Ed Carpenter Racing will officially return to IndyCar for the forthcoming season, replacing CFH Racing with immediate effect.
The outfit, which was initially founded by Ed Carpenter in 2012 following five seasons with Vision Racing, combined with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing [SFHR] back in 2014 to create CFH Racing.
Following the amalgamation of the two outfits, CFH Racing stormed to two victories last season with Josef Newgarden at Birmingham and Toronto, including several podium finishes and a pole position at Milwaukee.
Whilst Sarah Fisher will continue to assist the team during their return in the new season with sponsorship development, former CFH Racing team owner Wink Hartman will switch focus back on his Kansas-based company Hartman Oil.
Meanwhile Ed Carpenter Racing [ECR] will remain based in Indianapolis, with Ed Carpenter, Tony George and Stuart Reed as the owners.
“After competing for a year as CFH Racing, we will be returning to ECR for 2016 and beyond,” confirmed Carpenter. “While we had a great year as CFH Racing, we have had some partnership changes within the organisation and it makes the most sense to return to ECR.
“I am proud of what we have accomplished as a team since we started in 2012 and look forward to building upon that success for another exciting Verizon IndyCar Series season.”
The outfit will retain Newgarden for the new season, which gets underway on March 13th in St. Petersburg. The 25-year-old will drive the No. 21 Chevrolet, whilst co-owner Carpenter will compete during the five oval races.
The team is working towards filling the No. 20 car for the remaining road and street course events, with plans currently in place for only oval participation with Carpenter behind the wheel.
“I’m extremely excited about 2016 with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Newgarden ahead of the new season. “I enjoy working with Ed Carpenter so much, as both a team-mate and a team owner.
“I look forward to putting 100 percent into the season and trying to achieve greater and bigger results. With the entire ECR team and the Chevy partnership we have, I feel there is absolutely nothing that can stand in our way from topping our very promising season in 2015.”
ECR will get their on-track preparations for the new season officially underway on February 8th at Phoenix International Raceway with their first pre-season test of the year.
