Curt Cavin

curt.cavin@indystar.com

The recent merger of two small Verizon IndyCar Series teams could form a large presence at next year's Indianapolis 500, team co-owner Ed Carpenter said Wednesday.

Carpenter, who shares ownership of Indianapolis-based CFH Racing with Wink Hartman and Sarah Fisher, said there could be as many as four team cars – all with Chevrolet power -- on the grid next May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team is committed to two full-time entries next season.

"We each ran two extra cars last year, so I don't think (four in all) is outside the realm of possibility," Carpenter said.

Carpenter will drive the No. 20 car on the oval tracks, including IMS, and Josef Newgarden will drive the No. 67 car. In last year's 500, Ed Carpenter Racing fielded an additional car for JR Hildebrand; Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing fielded an additional car for Alex Tagliani. Carpenter has won the 500's pole each of the past two years.

Carpenter said "for sure" there will be three CFH Racing entries in the 500, although the fourth might depend on the car count.

In announcing the partnership with Chevrolet, Carpenter sounded optimistic that road racing ace Mike Conway will return to the No. 20 car next season. Conway won two races for ECR in the recently completed season; Carpenter won another.

"(Conway) is a priority on the list," Carpenter said. "Hopefully by the end of the month (there will be resolution)."

Carpenter also said the Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka sponsorship and green-and-white paint scheme would return to the No. 20 car.

SFHR was previously a Honda team.

Chevrolet IndyCar program manager Chris Berube declined to say when its 2015 testing of the new bodywork kits would commence nor would he say where the test would be held.