IndyCar: Sage Karam to drive for Carlin in 2019 Honda Indy Toronto

Sage Karam is set to drive for Carlin in the Honda Indy Toronto, marking his first IndyCar start outside of the Indianapolis 500 in nearly four years.

For the first time since the 2015 IndyCar season, Sage Karam is set to compete in an IndyCar race other than the Indianapolis 500.

The 24-year-old Nazareth, Pennsylvania native is set to drive for Carlin in the Honda Indy Toronto next Sunday, July 14. He is set to drive the #31 Chevrolet in this race, and his primary sponsor is set to be self-storage company SmartStop Self Storage.

Rookie Patricio O’Ward was originally set to compete in this race, but he now competes in the Japanese Super Formula Championship.

Karam confirmed this news on Twitter.

So excited to announce that I’ll be joining @CarlinRacing in the @SmartStopSS @TeamChevy #31 for the @hondaindy race! Been awhile since I got to wheel an @IndyCar on a road course but I’m so pumped for the challenge! Thank you everyone who made this possible!! pic.twitter.com/HRgpsKqNfX
— Sage Karam (@SageKaram) July 2, 2019

Here is what he had to say about this opportunity, according to IndyCar.

"“I want to thank everyone at Carlin for giving me the opportunity to compete in an Indy car again in the NTT IndyCar series. I’m extremely excited and grateful to get back behind the wheel on a road course again for the first time since 2015 and I’m thrilled to carry a great sponsor like SmartStop Self Storage on the side of the No. 31 Carlin Chevrolet. I’m looking forward to the challenge and working closely with everyone on the team to achieve a successful result and take advantage of this incredible opportunity.”"

Here is what Carlin team principal Trevor Carlin had to say about Karam competing in this race for the team, according to IndyCar.

"“We are extremely excited to partner with SmartStop Self Storage and to be a part of their debut into the NTT IndyCar Series. The Honda Indy Toronto is such a great event and will be the perfect introduction for them into the series. We’ve obviously been following Sage’s career closely since he won the Indy Lights championship in 2013 and he’s done a really great job. I think he’ll be a great addition to the team and a good teammate for Max (Chilton) this weekend.”"

Here is what SmartStop Self Storage executive chairman H. Michael Schwartz had to say about the matter, according to IndyCar.

"“SmartStop is proud to be partnering with Carlin and Sage Karam for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series race in Toronto. We feel that this is a great opportunity to expand our ever-growing brand presence throughout Toronto, a market in which we are planning continued growth throughout the future.”"