Team Penske announced Monday, July 25 that Santino Ferrucci will be on standby for NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship contender Josef Newgarden heading into the Gallagher Grand Prix on Saturday, July 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Newgarden was released from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center on Monday morning and returned to his home in Nashville, Tennessee. Per series protocols, Newgarden will be re-evaluated by the INDYCAR Medical Team on Thursday to determine his status for the Gallagher Grand Prix. Should Newgarden not be able to race, Ferrucci will take the wheel of the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet.

Ferrucci, from Woodbury, Connecticut, has 43 career INDYCAR SERIES starts with four starts on the IMS road course, where he has two top-10 finishes. His career best NTT INDYCAR SERIES finish is fourth, on four occasions, and he has made three starts in 2022, with two top-10 finishes.

Newgarden was involved in an incident late in the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 presented by Google on Sunday at Iowa Speedway, after which he was evaluated and released from the infield care center. Following the conclusion of the race, Newgarden lost consciousness and fell, sustaining a cut on the back of his head.

Two-time series champion Newgarden was evaluated at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, and all scans were negative. He was held overnight for evaluation before being released Monday morning.