By TALES AZZONI
Associated Press Writer
SAO PAULO (AP) _ Mario Moraes reached a deal Thursday to drive in the IndyCar Series season-opener, becoming the seventh Brazilian to secure a ride in the inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300.
The 21-year-old Moraes said he will drive for KV Racing for the entire 2010 season.
With the addition of Moraes, Brazil will have nearly a third of the drivers on the grid Sunday for the street race in South America's biggest city.
``It's another one to (go after) the gringos and another chance for us to win the race,'' joked countryman Tony Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar points champion. ``We are the majority on the grid so hopefully we will dominate this race.''
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, Vitor Meira, Raphael Matos, and rookies Ana Beatriz Figueiredo and Mario Romancini are the other Brazilians in the race. Figueiredo has not reached a deal for the full season yet.
``This race means a lot to all of us, there is no doubt,'' Meira said. ``We all went through a lot to get where we are and to be back in Brazil to race is incredible.''
Brazil will also have a car owner former driver Gil de Ferran, who heads the Luzco Dragon Racing/De Ferran Motorsports team.
More than 40,000 Brazilians are expected to pack the grandstands of the Sambadrome. The stadium-like venue is where tens of thousands of revelers attended the traditional Carnival parades just a month ago.
Two Venezuelans also will race in the 24-car field Milka Duno and E.J. Viso.
There will be five British drivers, three Americans, two Japanese, two Australians and one New Zealander, one Swiss and one Canadian.
``We pride ourselves for having such an international field,'' said Terry Angstadt, president of the series' commercial division.
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