Written by Dan Jones
Luca Ghiotto will return to the #51 Dale Coyne Racing car for IndyCar's next two rounds at Road America and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the team have announced, adding to the Italian's entries at Barber Motorsports Park and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Coyne fielded 2013 Rookie of the Year, Tristan Vautier in Detroit, who subtly impressed, running as high as third on occasion, before dropping to 18th after having to stop late for a top-up on fuel. Vautier's commitments now lay at the Le Mans 24 Hour, the Frenchman being a reserve for Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing, who will field both Scott Dixon and Álex Palou in the iconic race.
Ghiotto made his IndyCar debut at Barber Motorsports Park, qualifying and finishing 21st, before finishing 25th on the Indianapolis Road Course, after spinning and stalling mid-way through the race. Ghiotto balances his select IndyCar races with a European Le Mans campaign with Inter Europol Competition in the LMP2 class. Ghiotto will next race in ELMS on the 7th July at Imola, which clashes with IndyCar's own event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Ghiotto is the first driver to return in the #51 car in 2024, the team having fielded five drivers in six championship rounds in 2024. Colin Braun started the season on the Streets of St. Petersburg, and occupied the car for the $1 Million Challenge. Nolan Siegel stepped into the car on the Streets of Long Beach, before Ghiotto ran two rounds at Alabama and Indianapolis. Katherine Legge ran in the entry for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, before Vautier subbed in at Detroit.
Vautier remains committed to Le Mans over the next two weekends, whilst Braun will be competing in the LMP2 class for CrowdStrike Racing by APR, against Siegel, in the Zak Brown-owned United Autosports entry.
Much uncertainty still remains around that teams entry - Vautier was only advised of his Detroit appearance on Tuesday afternoon - his first on-track appearance in seven years in an IndyCar came on Friday morning for first practice. Vautier long remained friends with Dale Coyne - the team owner reportedly keeping his seat in the team truck for seven years!
However, certainty does remain for the next two rounds at Road America and Laguna Seca, where Ghiotto will line-up alongside Jack Harvey for Dale Coyne Racing.
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