IndyCar’s Conquest Racing hires French driver

INDIANAPOLIS — Nelson Philippe will drive in two more IndyCar races this season for Conquest Racing.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was hired to drive at Sonoma, Calif., and Homestead, Fla., on Tuesday. He made his IndyCar debut in May at Indianapolis and finished 25th.

Philippe is familiar with this team. He drove six races for Conquest in 2004 on the Champ Car circuit, then ran the full season in 2005 and drove in two more Champ Car races with the team in 2007.

Philippe was the youngest driver to start a Champ Car race — 17 years, eight months and 25 days — and became the youngest winner in Champ Car history when he won at age 20 at Surfers Paradise in 2006.