IndyCar: Oliver Askew cleared to return to Arrow McLaren SP
By Asher Fair
Oliver Askew has been cleared to return to Arrow McLaren SP for the 2020 IndyCar season finale on the streets of St. Petersburg.
Arrow McLaren SP rookie Oliver Askew missed both races of the IndyCar doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in early October as a result of the fact that he had been suffering concussion-like symptoms following his crash in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, August 23.
After the doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in mid-September, Askew reported a “balance and coordination issue”, which led to his sidelining for two races, two races in which Helio Castroneves served as his replacement behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet.
But the 23-year-old Jupiter, Florida native has been medically cleared to return to action for the season finale on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida this Sunday, October 25.
Arrow McLaren SP confirmed this news on Twitter.
Oliver Askew will race in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, having been declared fit to compete by the INDYCAR Medical Team. #INDYCAR #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/2i0usy7Z3r
— Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) October 20, 2020
Hear from @Oliver_Askew: pic.twitter.com/qUFSn97jn7
— Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) October 20, 2020
Hear from Sam Schmidt: pic.twitter.com/goaPwImwt7
— Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) October 20, 2020
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Unfortunately for Askew, this is slated to be his final race for Arrow McLaren SP, as the team have confirmed that he will be released at the end of the season. Felix Rosenqvist is reportedly slated to depart from Chip Ganassi Racing to replace Askew starting next season, although neither one of the two teams have made a public statement about the matter.
In 11 starts through the first 13 races of his rookie season, the 2019 Indy Lights champion has recorded three top 10 finishes, including a career-high third place finish in the first race at Iowa Speedway back in mid-July, a race which marked just the fifth start of his career.
Following his most recent start at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, he sat in 18th place in the championship standings. He sits in 19th heading into the season finale.
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NBC is set to broadcast the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg live from the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, October 25.