Two-time IndyCar Series champion was air-lifted to Des Moines-area hospital following Sunday's race.
Penske Entertainment/Joe SkibinskiJosef Newgarden is back home in Nashville today following a scary incident at Iowa Speedway on Sunday.
Newgarden lost unconsciousness and fell near the Team Penske hauler following Sunday’s IndyCar race. The two-time IndyCar champion sustained a cut on the back of his head in the fall.
What caused him to lose consciousness was not released by the team in its Monday update. According to the team, Newgarden was transported via medical helicopter to MercyOne Des Moines (Iowa) Medical Center after the Sunday episode as a precaution. A helicopter was used to avoid race traffic.
Newgarden crashed late in Sunday’s race but was examined and cleared by on-site medical personnel. He fell unconscious about an hour later.
On Monday, Newgarden was released from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, and he returned to his home in Nashville. Per IndyCar Series protocols, Newgarden will be reevaluated by the IndyCar Medical Team on Thursday to determine his status for the Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Should Newgarden not be able to race, Ferrucci will drive the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet.
The team is preparing for the possibility that Newgarden will not be available to race this weekend and announced on Monday that driver Santino Ferrucci will be on standby for the IndyCar Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Super-sub Ferrucci has 43-career IndyCar Series starts with four of these occurring at the IMS road course where he has two top-10 finishes. His career best IndyCar finish is fourth, on four occasions, and he has made three starts in 2022, with two top-10 finishes.
Ferrucci has made three IndyCar starts in 2022, one each for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing. His best finish this year is ninth at Texas.
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) July 25, 2022
Keyword: IndyCar Update: Josef Newgarden Returns Home, Not Yet Cleared to Drive