IndyCar: Oliver Askew makes stark admission about his future

Oliver Askew admitted that his IndyCar career may end up being over following his release from Arrow McLaren SP after just one season.

Reigning Indy Lights champion Oliver Askew did not even get to complete his rookie IndyCar season before it was announced that he would not be back behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren SP in 2021.

In fact, this confirmation was actually made during the few weeks when Askew was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.

The 23-year-old Jupiter, Florida native was involved in nasty accident in the 104th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, August 23, and he reported a “balance and coordination issue” after the doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course three weekends later.

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Including the doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, he competed in four races after the Indy 500 before he ended up missing the doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course three weeks later due to the aforementioned medical concerns.

After that doubleheader, when Helio Castroneves served as his replacement, Arrow McLaren SP confirmed that the 2020 season finale on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, should Askew be cleared to return for that race, would mark his final start with Arrow McLaren SP.

He did end up competing in this race, but he is now set to vacate the #7 Chevrolet for Felix Rosenqvist next year. Rosenqvist left Chip Ganassi Racing after two seasons behind the wheel of the #10 Honda, which is set to be driven by former Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh rookie Alex Palou in 2021.

Askew recently discussed what his IndyCar future may hold, and he admitted that it may very well be nothing.

Here is what he recently had to say about the matter, according to The Race.

"“I always have to respect any decision they make. I do feel that within myself I didn’t show my true potential this year which is unfortunate because I’m not sure if I’ll ever get a chance to show my true potential in IndyCar, honestly. So, yeah, for me and myself and knowing what I could do, it’s definitely disappointing. But I respect their decision, if they don’t want me to continue then that’s fine.”"

Before he was sidelined for two races with concussion-like symptoms, Askew sat in 18th place in the championship standings with an average finish of 15.91, and he ended up finishing in 19th with an average finish of 15.92.

Prior to his 16th place finish in the season finale, he had finished no higher than 14th in five races after his Indy 500 wreck.

But he really did not get the chance to prove himself, a huge disappointment considering the fact that Arrow McLaren SP hired him with the intention of keeping him long-term and then released him after only one year.

In the first six races of the season prior to his wreck, Askew recorded three top nine finishes, including a ninth place finish in his debut at Texas Motor Speedway. He also qualified in fifth for just his second career start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course before his first heavy crash of the year.

He went on to secure a maiden podium result of third place in just his fifth career start at Iowa Speedway, and he followed that up with a sixth place finish at the same track.

Through those six races, he was sitting in a respectable 12th place in the standings out of 21 drivers, and he was notably leading the Rookie of the Year standings.

But now there is no guarantee that he will ever drive an open-wheel car again.

He had been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Rosenqvist behind the wheel of the #10 Honda, considering how he impressed Chip Ganassi Racing in a test at Portland International Raceway last year, but that did not come to fruition with Palou signing.

There are still a number of seats open for next year, but many of the full-time drives have begun to fill up. Askew is also at a disadvantage when it comes to funding, and as all fans know, funding is vital for a race car driver’s career, so even a part-time entry could be out of the question for 2021.

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As for as seats still open for next year, Dale Coyne Racing have yet to confirm any of their full-time drivers. A.J. Foyt Enterprises also have a seat to fill, and there is a chance that Andretti Autosport, which haven’t solidified their five-car lineup quite yet, will run a part-time entry like they did for James Hinchcliffe this year. Askew drove for Andretti Autosport en route to his 2019 Indy Lights title. The Andretti Autosport-affiliated Meyer Shank Racing are also aiming to expand to two cars.