Tag: Dale Coyne Racing

Enzo Fittipaldi set for IndyCar test with Coyne

Al and Bobby Unser, Rick and Roger Mears, Mike and Robbie Groff… the tradition of brothers who’ve raced against each other in IndyCar has many interesting chapters, and there’s a possibility for a new one to be written next year between Rahal …

Al and Bobby Unser, Rick and Roger Mears, Mike and Robbie Groff… the tradition of brothers who’ve raced against each other in IndyCar has many interesting chapters, and there’s a possibility for a new one to be written next year between Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Pietro Fittipaldi and his younger brother Enzo, who is scheduled to test with Dale Coyne Racing.

It’s too early to say if 26-year-old Pietro and 22-year-old Enzo will face off in the NTT IndyCar Series, but the Brazilian-Americans will share the same track at Sebring International Raceway in early November as DCR joins RLL for a few days of learning under the Florida sun. It’s unclear if Enzo’s test is part of a bigger plan to switch to IndyCar, but the Fittipaldis are known to have an interest in seeing the brothers race together if possible.

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Where Pietro’s open-wheel activities have been more sporadic than desired in recent years, Enzo — a member of the Red Bull Junior Team — has been relentlessly busy since 2017, contesting full Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2 championships without interruption.

Currently seventh in the F2 standings on the strength of four podiums and one win with the Rodin Carlin team, the younger Fittipaldi has spent just over two seasons in Formula 1’s top development category. With no known seats awaiting his services in F1, and little to learn by returning to F2 for a third full-season campaign, a switch to IndyCar with DCR — where his older brother made his IndyCar debut in 2018 and returned for three races in 2021 — would make for a great story to follow between the Fittipaldi brothers in 2024.

RACER also understands Indy NXT front-runner Jacob Abel is meant to take part in the same two-day test with DCR.

Malukas set to depart Dale Coyne Racing at the end of the season

IndyCar sophomore David Malukas will be moving on from Dale Coyne Racing at the end of the season. The Chicago native, who pilots the family-sponsored No. 18 DCR with HMD Motorsports Honda, signed a two-year contract with the home state team in 2022 …

IndyCar sophomore David Malukas will be moving on from Dale Coyne Racing at the end of the season.

The Chicago native, who pilots the family-sponsored No. 18 DCR with HMD Motorsports Honda, signed a two-year contract with the home state team in 2022 and quickly demonstrated his aptitude across the series’ road, street, and oval disciplines during his rookie campaign.

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Entering 2023 with a new, first-time IndyCar race engineer in Alex Athanasiadis, Malukas has weathered the inevitable growing pains while taking more steps forward in his career, which includes a strong run to sixth last weekend at Mid-Ohio.

Having reached a point where Malukas is drawing interest from the likes of Andretti Autosport, among other teams, the 21-year-old is ready to pursue race wins and championships with a front-running program.

“We’re talking to other teams, and we haven’t officially signed anything with anybody else, but things do look promising,” Malukas told RACER. “And I do know for my future, I will not be returning to Dale Coyne.”

The irreverent Lithuanian-American credits Coyne, team manager Terry Brown, the engineers, and the mechanics for all they’ve done to help him develop at a rapid rate and seek his first paying ride in IndyCar.

“There’s many reasons why we chose Dale’s team,” Malukas said. “Obviously, you get to IndyCar and it’s a big deal; my whole life was spent leading up to that point. You want to be in the best environment as a rookie, and I think Dale Coyne’s team is probably the best team you could be in.

“Going to the shop and being there and hanging out with the team has been really important. Everybody greets you like you’re family and they all make it where there’s no stress. You’re already under a lot of stress naturally while you’re trying to learn everything to become an IndyCar driver, so the environment they create is just helpful for you to be inside of.”

Few of the dominoes in what will be a busy IndyCar silly season have yet to fall, but Malukas hopes to have a final direction on where he’ll be driving by August.

“We’re still in early-to-mid talks with these teams,” he said. “But I hope to have answers in another month or so.”