INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Scott Dixon will have company next year at Target Chip Ganassi Racing from a familiar face.

On Wednesday, Ganassi announced the signing of 26-year-old Florida native Tony Renna, who will drive the No. 10 Target Toyota Panoz G Force in the Indy Racing League.

Renna, who will replace Tomas Scheckter, spent this season as a test driver for Kelley Racing, and finished seventh as a rookie in last May's Indy 500. He also was a teammate with Dixon, who is tied with Helio Castroneves for the IRL points lead, in 2000 for PacWest Racing's Indy Lights team.

"He's a talented driver who has the ability to win races," Ganassi said. "He's going to make a great addition to the team. Scott and Tony have been teammates before and I think they will be a great combination for us for the future.

"I feel that he has the talent to win races and contend for a championship."

Renna finished fifth in Indy Lights in 2000, with Dixon winning the championship that year.

"Tony and I have always had a good relationship and it's great to have him as a teammate again," Dixon said. "We've spoken quite a bit this year and if I had to choose a teammate, Tony would probably be the guy I'd choose. We get on very well, and I'm really looking forward to next season."

Renna was the series champion of the Skip Barber Formula Ford Series in 1994, scoring eight victories and three second-place finishes. He earned his first Indy Lights victory in 1998 at Michigan and had three podium finishes in 2000 as a teammate to Dixon in Indy Lights.

"This is a great opportunity for me," Renna said. "They are a first-class organization and are dedicated to one thing: winning. When the opportunity came up, it was hard to keep the smile off of my face. I wish that the season was starting now, not ending."

Dixon and Team Target head to Texas Motor Speedway next week tied for the championship lead with one race remaining. The team is vying for their fifth championship in the last eight years, and first since moving from the CART series.