DES MOINES, Iowa — With Josef Newgarden’s health status uncertain, Team Penske has announced that Santino Ferrucci will be on standby for the NTT IndyCar Series championship contender heading into this weekend’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Newgarden was released from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center earlier this morning and returned to his home in Nashville. Per series protocols, Newgarden will be reevaluated by the IndyCar Medical Team on Thursday to determine his status for the Gallagher Grand Prix. Should Newgarden not be able to race, Ferrucci will take the wheel of the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet.
Ferrucci has 43-career NTT IndyCar Series starts with four of these occurring at the IMS road course where he has two top-10 finishes. His career best IndyCar finish is fourth, on four occasions, and he has made three starts in 2022, with two top-10 finishes.