Josef Newgarden has been released after fainting, but needs medical approval to compete in Indianapolis. Santino Ferrucci has been called up as a possible replacement at Penske
Penske announced on Monday (25) that driver Josef Newgarden has been released from the hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, where he spent last Sunday night under observation. As a precaution, the team confirmed that if the two-time IndyCar champion is not medically cleared to compete in the Indianapolis GP next Saturday, Santino Ferrucci will be his replacement.
Newgarden was leading the Iowa 2 GP until he had an accident on lap 235. The driver lost control at the exit of turn 4 and hit the wall hard, blowing his chance for victory. Josef was released from the medical center, but minutes later, after the race, he became ill and hit his head after fainting.
After being released from the hospital, Josef has already returned to his home in Nashville, Tennessee, where he rests. Next Thursday, the driver will undergo a medical evaluation by the Indy team, which will decide if the driver will compete or not in the event that takes place in the mixed race at Indianapolis.
Ferrucci may race for the fourth time in the 2022 Indy season, and for the fourth different team. The American signed with DRR at the beginning of the year to compete only in the Indianapolis 500, but was called by two other teams as an emergency substitute. The first case was at Texas in March, when he replaced Jack Harvey for RLL. In June he ran the Detroit GP for Juncos after Callum Ilott suffered a hand injury.
An absence at Indianapolis GP 2 has strong implications for Newgarden's title chances. The driver has 369 points and is third in the championship, 34 behind leader Marcus Ericsson of Ganassi.
The GP of Indianapolis 2 takes place this Saturday (30) on the mixed track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The start of the race, which is fully covered by GRANDE PRÊMIO, is scheduled for 13:00 (Brasilia time).