Josef Newgarden leaving Ed Carpenter for IndyCar promotion

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Josef Newgarden has informed Ed Carpenter he will not return to the IndyCar team next season.

Ed Carpenter Racing announced Newgarden's decision on Thursday. The American driver is thought to be highly coveted by Team Penske, which has been in limbo over the status of former Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya.

It could lead to a seat swap with Newgarden going to Penske and Montoya moving to ECR.

ECR said only it is evaluating all options for next season's driver lineup.