Dale Coyne Racing solidified part of its driver lineup for the upcoming NTT INDYCAR SERIES season Tuesday by confirming three drivers: Jack Harvey, Nolan Siegel and Colin Braun.
Harvey, a veteran of 79 races in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, will drive the No. 18 INVST Honda for 14 races this season, beginning with this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Harvey's car will feature the black and green colors of INVST, an independent, registered investment advisor headquartered in Indianapolis.
“I’m thrilled to join Dale Coyne Racing for this season,” Harvey said. “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.”
Siegel, the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year who tested with DCR earlier this year, will share driving duties with Harvey. Siegel is competing full time for HMD Motorsports in the INDY NXT by Firestone series and will be in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for four non-conflicting races. He will make his DCR debut later this month in the $1 Million Challenge at Thermal Club in Southern California (March 24) and then compete in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 21), the Honda Indy Toronto (July 21) and will have the opportunity to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (May 26).
“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,” Siegel said. “It’s a lifelong dream come true for me to be racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 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 will drive the team's No. 51 car featuring a partnership with Rick Ware Racing. The veteran of sports car racing will make his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut this weekend. He is currently signed to race in St. Petersburg and at Thermal Club with the hope of doing more races with the team later in the year. He recently tested with DCR at Sebring International Raceway.
“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,” Braun said. “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.”
DCR also has hired veteran race engineer Steve Newey to lead the No. 51 car. Newey has won series races with Bobby Rahal, Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Dan Wheldon and Marco Andretti.
“It’s been a busy offseason and we’re extremely pleased with our driver lineup heading into the 2024 season,” team owner Dale Coyne said. “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.”
DCR did not announce its plans for the rest of the season.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The first practice is Friday at 2:45 p.m. ET. The 100-mile race is Sunday on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network at noon ET.