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Dale Coyne Racing has announced that Haas Formula 1 development driver Santino Ferrucci will make his IndyCar debut for the team at Detroit.
Pietro Fittipaldi’s injury in qualifying for the season-opening World Endurance Championship season at Spa has forced a rejig of the #19 car ride-share that was to be split between the Brazilian and Indy Lights graduate Zachary Claman de Melo.
De Melo was given Fittipaldi’s drive for the Indianapolis road course and the Indy 500, and will likely have a stand-in role at Texas, with Fittipaldi expected to complete the season when he makes a planned return at Mid-Ohio in July.
The Detroit double-header was initially slated for De Melo as part of a 10-race deal, meaning Fittipaldi’s injury had led to DCR looking into possible third drivers.
DCR has now confirmed Trident Formula 2 driver Ferrucci in De Melo’s place at Detroit, which is the next round after the Indianapolis 500.
That means Ferrucci will run in F2 and IndyCar on back-to-back weekends after racing in Monaco on the F1 support bill.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to race the #19 Paysafe car with Dale Coyne Racing at Detroit, especially that I’ll be coming off an F2 race in Monaco,” said Ferrucci.
“The goal is still to be a Formula 1 driver but to be racing in IndyCar is going to be something special.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s just unfortunate that it’s under the circumstances of Pietro’s injuries, I hope he has a speedy recovery and can come back very soon.”
De Melo’s sponsor Paysafe had pushed for him to get the Indy 500 drive but said it was keen to promote young drivers.