year with, Ed Carpenter Racing.

The 23-year-old Floridian and past Indy Lights and Pro Mazda champion will have his second season with ECR, driving the team’s No. 20 Chevrolet in the 11 road and street course races while team owner Ed Carpenter will race it on ovals.

“I’m very excited to be staying with Ed Carpenter Racing for the 2017 season,” Pigot stated. “It’s a great feeling to know that I have a secure ride for all of the road and street course races so we can start preparing for the season now. I can’t thank everyone at ECR, P1 Management and Rising Star Racing enough for their help getting this deal done.”

Although this was not confirmed within the release, Pigot would make sense to drive a third car for the Indianapolis 500 at the team. ECR has fielded a third in recent years for now full-time driver JR Hildebrand, who replaces Josef Newgarden in the No. 21 Chevrolet.

Pigot made his first three starts with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at St. Petersburg and the two Indianapolis races last year, before principal backers Rising Star Racing helped Pigot land at ECR for the seven remaining road and street races the rest of 2016.

His best finishes of seventh at Mid-Ohio and ninth at Road America came after successful tests at both venues. Pigot struggled in qualifying - his best start was only 17th - but his undoubted potential and talent shown throughout all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires is still there as he’ll prepare for a second go-'round in IndyCar.

“We are happy to have Spencer back. It was a challenging situation for him to step into the team last year mid-season as a rookie. We believe that Spencer has the potential to be a contender in this sport and we will continue to focus on maximizing that potential,” remarked Carpenter. “It is great to have some offseason left to allow us to continue that development before the season kicks off. We are anticipating a strong sophomore campaign from Spencer.”

Pigot’s first IndyCar test this year will be alongside Hildebrand for a test at Sonoma Raceway on February 7.

Pigot’s official confirmation all but closes the books on the 2017 IndyCar silly season, with KVSH Racing’s future uncertain if not at an end prior to the March 12 season opener at St. Petersburg. There may be an opening in the second Schmidt Peterson Motorsports seat with Mikhail Aleshin not confirmed yet, and Mexican driver Luis Michael Dorrbecker set to test for the team in March.

NBCSN’s coverage of IndyCar will kick off on April 9 with Round 2 at Long Beach.

Follow @TonyDiZinno