Nasr Cleared to Race After Double COVID-19 Negative Test

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Felipe Nasr has been cleared to race this weekend’s Cadillac Grand Prix at Sebring after testing negative for COVID-19 twice.

The 2018 IMSA DPi champion was forced to miss the WeatherTech 240 at Daytona after testing positive for the coronavirus, less than 48 hours prior to the start of on-track action.

Nasr was replaced in the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R by Gabby Chaves, who along with Pipo Derani, drove the Whelen-sponsored car to a fifth place finish.

The Brazilian, whose symptoms subsided shortly after the Daytona weekend, needed two negative tests in order to be cleared by IMSA to race, which was is understood to have been achieved on Thursday and Friday.

A Cadillac spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 on Friday morning that Nasr is good to go for this weekend’s event.

“It was frustrating not to be behind the wheel at Daytona after such a long wait,” Nasr said. “In the end, it wasn’t something I couldn’t control but it happened. 

“did the right thing, which was to tell the team as soon as I felt something different, unusual.

“I wanted to protect everyone on the Whelen Engineering team, which was my goal. It was difficult to watch it [the race] from home.

“But, I was happy to see the car perform well with Gabby Chaves and Pipo Derani behind the wheel. They were able to score some important points for the championship.

“Now, I’m looking forward to Sebring. I’m super excited to be back in the Whelen Engineering Cadillac with Pipo. I just can’t wait to feel the speed, to go around Sebring and feel alive again.”

Chaves, who is taking part in this afternoon’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Sebring, was on standby in the event that Nasr would not have been given the all-clear by IMSA.

Practice for WeatherTech Championship teams kicks off at 6 p.m. this evening.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John