Felipe Nasr has been placed on standby for Team Penske at Road America as Josef Newgarden assesses whether his injured left foot can cope with Saturday practice and qualifying.
The Brazilian was in Newgarden’s pit box on Friday wearing a driver’s suit and shoes, ready to step into the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet if required, according to an official IndyCar paddock update.
Newgarden is still recovering from the left foot injury he sustained in his Indianapolis 500 crash, but he has raced through it since then. He finished 10th in Detroit on May 31 before winning at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 7.
Road America gives Penske a harder fitness test
The immediate question is whether Road America asks too much of the two-time IndyCar champion’s injured foot. IndyCar noted that the Wisconsin circuit brings heavier braking zones and more lateral load than Detroit’s streets or the Gateway oval, which makes Saturday’s running more than a routine session.
Newgarden was 14th quickest in Friday practice and is due to evaluate his participation level before the 11am ET practice and 2pm ET qualifying sessions. He enters the weekend sixth in the standings and has strong Road America history, with wins in 2018 and 2022 plus runner-up finishes in 2017, 2023 and 2024.
Nasr is a logical emergency option. He has tested Team Penske IndyCar machinery, was Newgarden’s standby driver in Detroit, raced in Formula 1 with Sauber in 2015 and 2016, and has won three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar titles in the top prototype class.
For Penske, the decision now is simple but delicate: protect Newgarden’s season without weakening a car that remains a proven Road America threat.
