IndyCar: Santino Ferrucci to drive for Dale Coyne Racing at Belle Isle

Santino Ferrucci is set to make his IndyCar debut driving for Dale Coyne Racing at Belle Isle in the two Dual in Detroit races.

Formula 2 driver Santino Ferrucci is set to make his IndyCar debut at the beginning of June driving the #19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in the two Dual in Detroit race at the 14-turn, 2.35-mile temporary street circuit on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan.

Ferrucci, 19, is set to replace Zachary Claman DeMelo, who gave up his ride in these two races to replace the injured Pietro Fittipaldi in the Indy 500. Fittipaldi broke both of his legs in a World Endurance Championship race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium two weeks ago.

After the Indianapolis 500 next week, there are 11 races remaining on the 2018 IndyCar schedule. Aside of Ferrucci’s two races in the Dual in Detroit and the five races in which Claman DeMelo is scheduled to drive not including the Indy 500, the driver situation of the #19 Honda is not yet known for the other four races left on the schedule.

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Aside of his Formula 2 career, which began last season, Ferrucci has also driven in several other series. He has driven in the SBF2000 Winter Series, the F2000 Championship, the European Formula 3 Championship, the German Formula 3 Championship, the British Formula 3 Championship, the Toyota Racing Series and the GP3 Series. He also test driven for the Haas Formula 1 team in the 2016 season and the 2017 season.

Ferrucci currently drives for Trident Racing in Formula 2. Through six races so far this season, he has driven in five of them and has a top finish of sixth place in the sprint race at Baku City Circuit in Azadliq Square, Baku, Azerbaijan. Trident Racing are currently in 10th (last) in the teams’ championship standings, but Ferrucci has managed to put himself into a 16th place tie out of 20 drivers in drivers’ championship standings.

Here is what Ferrucci had to say about the opportunity to drive for Dale Coyne Racing in the two Dual in Detroit races, according to IndyCar.com.

"“Coming from F2 into INDYCAR, I’d say my race craft is going to be OK. Racing in Europe is very hard, just as it is in INDYCAR. There’s a lot of experienced drivers in both fields, so the feeling I will hope to be the same.“I think the biggest challenge will be the power jump because in talking with Pietro (Fittipaldi), he said it was a lot more powerful and obviously, the tire is a lot different going from a Pirelli to a Firestone. So I think those will be some massive hurdles. Honestly, I just look forward to being on a street course. I have to bring my mouth guard to Detroit, as I’ve been told it’s very bumpy.“My long-term goals are still Formula 1. It’s still where I want to be, but this is an opportunity to show a little bit more of my potential and to try something on different cars and see how I react with an Indy car.”"

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Be sure to tune in to both races of the 2018 Dual in Detroit on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 to watch Santino Ferrucci make his IndyCar debut. Both races are set to be broadcast live on ABC starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on their respective dates.