ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Josef Newgarden has been cleared to participate for the remainder of the weekend at the KOHLER Grand Prix.
The driver of the No. 21 Direct Supply Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing ran both practice sessions on Friday and ended 15th on the combined timesheets, after being cleared on Thursday to run the sessions. The implication was clear he’d be running when he was listed on the entry list.
He held a brief media availability earlier Friday noting still a bit of pain in his hand, but expressed a desire to keep going. JR Hildebrand is on site as standby for the ECR team this weekend, having tested the car earlier this month following Newgarden’s accident in Texas.
INDYCAR released the news late Friday via social media.
Following a post-practice evaluation @josefnewgarden has been cleared to compete the rest of the #KohlerGP weekend. #INDYCAR
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) June 24, 2016