After a two-year absence from the series and racing in general, Canadian Mikael Grenier will return to Firestone Indy Lights for the Long Beach 100. He will drive the No. 22 TMR-Xtreme Drilling-Napa entry for Team Moore Racing as teammate to Juan Pablo Garcia.

Grenier, who has not raced in any motorsports event since the series' 2011 race in Trois-Riveres, Quebec, tested with Team Moore several times over the offseason and was eager to put something together for its 2013 campaign.

"I have to say it was really hard to be home watching the first two races on my computer rather than being in the car," Grenier said. "Especially after putting a lot of effort this winter in testing and developing the car together. Missing the first two races is not ideal, but I believe we are going to be very strong this weekend in Long Beach.

"I know the team and the people I will be working with very well and we just have to do our jobs like we always do and the result will come to us.”

The 20-year-old from Stoneham, Quebec, impressed team owner Mark Moore after strong showings at series open tests throughout the offseason, starting with the Chris Griffis Mazda Road to Indy Open Test in late October and most recently at Sebring International Raceway.  

“Mikael Grenier has done the bulk work (along with Juan Pablo) of all the winter testing with the team," Moore said. "Starting at the Open Test at Indy in October, Mikael posted the second top time of the test. He continued to post top times at the Homestead Open Test and Sebring Open Test. He is the best person to put us in a position for an excellent result in Long Beach."