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IndyCar: Harding Racing and Steinbrenner Racing teaming up for 2019

By Asher Fair

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Patricio O'Ward of Mexico driver of the #8 Harding Racing Chevrolet during qualifying for the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 15, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Patricio O'Ward of Mexico driver of the #8 Harding Racing Chevrolet during qualifying for the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 15, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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Harding Racing and Steinbrenner Racing will be teaming up to field two entries in the 2019 IndyCar season, confirming previous speculation.

After fielding the #88 Chevrolet in three races, the three superspeedway races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway, in the 2017 IndyCar season, Harding Racing entered IndyCar full-time for the 2018 season.

The team once again fielded the #88 Chevrolet, and it was originally driven full-time by Gabby Chaves, the 25-year-old Colombian who drove for the team in the three races that they entered last season.

Chaves drove in the first 11 races of the 2018 season before he was replaced by 26-year-old Conor Daly for the next three races, as Harding Racing decided to move their primary focus to the team’s future and a potential move to a two-car team.

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Chaves ended up driving in two more races this season before Harding Racing fielded two entries, one for 2018 Indy Lights champion Patricio O’Ward and one for 2018 Indy Lights runner-up Colton Herta, in the season finale at Sonoma Raceway. O’Ward drove the #8 Chevrolet while Herta drove the #88 Chevrolet.

Now it has been confirmed that Harding Racing will, in fact, become a two-car team next season, as they have teamed up with Steinbrenner Racing to field entries for both O’Ward and Herta. O’Ward is set to drive the #8 Chevrolet while Herta is set to drive the #88 Chevrolet. Steinbrenner Racing fielded an entry for Herta in the 2017 and 2018 Indy Lights seasons.

This team will be known as Harding Steinbrenner Racing and will rely on the technical expertise of Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti despite the fact that Andretti Autosport are a Honda-powered team.

Here is what Harding Racing team owner Mike Harding had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“I thought sponsorship was going to be easy and it’s not, so I’ve learned a lot in the past two years. Getting to know George [Michael Steinbrenner IV] has been great because, he’s got a lot of passion and good ideas. And Michael [Andretti] and I are good friends, so it’s such a good match for us."

Here is what Steinbrenner Racing team owner George Michael Steinbrenner IV, the son of Hank Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees part-owner and co-chairman, had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“Walking around paddock as a kid, it was always cool to see Scott Dixon or Will Power ride by on their scooters, but anytime Roger Penske or Michael Andretti would come by that’s who I wanted to be, that’s what I wanted to do.“We took Colton under our wing, and I thought we could make the jump, and knew it wouldn’t be too long, and everything worked out perfectly. To have a new, passionate team like Harding Racing to partner with these two talented kids is just exciting. And we hope to give these grizzled veterans a run for their money.”"

Here is what Harding Racing team president Brian Barnhart had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“I’ve got more respect for Michael Andretti than anyone in this paddock, and I thought if we were going to take the next step we had to form a relationship with an established team. We knew Michael was placeholder for Colton because of his relationship with Bryan, and it didn’t look like there was going to be a seat for him in 2019. So we signed him, and then got Pato. To have two talented teenagers to build with is just something that’s so appealing to Mike [Harding] and everyone else on this team.”"

The New York Yankees even announced the news of Harding Racing and Steinbrenner Racing teaming up to field entries for O’Ward and Herta on their Twitter page.

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How will Harding Steinbrenner Racing perform in what is set to be their first season as an IndyCar team in 2019? Will they build on the success had by Harding Racing over the past two seasons and the success had by Steinbrenner Racing in Indy Lights over the past two seasons?