NASCAR champion volunteers to replace Josef Newgarden

With Josef Newgarden’s status for Saturday’s IndyCar race in question, NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has an idea.

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who hasn’t missed an IndyCar race since 2012, may or may not be ready to compete in this coming Saturday afternoon’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, following the events of this past Sunday afternoon.

While dominating the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300, the second race of the weekend at Iowa Speedway, Saturday’s race winner spun out and hit the turn four wall as a result of a car failure.

After the driver of the #2 Chevrolet was checked and released from the infield care center, he fell and sustained a cut on the back of his head.

He was transported to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, and Team Penske released the following two statements.

Team Penske have already confirmed that Santino Ferrucci is on standby if Newgarden is unable to compete, which should be determined on Thursday once Newgarden is again evaluated by IndyCar medical staff.

But reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson saw this as an opportunity to reaffirm his interest in competing in IndyCar.

https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin/status/1551743387262488577

Given the fact that this upcoming weekend is the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader weekend, this idea, in itself, actually makes a ton of sense.

Larson has long been open about his interest in competing in America’s premier open-wheel racing series, and this weekend is the one weekend on the schedule during which both IndyCar and the Cup Series are competing at the same venue.

The IndyCar race, the Gallagher Grand Prix, is set to be broadcast live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on NBC beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 30, and the Cup Series race, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 31.

There is also a NASCAR Xfinity Series race scheduled to take place at the track this weekend. The Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, just after the conclusion of the IndyCar race.

Start a free trial of FuboTV today and don’t miss any of this weekend’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course races!