CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Sept. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The IZOD IndyCar Series will crown a new champion this Saturday night at the MAV TV American Real 500. Josef Newgarden returns to the cockpit of the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry with hopes of ending the season on a high note.
Newgarden broke his left index finger in a frightening crash with Sebastien Bourdais on August 26 in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma forcing Newgarden to hand over the reins of the No. 67 SFHR car to veteran Bruno Junqueira for The Grand Prix of Baltimore on September 2.
"It was really hard to watch Bruno drive my car in Baltimore," Newgarden said. "I've never been injured in a race car before and had to sit out while someone else drove my car. It was tough, but I learned a lot and can't wait to get back in."
After sitting out the entire race weekend in Baltimore, twenty-one year-old rookie Newgarden is excited to return to the action and conclude his first IZOD IndyCar Series season with a solid result at Auto Club Speedway in Saturday evening's MAV TV American Real 500.
Quaker Chemical Corporation, an official sponsor and technical partner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will also return to the action with a newly refreshed corporate logo featured on the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry this weekend in Fontana.
"This refreshed brand identity emphasizes our most important and consistent competitive advantage: formulating products and service solutions for our customers through the innovation, expertise and experience of our people," states Joe Berquist, Quaker VP and Managing Director North America. "Quaker has been in business for a long time, serving critical production processes in the global manufacturing sector, and we are happy to support the Sarah Fisher Hartman team with this experience and expertise."
Despite the crash in Sonoma and a left index finger Newgarden described as "crushed," requiring seven screws, a plate and a bone graft to piece it back together, Newgarden contends that he is is confident that he will be ready for the MAV TV American Real 500.
"I think my finger will be fine. It's been getting better each day, and I think I should be fine in the car to hold on for the oval," Newgarden noted.
However, the Auto Club Speedway has a bumpy surface, something Newgarden experienced in testing last month and again earlier this week.
Newgarden admits, "the Auto Club Speedway is very, very bumpy, and the seams of the track are difficult to navigate when you're changing lanes. It's a difficult track, probably one of the most difficult ovals I've ever driven on, so it is going to be a long 500 miles."
The MAV TV American Real 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., will air live on NBC Sports Network, Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
About Quaker Chemical Corporation:
Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process chemicals, chemical specialties, services, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries - including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, coatings and construction materials. Quaker's products, technical solutions, and chemical management services enhance customers' processes, improve their product quality, and lower costs. Quaker's headquarters is located near Philadelphia in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. For more information on Quaker Chemical, visit www.quakerchem.com.
About Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing:
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) was established in 2008 and is owned by former driver Sarah Fisher, the youngest woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to run a full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, and businessman Wink Hartman. SFHR has competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2008, earning its first victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway.
SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation
