Herta

RICHMOND, Va. -- Bryan Herta will replace injured driver Dario Franchitti in the Indy Racing League car owned by Andretti Green Racing, the team said Thursday.

Franchitti, recovering from a broken back sustained in a motorcycle accident in April, announced a week ago that he will have season-ending surgery on his back.

Herta, 33, has two victories and seven career poles in eight years in the CART series. He will attempt to qualify the team's No. 27 car Friday night at Richmond International Raceway, site of Saturday night's SunTrust Indy Challenge.

"This is an unexpected surprise," Herta said.

Herta also substituted for Franchitti in the Bombardier 500 on June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway, bringing the Michael Andretti-owned car to a fifth-place finish.

Franchitti returned to competition the following weekend, driving to a fourth-place finish at Pikes Peak, before deciding to shut down and get healthy for next season.

"Bryan did a great job for us in testing and during the race at Texas," Andretti said. "He fits in well with the team and with Tony (Kanaan) and Dan (Wheldon)."

Kanaan and Weldon also drive cars owned by the team in the series.

Passing the time

	Franchitti

Franchitti will have his season-ending back surgery within the next few weeks.

Franchitti broke a bone in his back in a motorcycle accident in April. Recovery from the surgery is expected to keep him out of the car for about six months.

How will the Scotsman pass the time? Playing video games, including Codemasters' "IndyCar Series," which consulted Franchitti and several other racers for its realism.

"I'm hoping to be good enough to start winning some money off (my fellow drivers)," said Franchitti, in New York to help promote the game. The Xbox version began shipping Tuesday.

Franchitti, one of several professional racers asked to help design the game, said it's realistic, but there are a few things that can't be duplicated.

"The one thing you can't simulate is the G-force," he said. "But as far as the way the car reacts, it reacts to your input. The visual effect you get from the game is incredible. They really got that absolutely right."

Franchitti will soon have plenty of time to master the game, which features real tracks and racers. He's expecting to learn the exact date of his operation -- to be performed by Indianapolis surgeon Terry Trammell -- in the next couple of days.

Franchitti missed three races after the accident, including the Indianapolis 500. He returned for the Honda Indy 225 at Pikes Peak, where he finished a season-best fourth.

He last got into a race car a week ago, but he said he's not feeling any withdrawal from yet. The next race is the SunTrust Indy Challenge on Saturday in Richmond, Va.

"Come Richmond, it's going to be hard," he said.