INDIANAPOLIS -- Charlie Kimball is officially returning to Carlin Motorsport -- but in a reduced capacity. Carlin announced via social media Thursday that the eight-year IndyCar veteran and race winner will return for his ninth season behind the wheel of the No. 23 car at five races: St. Petersburg, the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500, Texas, Pocono and Laguna Seca.

This will be the first time in his IndyCar career that Kimball will not be racing the full season slate.

More IndyCar:

Kimball finished 17th in the championship standings in Carlin’s debut IndyCar season last year. His six top-10 finishes, including three in the final six races, paced the the two-car team.

The 33-year-old California native and longtime Chip Ganassi Racing driver started 15th and finished 18th at last year’s 500. He owns four top-10 finishes at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, including a third-place run with CGR in 2015. Carlin has yet to announce which driver or drivers will pilot the No. 23 car at the NTT IndyCar Series’ 12 remaining races.

Kimball will not be in the cockpit of the No. 23 car at either of IndyCar's upcoming tests (Laguna Seca and Circuit of the Americas). Instead, it will be RC Enerson behind the wheel a Carlin team official confirmed Thursday.

Enerson tested for Carlin during a closed test at COTA last year. The Carlin official said that while he will be testing for Carlin in the upcoming days, he has not yet been confirmed for any races in the 2019 season.

The former Dale Coyne Racing driver impressed during a three-race stint near the end of the 2016 IndyCar season. Four drivers piloted the No. 19 car during that season, but Enerson was the only one to record a top-10 finish (ninth at Watkins Glen).

Before arriving in IndyCar, Enerson won an Indy Lights race and podiumed in four others while driving for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2015. He finished fourth in the championship behind current IndyCar drivers Spencer Pigot, Jack Harvey and Ed Jones. He finished one spot ahead of Max Chilton, his current Carlin teammate.

No one covers IndyCar like IndyStar: Don't miss a moment. Subscribe today.

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Facebook: @jimayello