Ed Carpenter Racing is returning to the Verizon IndyCar Series paddock.
Team officials announced today that, effective immediately, the organization that operated as CFH Racing in 2015 will be known as Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR). The team remains headquartered in its current location on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., and is co-owned by Ed Carpenter, Tony George and Stuart Reed.
Ed Carpenter Racing“After competing for a year as CFH Racing, we will be returning to ECR for 2016 and beyond,” Carpenter said. “While we had a great year as CFH Racing, we have had some partnership changes within the organization 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.”
ECR and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) combined single-car teams in late 2014 to create CFH Racing. CFH won two races in 2015 with driver Josef Newgarden, collected an additional three podium finishes and earned one Verizon P1 Award pole position. Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman, who formed SFHR and became co-owners in CFH, have decided to focus on other business interests, though Fisher will continue to assist ECR with sponsorship development and work with existing team partners.
“It’s important for INDYCAR to have strong entries on the grid and this team needs to be two of them, so I will do what I can to help them with business developments and continue with solutions for our current partners,” Fisher said. “I am lucky to have been an owner in this series for eight years, having incredible memories along the way. Lastly, I am extremely thankful to Wink and Libba Hartman for everything they’ve done to help us get to where we are today.”
Newgarden will drive the No. 21 Chevrolet for ECR in 2016, featuring a special Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka scheme for the first four events. Carpenter will remain driver of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet for the five oval races on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule. ECR continues working toward filling the No. 20 seat for the road and street course events.
“I’m extremely excited about 2016 with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Newgarden, the 2011 Indy Lights champion before he joined SFHR in 2012. “I enjoy working with Ed Carpenter so much, as both a teammate 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.”
