IndyCar puts Carpenter, Penske in Leaders Circle

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- One car each from Ed Carpenter Racing and Jay Penske's Lotus Dragon Racing team have been selected as the final two members of the IndyCar Leaders Circle program.

Eighteen of the 20 cars finished in the top 22 in entrants points last season, and on Friday series officials exercised their option to award money to two additional teams planning to run full-time schedules in 2012. Each club member will receive about $1.1 million if the cars qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and the race in China, and will compete for bonuses ranging from $35,000 for first place to $10,000 for fifth at each race with the exception of Indy.

Non-members will earn bonuses ranging from $80,000 for the highest finishing car to $26,000 for the fifth-highest finishing car.

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