Photo: Chris Owens/INDYCAR

SPM Tabs Munoz to Replace Injured Wickens for Portland, Sonoma

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Journalist

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has named Carlos Munoz as the substitute driver for the injured Robert Wickens in the final two races of the Verizon IndyCar Series season at Portland and Sonoma.

The Colombian will be making his second start of the season. Raced for Andretti Autosport in the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, where he finished seventh.

Wickens suffered multiple injuries in a crash in the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway two weeks ago. He remains at the Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team elected to not enter the No. 6 Lucas Oil Honda at last weeks’ round at Gateway Motorsports Park.

“Robert and his family have been in my prayers and I continue to pray for his recovery,” Munoz said. “I’m very grateful that Schmidt Peterson Motorsports have entrusted me to compete in the Lucas Oil Honda for the last two races. I am looking forward to pushing hard for a great result for the team and for Robert.”

Munoz, who has a lone IndyCar win to his credit (2015 Detroit), will turn his first laps at the 1.964-mile natural terrain road course tomorrow afternoon, as part of a series test at the track. This will mark the first time that Munoz has raced the universal aero kit on a road course.

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Josh Farmer joined the media center in 2012 after first discovering his love of IndyCar racing in 2004 at Auto Club Speedway. He has been an accredited member of the IndyCar media center since 2014 and also contributes to IndyCar.com along with The Motorsports Tribune.