Pippa Mann has been given medical clearance to return to the IndyCar cockpit after suffering a fractured vertebrae in a crash last month.
The 28-year-old Briton had been set for a three-race stint with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, but sustained the injury in a practice accident prior to what would have been her first start for the team at New Hampshire. She has now been given medical approval to drive again, and will test at Kentucky on Sept. 23 prior to racing for Bobby Rahal's squad in the final two rounds of the season at Kentucky and Las Vegas.
"Being cleared to return to the cockpit is like having a huge weight lifted off my shoulders," Mann said. "I was worried about whether I would heal quickly enough to be cleared in time for my next two races, and now that concern has finally been put to rest."
Rahal said he had been impressed by Mann's quick recovery and was looking forward to her proper debut with his team.
"Pippa fought very hard at Loudon (New Hampshire), trying to learn a difficult track, a new car and a new team all in the same weekend," said team co-owner Bobby Rahal. "She never quit trying at Loudon, and that attitude helped her recover quickly from her injuries and has put her in position to get back in the car at Kentucky.
"We expect that Pippa's experience at Kentucky will help her and the team put together a much better effort both at the test and on the race weekend."
Mann already has one IndyCar start under her belt having driven for Conquest Racing in the Indianapolis 500, where she finished 20th. She was a winner at Kentucky during her Indy Lights career.