IndyCar lands new full-time team for 2021 season

Through a partnership with Dale Coyne Racing, Rick Ware Racing are set to compete full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021.

Rick Ware Racing made their IndyCar debut in last year’s Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, partnering with Dale Coyne Racing to field the #51 Honda for James Davison.

But the full-time NASCAR team, which recently participated in an IndyCar test at Sebring International Raceway, have taken a step further this year.

Rick Ware’s team will again be partnering with Coyne’s outfit, but with two cars, one of which is a full-time entry.

The two sides announced Friday that they are set to run the #51 Honda on a full-time basis in 2021.

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Meanwhile, the #52 Honda is slated to appear in the Indy 500 and perhaps a few other races throughout the 17-race campaign, which is slated to begin on Sunday, April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park following multiple coronavirus pandemic-related schedule changes.

They have not yet confirmed a driver for the #51 Honda or the #52 Honda, but former Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean has been rumored to take the full-time seat. Cody Ware, Rick’s son, was the driver who quietly tested for the team at Sebring International Raceway.

Cody is, however, set to drive the #51 Chevrolet for the team full-time in the Cup Series this year.

Dale Coyne Racing had previously announced that Ed Jones, who competed for the team as a rookie in 2017, is set to return and compete behind the wheel of the #18 Honda through their preexisting partnership with Vasser-Sullivan.

Here is what Coyne had to say about the new partnership with Rick Ware Racing.

"“We were introduced to Rick Ware at last year’s Indy 500 where he ran James Davison in our third entry. It was interesting to see how similar his efforts in NASCAR Cup and IMSA were to ours. We have talked ever since that event, and we are excited to welcome Rick Ware Racing into our family at DCR.”"

Here is what Ware had to add.

"“I met Dale last year through our Indy efforts with David Byrd and struck up a friendship with him and his team. I have thought a long time about expanding into INDYCAR from our efforts in NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and IMSA, so this collaboration was an easy and logical step. We look forward to a competitive 2021 and beyond together.”"

Among other candidates mentioned to drive the #51 Honda are Pietro Fittipaldi, who drove for Coyne’s team in select races in the 2018 season, and Charlie Kimball, the IndyCar veteran who will not be returning to his seat at A.J. Foyt Enterprises this year.