Fisher

ESPN.com has learned that Sarah Fisher will return to the Indy Racing League for next weekend's Firestone 225 at Nazareth Speedway only days after securing her release from Walker Racing.

Fisher will substitute for Robbie Buhl in the Dryer & Reinbold Purex G-Force. Buhl suffered a concussion March 23 while qualifying for the Yamaha 400 at California Speedway.

"I can't confirm or deny," team co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. "We have a number of sponsor issues that we need to clear up before any sort of formal announcement can be made."

The team's need for a fill-in at Nazareth did not become an issue until yesterday after an open house at the team shop and a visit with the IRL's chief medical officer, Dr. Henry Bock.

"Robbie said he had a touch of dizziness during the open house," Reinbold said. "When he went to see Dr. Bock, Hank said that a driver should be at least 10 to 14 days free of any symptoms before stepping back into a race car. Robbie didn't have to say he had a touch of dizziness, because, believe me he looks and acts as normal as can be, but he doesn't and we don't want to risk Indy."

Fisher, arguably the IRL's most popular driver, has been sidelined since the October 2001 season finale at Texas Motor Speedway when she completed her second season with Walker Racing with a disappointing 25th-place finish. Her career best finish came in last year's second race when she shared the podium with Sam Hornish Jr. at the Infiniti Grand Prix in Miami after tying down a second-place run.

"If Sarah does drive for us at Nazareth, it will be as both as a substitute for Robbie and in hopes that we can put something together for Indy," Reinbold said. "We would hope that by running her at Nazareth it could evolve into something more."