Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) and Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) announced today the signing of Josef Newgarden to drive the No. 67 entry in 2015 for their newly merged Verizon IndyCar Series team, CFH Racing.
The one-year contract includes a second year option.
Newgarden, in his third consecutive season with SFHR, has captured two second- place finishes in his young Verizon IndyCar Series career under the guidance of owners Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman.
“Over the last three years, we have focused to build our team with Josef front and center, and we are extremely excited to continue that progress into 2015,” Fisher said. “In working with our guys, everyone is proud to build on the continuity that it takes to be successful in an increasingly competitive Verizon IndyCar Series.
“I know how much effort Josef and our team put toward being the best and am looking forward to delivering even more tools for them to work with at CFH Racing next year.”
Newgarden, 23, has shown continued progress and improvement in his Verizon IndyCar Series career, including a second-place finish, five Firestone Fast 6 qualifying runs and three front-row starts in the 2014 season.
“Sarah and I have the best of both worlds,” SFHR co-owner Wink Hartman said. “Josef will be in the seat of the 67 car next year as we are now a two-car team. Continuing with Josef gives me great pride. He is the next star of the Verizon IndyCar Series.”
Ed Carpenter, current driver/team owner for Ed Carpenter Racing and future co-owner of CFH Racing, is looking forward to working with Newgarden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee. Carpenter won the Indianapolis 500 pole position in 2013 and 2014 and captured a victory at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014.
“I am very happy that Josef has signed with CFH Racing,” Carpenter said. “I think he has shown great potential, and it is my hope that CFH Racing will help him fully reach his potential and that we can win many races together. “I have seen Josef mature a lot over the past few years, and I really look forward to working with him and continuing his development. I see him as one of the premier talents in this series for the future, and we are very proud to have him on our team.”
Newgarden will start on the outside of the front row in the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 24 and will look to capture his first Verizon IndyCar Series win when the green flag drops at 4:40 p.m. (ET).
“I’m really excited about the merger between Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing,” Newgarden said. “Wink and Sarah extending an offer to keep me around for another year is first and foremost. They are the ones who gave me an opportunity to start my IndyCar career, and I’m happy to continue that with them for another year.
“I decided to stay here because I believe in our group and everything that we’ve built and where we are going. It’s a very strong situation that’s on the rise, and I think next year is the year to capitalize on it. “Ed (Carpenter) has been one of the biggest guys who has helped me in my career so far in IndyCar. He was one of the first to stick his hand out and lend some advice. I really believe in Ed and his group and what they’ve done. I think he will add many strengths to our unit and that we will be one strong entity for the whole 2015 season.”
Further details on CFH Racing’s multi-car operation, including manufacturer choice, logo, personnel and sponsors will be released in the near future.