Felipe Nasr will miss this weekend’s Weathertech 240 at Daytona after having been tested positive for COVID-19.
Nasr was scheduled to drive the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-VR alongside compatriot Pipo Derani, but the team confirmed on Friday that the Brazilian will be replaced by Gabby Chaves as Nasr will return to his home in Miami for quarantine.
“I’ve been waiting so long for this weekend to get back to racing,” Nasr said. “I felt I had been doing everything correctly. I have been in Miami for about a month, staying away from anyone in racing.
“Yesterday as I was driving to Daytona, I wasn’t feeling just right. So, before I went to the track or met with my team or anyone in motorsports, I went and got tested and, unfortunately, I tested positive.
“I want to keep everyone on the Whelen Engineering/Action Express team and those around the series safe. I am going back to Miami to quarantine. Hopefully, I will recover quickly, and my doctors can clear me to return to racing soon.
“For now, I will follow all instructions, guidelines and recommendations from my medical team, my race team, and the IMSA Officials.”
Nasr arrived into the United States together with co-driver Pipo Derani to beat a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump in May.
“All of us at Action Express were stunned when we heard that our friend and teammate, Felipe Nasr, has tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday,” Gary Nelson, Action Express Racing team manager, said. “We are certainly going to miss having him competing in our Whelen Cadillac DPi-V.R on Saturday at Daytona.
“But, more importantly, he is a great friend to us all and we know he will fight hard to beat this virus the same way he fights for trophies on the racetracks.
“We wish him a speedy recovery. Felipe has not been to the track and will avoid any contact with the public until he has been cleared by his medical team.”
“We made the quick decision to bring in Gabby Chaves who is familiar with our team to partner with Pipo Derani this weekend,” concluded Nelson. “We will get Felipe ready to hopefully join us again at Sebring in 15 days.”
Ex-Indycar racer Chaves has previously raced in the #31 Cadillac, joining Nasr and Eric Curran at the 2018 Petit Le Mans.
