IndyCar: Ferrucci Gets Lucky Break with Team Penske

Santino Ferrucci is popular with the interviews this morning.  The talented 24-year-old driver got quite a surprise when he received a phone call this past Sunday from Tim Cindric of Team Penske asking him if he could fill in at the Gallagher Grand Prix just in case Josef Newgarden would not be cleared to drive this weekend.

Ferrucci was already flying to Charlotte, North Carolina, for Toyota, so the call made his day and set off a busy week at the Team Penske Shop.

“I went to the shop. Got in the simulator and got completely briefed on how things were going to happen on the weekend.   And here we are. ”

“I feel like I was part of Team Penske for the week.  And I still feel like I am part of the team.  Josef is good, so I probably won’t be in the car though.”

“It was a fantastic week.”

The young American is still looking to get back into the INDYCAR series after driving 43 races over the last five years for various teams.  AR1 asked him how he felt about not being picked up by Rahal Letterman Lanigan, which he drove a couple of races for in 2022 and had the best finish for RLL in the Indianapolis 500 of sixth.

“No, I mean those guys went with their decision.  No hard feelings there.  I filled in for Jack Harvey in Texas and put the car in the top 10.”

‘It shows I can drive a race car.  I hope I am back full-time soon.”

“I am happy to be in the paddock and show my face.  Let people know that I am a free agent.  Hopefully, something will happen for next year.”

Time will tell if he will get a new ride for next season.

Lucille Dust reporting live from IMS