IndyCar: Santino Ferrucci confirmed at Dale Coyne Racing for 2020

Confirming months of speculation, Dale Coyne Racing announced that Santino Ferrucci is set to drive for the team again in the 2020 IndyCar season.

It has been officially unofficial for roughly six months. Now it is official. Santino Ferrucci is set to return to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2020 IndyCar season after competing for the team in his rookie season last year.

However, the 21-year-old Woodbury, Connecticut native is slated to drive the #18 Honda, not the #19 Honda he drove last season. He is set to do so through a partnership with Vasser-Sullivan.

Sebastien Bourdais was initially slated to drive the #18 Honda for a fourth straight season, but he was unexpectedly released in November. The team hired rookie Alex Palou about a month later, but that entry is set to be fielded via a partnership with Team Goh.

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Vasser-Sullivan confirmed that their plan was to remain with Dale Coyne Racing, which has ultimately resulted in Palou moving to the #19 Honda instead of the #18 Honda and Ferrucci shifting over to the #18 team, officially the #18 Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda.

“We’re very happy to have Santino back with us for the 2020 season,” stated team owner Dale Coyne in a press release. “He had a very good rookie season and he was absolutely stellar on the ovals. We look forward to him building on that this year. I think he surprised a lot of people in 2019 and he has the potential to do even better in his sophomore year as he now moves to the No. 18 car.”

SealMaster Communications is set to continue to serve as the primary sponsor of the #18 Honda.

“We’re excited to have this impressive, new talent behind the wheel of the SealMaster Indy car,” said SealMaster communications director Debbie Petok Hufford. “Santino had a great 2019 IndyCar series debut and we look forward to the energy and enthusiasm he’ll bring to the 2020 season.”

Team co-owner James “Sulli” Sullivan echoed the same sentiment as Coyne and Hufford.

“What a big moment for DCVS and the program as we begin our next chapter. This new crop of young fast IndyCar racers is no joke, and we’re energized to have Ferrucci leading our charge in the SealMaster machine. I expect you’ll see some big moments from us in 2020.”

In his rookie season, Ferrucci finished in 13th place in the championship standings, but his performance in the oval races landed him a fourth place result in the oval standings. He finished in a career-high fourth in three of the five oval races and seventh and 12th in the two others.

His success came despite the fact that Dale Coyne Racing, which have competed in American open-wheel racing since 1984, entered the 2019 season with just four top four finishes in oval races all-time.

“I’m extremely honored that Dale, Jimmy, and Sulli have put their faith in me to carry this program forward,” said Ferrucci. “The SealMaster car has had a lot of success in the past two seasons. I’m eager to move into the No.18 car and get spring training started. I also want to say a big thank you to SealMaster for believing in me, and I’m beyond excited to represent them on the biggest stage.”

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Santino Ferrucci becomes the 20th driver to be confirmed for a full-time schedule in the 2020 IndyCar season, and he could very well be the final addition to the field. There are still three full-time seats without confirmed drivers, but all three are likely going to be shared by multiple drivers.

The 17-race season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.