All top IRL drivers returning for 2009

Dan Wheldon said Saturday that he has agreed to terms with Chip Ganassi on a multiyear contract that will keep them partnered in the IndyCar Series for 2009.

The document with Ganassi Racing has not been signed, Wheldon said prior to the Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway, but he is confident it will be soon. "It's just a matter of the lawyers putting it on paper and getting it signed," he said.

Ganassi declined comment.

Wheldon is in the middle of his third season with the Indianapolis-based team after winning the Indianapolis 500 and the series championship for Andretti Green Racing in 2005.

He finished second in the standings in 2006 and fourth last year, winning two races each season.

Wheldon has won twice this year, both in the Midwest (at Kansas Speedway and Iowa Speedway). He also recently married and celebrated his 30th birthday.

Wheldon would be one less driver on the IndyCar Series' free agent market after Helio Castroneves settled on a contract with Team Penske. Tony Kanaan has a contract offer under review from AGR; the two sides will meet this week.

"I'm not going anywhere," Kanaan said Saturday.

Only Marco Andretti is left without a contract among the drivers on the league's best three teams (Ganassi, Penske and AGR).

Danica Patrick has another year left on her initial three-year contract with AGR. Indy winner Scott Dixon is under contract for another year with Ganassi. Indy Star

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