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Luyendyk Jr. heads to broadcast booth

INDIANAPOLIS -- Arie Luyendyk Jr. is moving to the broadcast booth while he continues looking for a ride in the IndyCar Series.

The 27-year-old son of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner will join veteran broadcasters Mike King and Kevin Lee as a television analyst for the Firestone Indy Lights Series.

"No one on the (TV) team knows more about the Firestone Indy Lights drivers, teams and cars than me, so that's going to be an advantage for me on the broadcasts," Luyendyk said Monday.

Luyendyk had 62 starts in the IRL's developmental program, including his first career victory in the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway last September.

"It is not a career change for me because I still have a passion to be an IndyCar Series driver," he said. "It's just another new experience and another interesting job."

Luyendyk was 28th in his only Indy 500 start in 2006, four years after his father's final race at Indianapolis.

The Indy Lights races will be shown on the Versus cable network each Monday after a race, beginning April 6 following the season opener at St. Petersburg, Fla.