Danica Patrick signs deal with Indy's Andretti team

Danica Patrick talks about the Sept. 10 IndyCar race at Chicagoland Speedway during a promotional event in Chicago on Tuesday. PHOTO: AP

Danica Patrick signed with Andretti Green Racing on Tuesday, deciding to stay in the Indy Racing League instead of switching to NASCAR.

Patrick will start driving for her new team next year. Her current contract with Rahal Letterman expires at the end of the season. Though she toyed with joining NASCAR, Patrick said last week she was leaning toward staying in the IndyCar series.

"Danica has shown great talent during her first two seasons in the IndyCar Series," CEO Michael Andretti said.

"Our focus has been and always will be on winning races and winning championships. We certainly believe Danica will do that. She has made it very clear that one of her goals as a driver is to win the Indianapolis 500 and we are looking forward to giving her a great opportunity to do that," he said.

Patrick, who was selected last year's IndyCar Series rookie of the year, is the third driver under contract to Andretti Green racing for next year. She joins Brazil's Tony Kaanan and fellow American Marco Andretti on the team.

Andretti Green has four full-time entries in the series.

Patrick's father, T.J., caused a stir this month when he showed up at a Nextel Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway and told a Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick was interested in switching to NASCAR.

But Patrick said she was just exploring every option.

Patrick has finished fourth in consecutive races and lies ninth in the IndyCar standings, but her Rahal team generally hasn't been competitive this season.

When asked last week about loyalty to team owner Bobby Rahal, who gave Patrick her first shot at big-time racing, Patrick said, "I would hope that over the course of the last year and a half, and even before that, I would hope that I have brought things to him, too. I would hope that I have helped him in some way."