Indianapolis, IN (My Sportsbook) - PKV Racing added a second car to its stable and signed 2002 Champ Car Series winner Cristiano da Matta to drive it.

Da Matta will team up with veteran Jimmy Vasser to form a solid lineup for the 2005 Champ Car season which is scheduled to begin on April 10th in Long Beach, California.

"The addition of Cristiano to PKV Racing's driver line-up gives us the strongest team we have had in our three-year existence and one of the most exciting in Champ Car history," said team owner Dan Pettit. "Cristiano is, obviously, a tremendous driving talent, a past champion, and a driver who knows how to win races."

Da Matta parlayed his 2002 championship into a ride with the Formula One Toyota team. In two seasons in F1, da Matta and Toyota were disappointing, earning a total of 11 top-10 finishes in 28 races. His best finishes were a trio of sixth-place results in Spain (2003), Germany (2003) and Monaco (2004).

"Coming back to the Champ Car World Series was an easy decision for me," da Matta said. "From a racing standpoint it is the most competitive series in the world and one that puts a premium on the driver's ability."

Da Matta began his Champ Car career in 1999 with Arciero-Wells Racing and got his big break when he replaced Michael Andretti at Newman/Haas Racing.

His 2002 title season was one of the best in Champ Car history with seven wins (four-in-a-row), seven poles and 11 podium finishes.