Hulkenberg, Sargeant, makes IndyCar debut in Barber Test

Hulkenberg will try an Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet, while Sargeant will drive an AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolet, as two of at least six drivers taking part in the driver / rookie test on October 25th, which also includes Ed. Carpenter Racing, Dale Coyne Racing and Andretti Autosport will drive.

Hulkenberg admitted last month that his last chances of returning to Grand Prix racing in 2022 were gone.

Now the 34-year-old German, who last drove full-time in Formula 1 in 2019, but was substituted on twice for the full-time drivers at Racing Point in 2020 and continues to be test and reserve driver for Aston Martin F1, will be an IndyCar for the first time on the 2,238 mile road course in Birmingham, AL.

While the team bosses were unavailable for comment, there is no suggestion that Hulkenberg’s test is anything more than a highly rated driver exploring his options for 2022, and shouldn’t be viewed as an Arrow McLaren SP pledging a third Driver alongside full-time driver Pato. insert O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist.

Last month in Laguna Seca, McLaren CEO Zak Brown told selected media: “As soon as we get a third car, whenever that is not the start of the year, we will drive a third car [full-time]. We will not go in and out: once we go, we go.

“We’ll definitely drive a third car in 2023, maybe we can do that sometime in ’22.”

Sargeant’s chance came at the end of his third year in the Formula 3 Euro Series, in which he finished seventh and clinched a victory in the final race. Last season, the 20-year-old from Boca Raton, FL, took two wins and finished third in the title race. Sargeant also stood on the podium at the legendary Macau Grand Prix and finished third in the British F4 Championship.

Foyt is still reviewing its 2022 driver options, including Dalton Kellett, Sebastien Bourdais (as a part-time worker) and Tatiana Calderon.