Barrichello makes Indy Car move

Rubens Barrichello will join the Indy Car ranks for the upcoming season after losing out on the chance to race in Formula One in 2012.

Barrichello refused to announce his retirement at the end of last season as he was determined to find a team to participate in his 25th year in Formula One.

But following the Williams teams announcement that Bruno Senna would be joining the team, Barrichello took part in a two-day Indy Car test and has now announced that he will be racing in the USA this season.

'I'll start as a rookie but I think I will get better,' Barrichello told the BBC.

Barrichello has signed a one-year contract with the KV Racing team and will become fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kannan's team-mate who Barrichello has been friends with for many years.

Barrichello added: 'I am thrilled. My main thing is to be an addition to the team.

'They have been doing very well. Tony [Kanaan] brought them to a different level last year, so I hope with my contribution we can build on this and take the team to another level.

'I am extremely happy and have a big smile on my face.'

It had been previously reported that Barrichello's wife Silvana had previously forbidden Rubens from racing on oval tracks after previously watching a high-speed crash, but the Brazilian veteran revealed that his children had convinced his wife to allow him to race.

The 2012 Indy Car calendar includes four oval tracks including the Indianapolis 500.