The marquee free agent in the Verizon IndyCar Series paddock is staying put for 2016, with Josef Newgarden being confirmed back at CFH Racing for at least one more season.
The team officially released the news today, although it had been floating for the last couple weeks or so following reports from NBCSN contributor Robin Miller, on RACER.com.
Contract details were not released but all indications are this is a one-year deal, which would give Newgarden the flexibility and freedom to become a free agent once more next summer. All quotes released seemed to indicate 2016 only.
“I am very excited to be back at CFH Racing,” Newgarden said in the release. “It all really comes down to the confidence and belief that our owners Ed Carpenter, Sarah Fisher, Wink Hartman, Stuart Reed and Tony George have in me.
“They’ve given me all of the tools I could ask for to drive a racecar and to be successful. It’s easy to be excited about coming back to work with this group knowing the level that we are operating at. I can see the capabilities that we have and I think we are going to be able to fully execute in 2016.”
Team co-owner Ed Carpenter said the team will work to keep Newgarden beyond 2016, as well.
“It was great to finalize a deal with Josef to keep him with CFH Racing for 2016. Just as he was a priority to sign before this past season, he was a priority for us again this year,” Carpenter said. “We are focused on becoming a force in the Verizon IndyCar Series and we see Josef being a large part of that. It is our intention to have him in a CFH car for a long time.”
The team tested at Road America on Sept. 22. Commercial details of the program were not released although Sarah Fisher’s longtime business partner, Wink Hartman, was quoted in the release. Hartman Oil signage was present only on the rear wings, not on the sidepods, of the No. 67 Chevrolet during the Road America test.
“CFH is excited for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Season to begin and to continue our on track success with Josef in the seat. Josef will be on the podium multiple times next year and I know he will challenge for the series championship,” Hartman said.
Carpenter and CFH will move next onto confirming details of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet, which Carpenter and Luca Filippi shared this season. Filippi has expressed an interest to return for a second season.