ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cody Shane Ware efficiently handed the rookie orientation program required to run the Indianapolis 500 however his father stated he wants sponsorship to get him into the race.

Rick Ware, who fields 4 automobiles in NASCAR’s prime Cup Collection, this yr partnered with Dale Coyne Racing in IndyCar. Rick Ware Racing helps Coyne all season on the No. 51 shared by Romain Grosjean and Pietro Fittipaldi, but additionally a partial-season entry No. 52 that may try and qualify for the Indy 500.

Cody Ware was anticipated to be the driving force of the No. 52 however his father instructed The Related Press on Sunday he will want to search out further sponsorship if his son is to make his IndyCar debut within the Indy 500. The 25-year-old has to date examined at each Indianapolis and Texas Motor Speedway.

“It went rather well. He received up to the mark in a short time in all of the segments of rookie orientation,” Rick Ware stated. “We’re enthusiastic about it however I do not know that we’ll have the funding to place it collectively for him for the five hundred. I am working actually laborious on that however I do not know for we’re going to have the ability to do this.”

The No. 52 will nonetheless enter the Indy 500 however the seat might be crammed by a driver who brings sponsorship cash. The automotive can also be anticipated to run different IndyCar races later this season that Cody Ware may drive.

If Cody Ware would not get the Indy 500, he cannot return to his common NASCAR job. Garrett Smithley has already been introduced as driver for the No. 51 that Ware usually drives for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that begins hours after the Indy 500.

Rick Ware stated his son can be restricted to solely NASCAR’s Xfinity Collection race at Charlotte on Memorial Day weekend if Indy 500 funding doesn’t come via. If he can discover some sponsorship to get him near a deal, Rick Ware stated he’d be prepared to fill the hole out of pocket as a result of it’s his son.

Cody Ware completed twenty eighth on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Rick Ware Racing is an underfunded NASCAR group attempting to each construct a aggressive program and increase all through motorsports.