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IndyCar: Charlie Kimball to drive for Carlin at Gateway

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Charlie Kimball of the United States, driver of the #23 Fiasp Carlin Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Charlie Kimball of the United States, driver of the #23 Fiasp Carlin Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Charlie Kimball is set to drive for Carlin in Saturday night’s IndyCar race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

Charlie Kimball entered the 2019 IndyCar season slated to drive for Carlin in five of the 17 races on the schedule after driving for the team on a full-time basis last year.

Four of those races, the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the races at Texas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway have already been contested.

The 34-year-old Camarillo, California native is also set to drive in the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Now he is set to drive in an additional race before that, this Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Here is what Kimball had to say about this opportunity, according to Motorsport Week.

"“After meeting the ripKurrent group last year and seeing their passion for the NTT IndyCar Series with its competitive racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it is really exciting to carry their name on the No. 23 ripKurrent Carlin Chevrolet at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Racing under the lights is what the NTT IndyCar Series is all about and we will be aiming for a great result for ripKurrent, Carlin and Team Chevy!”"

Here is what team principal Trevor Carlin had to add.

"“We’re really looking forward to being a part of ripKurrent’s debut into the NTT IndyCar Series and having Charlie back in the No. 23 for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. ripKurrent is a new, innovative company, which is exactly the type of partner the series needs right now. We’re very excited to have Charlie back in the car at Gateway also. He brings so much experience and knowledge to the team and he’s shown how strong he is on the ovals, so hopefully we can get ripKurrent a good result at their first race.”"

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Entering the 2019 season, Patricio O’Ward and Max Chilton were set to drive for Carlin in this 248-lap race around the four-turn, 1.25-mile (2.012-kilometer) oval in Madison, Illinois. However, O’Ward was signed by the Red Bull Junior Team and now competes in Japanese Super Formula while Chilton gave up competing in oval races.

As a result, Conor Daly was confirmed as the driver of the #59 Chevrolet for this race earlier this month, and now Kimball has been confirmed as the driver of the #23 Chevrolet.

So far this season, Kimball’s lone top 10 finish is his 10th place finish in this past Sunday’s rain-shortened race at Pocono Raceway, a race in which he started 21st. This is also his lone lead lap finish of the year. His average starting position is 16.50 so far this season and his average finishing position is 18.25.

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The green flag is set to wave at 8:45 p.m. ET this Saturday, August 24 to get the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 underway from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network’s live broadcast of the 2019 IndyCar season’s 15th overall race and fifth and final oval race.