Barrichello to announce Indycar deal on Thursday

Rubens Barrichello will announce on Thursday he has agreed a deal to switch to Indycar racing in 2012.

That is the claim of the well-connected O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, reporting that the formula one veteran has secured $3 million in sponsorship backing to secure the seat.

The report said that after 19 consecutive seasons in F1, Barrichello will drive for his close friend and countryman Tony Kanaan’s Indycar employer KV, owned by Jimmy Vasser.

Estado said 39-year-old Barrichello’s sponsor, BMC Brasil Maquinas, offered $3.5 million in backing to Williams in 2012, but the British team accepted the more lucrative sponsorship brought by Barrichello’s fellow Brazilian Bruno Senna.