IndyCar: Charlie Kimball to drive part-time for Carlin in 2019

After driving full-time for Carlin in the 2018 IndyCar season, Charlie Kimball is set to drive part-time for the team in the 2019 season.

Charlie Kimball is set to return to Carlin on a part-time basis in the 2019 IndyCar season, which is set to be the team’s second season of competition in the sport, after driving full-time for the team in the 2018 season. Just over one week ago, he hinted on Twitter that he would return to the team for the upcoming season.

Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company, is set to return as the primary sponsor for the 33-year-old Camarillo, California native. Kimball has been sponsored by Novo Nordisk in IndyCar since he made his IndyCar debut in the 2011 season.

Here is what Carlin team principal Trevor Carlin had to say about Kimball returning to the team for the 2019 season and the fact that Novo Nordisk is set to return as his primary sponsor, according to IndyCar.

"“We’re very happy that we kept both drivers and both sponsors for the second year. We’re very pleased that Gallagher has shown faith in us and realized the potential of the team, even though we didn’t really show it properly last year. They believe in us and they have confidence in us going forward. The same goes for Novo Nordisk and their longtime support for Charlie — it’s been such a privilege for us to become a part of their 11-year relationship. We’re one of the first new teams in a long, long time that has entered INDYCAR and done a full season with two cars and to carry both of those drivers forward for a second season. We’re pretty proud of that.”"

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The races themselves and the number of races in which Kimball will compete throughout the 17-race 2019 season have not yet been determined.

In his first season driving for Carlin, Kimball recorded one top five finish and six top 10 finishes in 17 races, and he finished in 17th place in the championship standings. His lone top five finish was his fifth place finish in the race on the streets of Toronto, and it was his first top five finish since he finished in fifth in the 2016 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Prior to the 2018 season, Kimball had competed in IndyCar for seven seasons. He drove for Chip Ganassi Racing in each of those seven seasons. He earned his lone victory in the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the 2013 season, and he has earned six podium finishes, 14 top five finishes and 55 top 10 finishes throughout his career. His most recent podium finish is his third place finish in the 2015 season finale at Sonoma Raceway.

Kimball’s career-high finishes in the championship standings are his ninth place finishes, which he recorded in the 2013 season and the 2016 season. He has never competed in IndyCar as a part-time driver.