Brian Vickers will drive for Team Red Bull in 2007, positioning himself to be the future of Toyota as the Japanese automaker prepares for its Nextel Cup debut, The Associated Press has learned.
The hiring was confirmed to the AP on Sunday night by Red Bull officials at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
``Brian brings not only youth, but also championship credentials to the Red Bull seat,'' general manager Marty Gaunt said. ``More importantly, he shares the same vision held by Team Red Bull and he becomes a key building block in the foundation of our team.''
Vickers asked earlier this month to be released from his contract with Hendrick Motorsports, where he has driven since 2003. His request was granted, clearing the way for Vickers to emerge from the shadow of his successful Hendrick teammates to drive for a startup company that will build its organization around the promising 22-year-old.
``I hope this makes us _ me and Team Red Bull _ champions,'' Vickers said by phone from Sonoma, Calif., following his 14th-place finish in the NASCAR race.
``The rest of the stuff takes care of itself. I know that there are going to be a lot of opportunities for me through Red Bull, but all of that is just a bonus. I am going into this deal for the sheer competition.''
Although Vickers has yet to win at NASCAR's top level, the 2003 Busch Series champion is in high demand because of his youth, potential and marketability.
Toyota's upcoming entry into the Cup series is creating several open seats, and there is a shortage of talented, young Cup drivers who are not locked into long-term contracts. By leaving Hendrick _ one of NASCAR's super teams _ Vickers is capitalizing on what is currently a driver's market.
``It came down to it was time for a fresh start, time to do something different and I felt like this was an opportunity of a lifetime,'' Vickers said. ``Red Bull is one of the worldwide leaders in all forms of motorsports. They have more resources, from Formula One, to Rally cars and now to a Cup team, and they are going to use all of them.''
Vickers will be the top driver for Red Bull, where he'll pilot the No. 83 Camry. Team Red Bull, which is owned by the world's leading energy drink maker, is still looking for a second driver.
Red Bull has been fairly quiet this season, creating an air of mystery about what is expected to be Toyota's flagship team. Michael Waltrip will field at least two Camrys next season _ one for himself and one for Dale Jarrett _ and Vickers now becomes the third driver in the Toyota camp.
He was linked to Red Bull the moment Hendrick officials said Vickers had asked out of his contract. The move was at first puzzling, considering that Hendrick fields cars for four-time champion Jeff Gordon, points leader Jimmie Johnson and hotshot Kyle Busch.
But Vickers has always been overshadowed there, and owner Rick Hendrick said it was possible that Vickers wanted to be his own star.
``Maybe Brian just wants to go somewhere and be a top draft pick for somebody,'' said Hendrick, who has hired Casey Mears to replace Vickers.
Vickers said he never felt like low man on the Hendrick totem pole, and his decision to leave was based on a lack of Cup results in the No. 25 Chevrolet. He said the Red Bull deal came together this week, and he's looking forward to building something from the ground up.
``The first year is going to be a work in progress,'' he said. ``But these guys are going to be more prepared than anybody has ever been. It's a new start and a new deal and we're all going to be patient to make this work.''
