The grid for the first IndyCar rounds of the 2024 season is finally all set, with confirmation from Dale Coyne Racing about the drivers employed by them for the beginning of the racing year.
In fact, Coyne has opted to split both entries between multiple drivers, which have all already had the chance to test out their challenger and impress during the earlier hybrid testing sessions.
Car no. 18 will be manned mostly by former Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Jack Harvey, with the experienced British driver set to be behind the wheel for the majority of the season, in particular 14 starts.
He will split his ride with INDYNXT talent Nolan Siegel, who will compete in as many IndyCar rounds as he can while still being able to retain his rookie status for the 2025 season alongside his second year in the American feeder series.
The 2023 Rookie of the year will try to win his first title with reigning championship winning team HMD Motorsports, as well as compete in Thermal Club, Long Beach, Toronto and the Indy 500.
As per the other car manned by the team, entry no. 51 will feature a very interesting rookie driver, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona winner Colin Braun. The endurance champion, who will race full time in IMSA with Crowdstrike Racing, has had his first taste of single seaters last week in Sebring and he will also make his official session debut in St. Petersburg.
Braun has also been confirmed for the special One Million Dollars Challenge in Thermal Club, with the idea of him returning further in the season but no other official confirmations at the moment.
Car 51, in collaboration with Rick Ware Racing, will also have a new Lead Engineer in Steve Newey, a very competent household name who has worked and won alongside Micheal Andretti, Bobby Rahal and Dan Wheldon.
Jack Harvey commented on the news, citing his joy at his return on the grid:
“I’m thrilled to join Dale Coyne Racing for this season. I want to thank Dale, INVST and many other supporters for giving me this opportunity to return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and continue this journey. St Pete has always been a city, and circuit, that I have loved and it’s great to have the opportunity to start this new chapter at one of my favorite events.”
Young Nolan Siegel focused on his upcoming debut and thanking Coyne for the opportunity in his first words as a DCR driver:
“I’m super excited to be joining Dale Coyne Racing for Thermal, Long Beach, the Indianapolis 500 and Toronto in the 18 car this season. It’s a lifelong dream come true for me to be racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Photo Credit: Penske Entertainment | Matt Fraver
“I can’t wait to make the most of this opportunity. Huge thank you to Dale, everyone at the team and everyone that has been a part of my career up until now that’s helped get me here. Thermal is right around the corner. We’re going to get to work, and I can’t wait to get back in the car.”
Braun mentioned looking forward to the new challenge:
“I’m so pumped about doing my first two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races at St. Petersburg and Thermal Club with Dale Coyne Racing with RWR. I want to give a huge thank you to Dale. What an opportunity he gave me last week to get a taste of the Indy car in Sebring. It was so fun to drive. The folks at Honda and HRC also made me feel right at home.
“I can’t wait to get going in St. Pete. It’s a place I haven’t been to in a little bit so we’re definitely jumping off into the deep end but I’m looking forward to getting going on the street course, continuing to work with the team, a great group of people there, and I couldn’t be more excited and ready to get going on this challenge. It’s going to be a blast.”
Team Owner Dale Coyne also commented on the announcements, admitting that it has been a tough off season:
“It’s been a busy offseason and we’re extremely pleased with our driver lineup heading into the 2024 season. I think we have a great combination of drivers that will work well together, as they’ve shown at our tests in Homestead and Sebring.
“Jack brings a lot of experience to the team, and he immediately fit right in when he tested with us. Nolan, like Jack, is a pleasure to work with. He impressed us at the Homestead test with how quickly he was up to speed for his first time in the car. We look forward to seeing what both will do this season aboard our 18 car.
“We already know what Colin Braun can do in a sports car, and it was great to see him jump into our Indy car last week. He’s jumping into the deep end with little time aboard one of these cars before his first race but we’re confident in his abilities and can’t wait to see him back in the car this weekend in St. Petersburg.”
