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IndyCar: James Davison to drive for Dale Coyne Racing in 2019 Indianapolis 500

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 25: James Davison of Australia, driver of the #33 Jonathan Byrd's 502 East Cherolet drives during Carb Day for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 25: James Davison of Australia, driver of the #33 Jonathan Byrd's 502 East Cherolet drives during Carb Day for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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James Davison is set to return to IndyCar to drive in the biggest race of the 2019 season, the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500, for Dale Coyne Racing.

James Davison has competed in both of the last two and four of the last five Indianapolis 500 races, and he is set to make his third consecutive and fifth overall appearance in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the 2019 IndyCar season.

Davison is set to attempt to qualify for this May’s 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana, and he is set to do so driving for Dale Coyne Racing. He is set to drive the #33 Honda.

Dale Coyne Racing are set to partner with Jonathan Byrd’s Racing, Brad Hollinger and Belardi Auto Racing (Byrd-Hollinger-Belardi) to field the #33 Honda for Davison in this race.

The 32-year-old Australian has competed for Dale Coyne Racing in the Indy 500 in two of his four starts. He drove the #19 Honda for the team in the 99th running of the race back in 2015 before driving the #18 Honda for the team as the replacement for the injured Sebastien Bourdais in the 101st running of the race back in 2017.

Here is what Davison had to say about the opportunity to drive for Dale Coyne Racing in this year’s Indy 500, according to IndyStar.

"“More than anything it means a lot to be back with Dale Coyne. It was a very tough year for the Byrd-Hollinger-Belardi partnership in 2018. We just did the best with the situation that we confronted.”"

Here is what Dale Coyne Racing team owner Dale Coyne had to say about Davison driving for the team in this year’s Indy 500, according to IndyStar.

"“We’re happy to make it 33 (entries). We’re happy to have an alliance this year, our third entry. Happy to have these guys onboard. It will be a good effort combined.”"

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Davison has finished just one of the Indy 500 races that he has started, as he finished in 16th place in the 98th running of the race back in 2014 when he drove for KV Racing Technology.

In the 2015 Indy 500, Davison was involved in an accident in the pits that ended his race, relegating him to a 27th place finish. He did not compete in the 2016 Indy 500, but after starting in 33rd (last) in the 2017 Indy 500, he led two laps late in the race and had a decent chance to win it before a wreck relegated him to a 20th place finish.

Davison was involved in an early wreck in the 2018 Indy 500 that relegated him to a 33rd place finish in what was his first Indy 500 driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, which also formed a partnership with Byrd-Hollinger-Berlardi to field an entry for him in this race.

Davison has made only two non-Indy 500 IndyCar starts in his career. He drove for Dale Coyne Racing in the races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sonoma Raceway in the 2013 season. He finished these two races in a career-high 15th and 18th place, respectively.

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The 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 is still more than two and a half months away, as it is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 26, but it is rapidly approaching. Be sure to tune in to NBC for the live broadcast of the race from Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.