IndyCar 2021 Preview: Dale Coyne Racing
A new lineup brings optimism for a team that struggled last season
Photo: Chris Owens/Getty Images for IndyCar
By Michael Eubanks
This is the sixth of a 10-part weekly series of previews of each full-time team slated to compete in the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series. Each preview will give an overview of all drivers currently signed to drive for the team, recap the team’s 2020 results, describe what’s new for the team in 2021 and provide an outlook for the team’s performance this season.
Today’s preview features Dale Coyne Racing. The season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama takes place on April 18.
2021 Drivers (name, car number, all Honda-powered): Ed Jones- No. 18, Romain Grosjean - No. 51 (road and street courses only), Pietro Fittipaldi - No. 51 (ovals only), Driver TBA - No. 52 (TBA partial schedule)
2020 recap: The team fielded two full-time entries, with Santino Ferrucci piloting the No. 18 entry and Alex Palou behind the wheel of the No. 55. Ferrucci finished 13th in the overall points standings with a best finish of fourth at the Indianapolis 500. Palou finished 16th overall, picking up the team's lone podium at Road America (3rd in first of two races there, finished 7th in the second race). Additionally, the team fielded a third entry at Indy driven by James Davison (finished 33rd) in conjunction with Rick Ware Racing, Byrd Racing and Belardi Auto Racing.
What's new for 2021: DCR will have a brand new lineup this season as Palou moves to Chip Ganassi Racing and Ferrucci is trying his hand at NASCAR. Ed Jones, who previously raced for DCR in 2017, returns after missing the 2020 IndyCar season.
Over the off-season, the team formed a collaboration with NASCAR regulars Rick Ware Racing for its No. 51 entry, which will be shared by Formula One veteran Romain Grosjean (road/street courses only) and Pietro Fittipaldi (ovals only), the grandson of F1 and IndyCar legend Emerson Fittipaldi. Additionally, the team will field the No. 52 entry in a yet-to-be-announced partial schedule that includes the Indy 500. No drivers have been announced yet for the entry, though Cody Ware has been rumored as a potential driver on race weekends that do not conflict with his NASCAR commitments.
Season Outlook: It’s been a few seasons since a Coyne car has reached Victory Lane, so don’t be surprised if the team goes winless in 2021. However, stranger things have certainly happened, and perhaps Grosjean will have his best chance to win since his GP2 days. After spending the last several seasons with the backmarker Haas team in F1, Grosjean joins one of the lesser-funded teams on the IndyCar circuit. However, with the cars spec and the racing some of the most competitive on the planet, Grosjean will have no better opportunity to show his true skills than the one he has now.
As for Jones and Fittipaldi, both drivers have an opportunity to achieve success this year. Jones has finished on the podium in the past - including third at Indy with Coyne in 2017 - so it’s certainly possible he could have more good runs this year. Although Fittipaldi will only be running a limited schedule for the team, a few good finishes for him would only add to his family’s racing legacy.
Driver Quotes: “I had different options in front of me for this coming season and choosing to go IndyCar Racing was definitely my favorite one. Although, I’m not ready yet to take on the ovals! IndyCar has a much more level playing field than what I have been used to in my career so far. It will be exciting to challenge for podiums and wins again. My left hand is still healing (from a fiery crash in F1 last year), but we are just about ready to get back into the race car and to start this next chapter of my career.” - Romain Grosjean
“I’m very happy to be racing the ovals this season in the No. 51 car. I’m especially excited for the Indianapolis 500. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to race in the Indy 500. All of Dale’s cars were competitive there last year and the last few years, and we’re looking to do the same this year. I’m also very happy to be sharing the car with Romain. He’s a good friend of mine. Over the years at Haas F1 we’ve become friends and it’s great to be teammates with him again." - Pietro Fittipaldi
"I’m really excited to join the Coyne Vasser-Sullivan team for the 2021 season. I started my IndyCar career with Dale. Jimmy (Vasser) and Sulli, (James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan) have had much success as owners together, and (with) the combination of Coyne, Vasser Sullivan is a proven team over the last three seasons. I’m pumped for the opportunity to drive the #18 SealMaster machine." - Ed Jones