Dale Coyne Racing

Dale Coyne Enters Pippa Mann into Indy 500 for Fifth Straight Year

March 28, 2017 by Naptown Buzz

Pippa Mann is returning to Dale Coyne Racing for a fifth consecutive year to pilot the team’s third entry in the 101st Indianapolis 500. Mann will be back behind the wheel of the #63 Dale Coyne Racing Honda as she looks to make her sixth start at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway.

The British driver will once again be paired with engineer Rob Ridgely. Ridgely was Mann’s engineer when she scored her best IndyCar Series finish in 2015 (13th), as well as her best Indy 500 result (18th) last year.

“I’m very happy to be rejoining Dale Coyne Racing for my fifth consecutive year with the team at the 101st Indy 500,” expressed Mann. “Dale has invested heavily in the team over the winter, and it’s an exciting time to be part of his organization. I’m looking forward to working with the same familiar faces from my 2016 campaign, like my race engineer Rob Ridgely, as well as working with the new members of the team, including my new teammates Sebastien (Bourdais) and Ed (Jones). I’m thrilled to be getting back on the race track this May for my sixth Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

As she’s done for the past four consecutive years, Mann will continue to raise awareness for the Get Involved Campaign alongside her racing program. This year, the campaign that raises money for Susan G. Komen® is partnering with Auction Cause, a premier cause marketing agency, that will run the auction on eBay for Charity. The campaign will launch May 1 and close the week following the Indy 500. The funds raised will be used to support Komen’s global breast cancer research and community-based programs throughout the U.S.

“I’m also excited about the link up with Auction Cause and eBay for Charity this May,” added Mann. “They have so much experience running online campaigns, I feel like it’s a huge step for me, and for the Get Involved Campaign to partner with them. This new format has allowed me to reach out to more drivers, get them involved with more signed items, and I’m hoping we’re able to reach more race fans, and raise even more money for Susan G. Komen than we have ever done before.”

In the past two years, the campaign has raised over $135, 000. Items available in the 2017 auction will include 1:18 die-casts and artwork signed by various drivers, Mann’s race worn, pink helmet and suit, a karting night at Speedway Indoor Karting, as well as the popular ‘Turn the cockpit pink’ option where names of people are placed in the cockpit to honor the memories of loved ones lost, or those who are fighting or who have fought cancer.

“It’s always a pleasure to have Pippa on board for the Indy 500 and to help promote the Get Involved Campaign, raising funds for Susan G. Komen,” shared Team Owner Dale Coyne. “Pippa works hard every year to put together this program and to race in the Indy 500. With her perseverance and enthusiasm for our sport, it’s only fitting that we continue this relationship that started five years ago.”

SOURCE: Dale Coyne Racing

Naptown Buzz: May 18, 2016

May 18, 2016 by Brian Groce

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 was an active Day 3 of Indy 500 practice.

We have audio from Pat McAfee, Tommy Johnson Jr., Shawn Langdon, Sage Karam, Will Power, Gabby Chavez and Ryan Hunter-Reay on the show today, as well as a recap of what went on.

Please join the Naptown Buzz Journey on Patreon!

Gabby Chaves joins Dale Coyne Racing

May 11, 2016 by Naptown Buzz

Dale Coyne Racing has signed Gabby Chaves to pilot its #19 Boy Scouts of America entry at this weekend’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

Chaves, who raced for Bryan Herta Autosport last season, won the 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year title and was also named Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 after qualifying as the fastest rookie and finishing 16th.

“What can I say, I’m really excited. It’s been the longest off-season of my life,” expressed Chaves. “Throughout my whole career I’ve always been on the grid in the first race of the season and this has been the first time that I haven’t. I thought I had many deals in place before and for some reason or another it never came through. I’ve been speaking with Dale for years now and I’m excited to get something going with him and the team. I’m just really looking forward to it. With my time out of the car, I’ve really been able to value what it means to me to be in a race car. I can now get back on track and enjoy it even more.

“The Angie’s List Grand Prix was a really good race for me last year. I believe this is where I led my first race lap, I think it was only one lap though but it counts and we were the second or third fastest Honda in qualifying so I’m pretty comfortable around here and I think I can do the job,” added the Columbian.

Chaves will be making his 17th Verizon IndyCar Series start this weekend and his first of 2016. He scored a best finish of ninth last year at the second race at Belle-Isle and placed 15th in the points standings.

The 2014 Indy Lights Champion placed 15th at last year’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

“We’re very excited to have Gabby join us for the next two races, we’ve been in communication for a long time and it’s all finally come together,” shared Team Owner Dale Coyne “He showed a lot of maturity last season, he was quick, mistake-free and made great decisions behind the wheel that you don’t normally see coming from a rookie. We look forward to seeing what he can do in our #19 car.”

Chaves, along with teammate Conor Daly, will be on track starting at 11:00 am ET Thursday, May 12 for the first practice session.

The fifth round of the Verizon IndyCar Series season will go green on Saturday, May 14 at 3:50pm ET with live television coverage on ABC starting at 3:30pm ET.

Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.Indycar.com for all sessions with live streaming also available during practice and qualifying.

SOURCE: Dale Coyne Racing ♦ PHOTO: Brian Groce

Pippa Mann’s Indy 500 ride to support Susan G. Komen

May 1, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

A cause-oriented idea sparked a promotional proposal mushroomed into a pink platform for Pippa Mann and the Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race onMay 25.

Mann will drive the pink and white Honda-powered No. 63 Dale Coyne Racing car in the 500 Mile Race, the British driver and Komen principals announced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a campaign to help raise funds and awareness throughout the month.

“Millions of people will see Pippa’s pink car and gear, bringing awareness about this very serious disease,” said Komen President and CEO Judy Salerno, M.D., M.S. “We’re so appreciative of Pippa’s commitment to her fans, and racing fans everywhere, and, especially, to the fight against breast cancer.”

The genesis of the Month of May program was Mann’s inclination of altering the primary color on her helmet to support breast cancer awareness.

“I’ve closely guarded my helmet design and colors. You don’t see me change often,” said Mann, who will don a pink firesuit, too. “I thought wouldn’t it be cool to change it for a really good cause and then donate it to (the Indianapolis Komen organization) after the race to auction. I’m really proud to be involved with this program and raise money for Susan G. Komen.”

A pledge site – www.racewithpippa.com — will be available through May 25.

Practice begins May 11, with qualifications May 17-18. Brandon Fry, who was Mann’s race engineer when she made her Indy 500 debut in 2011 with Conquest Racing, returns to oversee the program on the 2.5-mile oval. He’ll be joined by much of the crew from Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, which in mid-April withdrew from sports car competition.

“(2011) was a big year for me with one day of testing before we turned up,” Mann said. “The driver-engineer relationship is an important part in having a successful program. This will be my first time coming into the Indianapolis 500 that I’m not trying to learn a new car and new engineer.

“Dale Coyne Racing has an amazing crew coming on board to staff the No. 63 car, and I can’t thank Dale and the team enough for their support of this project, and for all the hard work they have also put into this behind the scenes. We will be out there not only racing for position, and competing in a classic racing sense against our competitors on track, but we will also be out there racing for the cure.”

SOURCE: INDYCAR

Mike Conway Starts on Front Row for Coyne

May 31, 2013 by Naptown Buzz

Mike Conway drove a brilliant qualifying run to the top of the grid for tomorrow’s Duel in Detroit Grand Prix.

After qualifying for the Firestone top 12 and again for the Firestone Fast Six, Mike took his #18 Sonny’s Bar-B-Q car to a best time of 79.828 seconds which was good for 3^rd place overall. Dario Franchitti who set the fastest lap, will receive a 10 grid spot penalty for changing an engine out of schedule and hence move Conway from third up to second.

Mike Conway will start on the outside of row one alongside EJ Viso who starts from position one.

“I am happy to have a good start for race one tomorrow”, commented Conway. “The team has given me a great car and we look to run strong in the race.”

Conway comes to Dale Coyne Racing on a one week notice to drive the entries #18 car here at Detroit’s Belle Isle track. “Mike has done a great job on such short notice,” commented Coyne. “Tomorrow’s weather looks like rain so anything can happen.”

Justin Wilson in the Boy Scouts of America #19 car will start tomorrow’s race from 17^th. “The car was good, but with the rain and changing conditions in our session, we just missed on getting a good lap posted at the right time,” reported Wilson.

This weekend marks the first of three double header race weekends in 2013. Saturday’s race starts with ABC television coverage a 3:30PM EST. Saturday morning will be the second qualifying session for Sunday’s second leg of the double header race weekend. Sunday’s race will also be televised on ABC at 3:30.

Source: Dale Coyne Racing • Photo: Brian Groce

Pippa Mann entered in Indianapolis 500 with Dale Coyne Racing

April 30, 2013 by Naptown Buzz

Pippa Mann has paired with Dale Coyne Racing to attempt to make her second start at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

The team confirmed that the 29-year-old Mann will drive a Honda-powered Dallara as a teammate to Justin Wilson and Ana Beatriz. In 2011, Mann became the first British female (and eighth overall) to qualify for the race. She started 31st and finished 20th in a Conquest Racing entry.

“I’m delighted to be able to share this news,” said Mann, who recently has been an analyst on the IMS Radio Network’s broadcasts of Firestone Indy Lights races. “I actually first met Dale (Coyne) several years ago, before I came to the U.S., at what turned out to be the final Champ Car test at Sebring right before the open-wheel merger.

“We’ve sort of had an on-going conversation ever since then, and I actually got very close to getting in one of Dale’s cars on Bump Day last year. A year later, we’ve now put this program together, and I cannot wait to be back on track with Honda and running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.”

Mann, who won a Firestone Indy Lights race from the pole at Kentucky Speedway and earned the pole for the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Speedway in 2010, will participate in a refresher course on the 2.5-mile oval. Opening Day is May 11. Pole Day is May 18 and Race Day is May 26.

SOURCE: INDYCAR • PHOTO: Brian Groce