Josef Newgarden and Spencer Pigot Qualified for the KOHLER Grand Prix; Ready for Tomorrow’s Race

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 25, 2016) – Qualifying Notes

– For the first time since 2008, Indy car racing has returned to picturesque Road America. Ed Carpenter Racing drivers Josef Newgarden and Spencer Pigot eagerly awaited the journey to Elkhart Lake, Wis. to compete on the legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit.

– Qualifications for tomorrow’s KOHLER Grand Prix were completed this afternoon. Newgarden climbed back in to his No. 21 Direct Supply Chevrolet less than two weeks after his incident at Texas Motor Speedway. Road America will be only the sixth Verizon IndyCar Series race for Pigot, driver of the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet at the road and street course events.

– Newgarden sustained a fractured right clavicle and a slight fracture to his right hand in the suspended Firestone 600 at Texas on June 12. Coming into the weekend, he was cleared to participate only in Friday’s practice sessions. Following the Friday’s activities, Newgarden was re-evaluated and was cleared to compete in the rest of the weekend.

– For qualifications, Pigot was in Round 1, Group 1. He was the only car to exit the pit lane with the alternate red Firestone Firehawks and quickly went to the top of the boards with his first lap. He came in for another set of sticker reds with the rest of his group and managed a lap of 139.424 miles per hour. The lap earned him the 17th starting position for tomorrow’s 50-lap race.

– After beginning Round 1, Group 2 on primary black Firestone Firehawks, Newgarden came in for a switch to the alternate red tires. On a flying lap, he spun and stalled the car in Turn 5. Because he caused a red flag, he was penalized his two fastest laps. His last recorded lap will have him starting 20th tomorrow.

– The KOHLER Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 26 at 11:30 a.m. CT.

SPENCER PIGOT, NO. 20 FUZZY’S ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA CHEVROLET: “Qualifying was tough. I’m still trying to get used to the red tires, there’s so much more grip available and I need to learn how best to maximize a lap. We had two runs on red and made some changes after the first one. We may hay have went too far the other way, but overall it was okay. I think we have some good data to look over from Josef and we can see where we can get better tomorrow.”