Why IndyCar needs Sage Karam in the series full-time

By Asher Fair | Jan 13, 2018

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 05: Sage Karam, driver of the #8 Lexar Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 5, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) /

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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 05: Sage Karam, driver of the #8 Lexar Chevrolet (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 05: Sage Karam, driver of the #8 Lexar Chevrolet (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) /

The present

To this day, Sage Karam has not driven in a non-Indianapolis 500 race since the tragic accident at Pocono. That needs to change.

But why, exactly, does the series need Karam as a full-time driver, especially given the fact that there has been so much negativity, both controllable and uncontrollable, throughout his IndyCar career so far through only 15 races? Well, the answer is actually quite simple.

Karam, who currently drives for Lexus in the IMSA, has been a legitimate contender to win several of the 15 IndyCar races in which he has driven, which is very impressive for any driver, let alone a 22-year-old who has never driven full-time in America’s top open-wheel racing series. Unfortunately, however, he has been unable to capture that elusive first victory.

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But still, the fact that he has been in a position to contend for victories at all types of tracks at American open-wheel racing’s highest level goes to show that Karam is undoubtedly a great IndyCar driver with tons of potential. It also goes to show that the series needs him — full-time.

We are currently experiencing an American resurgence in IndyCar. Josef Newgarden, 27, became the sport’s first American champion in 2017 since Ryan Hunter-Reay won it in 2012, and Americans Alexander Rossi and Graham Rahal have also won several races in their most recent seasons.

While those drivers are considered “young” Americans, as Rossi is 26, Newgarden just turned 27 and Rahal just turned 29, keep in mind the fact that Karam is just 22. That can be hard to remember given the fact that he has already been on the IndyCar scene for several seasons now.

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Sage Karam truly has the potential to be the future face of IndyCar. But he needs a full-time ride first. Which team will be willing to take that small gamble in hopes of it paying off in huge dividends down the road? Hopefully we’ll know within the next year or so.