By Andrew Cutler
December 23 2010

The top free agent on the IndyCar driver's market is now offically off the market. Tony Kanaan, the 2004 series champion and long-time mainstay of the Andretti Autosport stable has signed with de Ferran Dragon Racing.

“I don't want to call Gil (team co-owner Gil de Ferran, a fellow Brazilian) Santa, but this is really a great Christmas present for me,” said Kanaan. "I am really excited to be working with de Ferran Dragon Racing I have a great deal of respect for (team co-owners) Steve Luczo, Jay Penske and, of course, Gil, who I have known for many years both as a driver and now as a team owner. I know that the owners have a passion for the sport and a dream of being among the best in the series and will assemble all the right skills to turn this team into something really special."

Kanaan, who will turn 36 on Dec. 31st, will be entering his ninth season driving in IndyCar: prior to that, he logged five seasons in the now-defunct CART series. He will be replacing Raphael Matos, the 2008 Indy Lights Series champion who's two year stint at dFD netted only two 4th place finishes: His plans for 2011 are unclear at this time.

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In other driver signing news, HVM Racing has now confirmed that they have resigned Simona de Silvestro to a "multi-year agreement" which includes an upgraded sponsorship funding package, the details of which will be revealed at a later date. While the race-end results often didn't seem to indicate it, team boss Keith Wiggens felt that the squad made great strides last year, thanks largely to de Silvestro's attitude and effort, despite being a rookie driver who had never raced on ovals before.

Wiggens also confirmed that HVM is in the midst of driver and sponsorship negotiations in an effort to run a second car next year.