Race Winner Huertas Returns with Coyne for 2015 and Dracone Signs with Dale Coyne Racing for First Four Races

Race Winner Huertas Returns with Coyne for 2015 and Dracone Signs with Dale Coyne Racing for First Four Races

PLAINFIELD, Illinois – Dale Coyne Racing is excited to announce the 2015 return of Carlos Huertas who will drive the #18 Honda powered car for a second consecutive season.

Huertas participated in his rookie Verizon IndyCar Series season in 2014 and impressed with his consistent showings.  He took his first and Dale Coyne Racing’s fourth IndyCar win in round one of June’s Houston race.  This victory, his consistently fast pace, and his keen sense to avoid race ending contact served as the primary reasons Coyne sought his return for 2015.

Previous to his Verizon IndyCar career, Huertas raced in top development series in Europe earning wins in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series and British Formula Three Series.

“Carlos surprised everyone last year with his performance.  The effort the team has made over the winter, as shown by our Sebring test with Carlos, gives us confidence for the upcoming season,” commented team owner Dale Coyne.

Adding to Huertas’ confidence from last season’s successes, Huertas posted the fastest time of any Verizon IndyCar Series driver that tested at Sebring this offseason.  This fast time was recorded on February 24th, the second of two days of DCR testing.

“I am very happy to be back with the team this year.  I expect to have a better year than last year because I obviously have the experience of a full season and winning a race last year.  That helped a lot for my confidence for this year.”  Huertas continued, “The guys did such a great job last year with the car and race strategy that I’m sure we will have a successful year.”

After IndyCar’s “spring training” test at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, Dale Coyne Racing and Carlos Huertas will continue to test the new Honda HPD aero kit equipped cars March 23 and 24 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.  The team will kick off competitive action on March 29 in St. Petersburg, Florida for the 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

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Dracone Signs with Dale Coyne Racing

PLAINFIELD, Illinois – Dale Coyne Racing has firmed up its early 2015 Verizon IndyCar plans with the signing of veteran open wheel driver Francesco Dracone.  He will drive the #19 Honda for DCR in the first four rounds of the season with further plans undetermined at this time.

Dracone makes his return to the Verizon IndyCar Series having previously participated in the series with Conquest Racing in 2010.  He has since been driving in the Auto GP Series in Europe.  Dracone also tested with Coyne in December 2013.  The Italian brings 13 years of open wheel racing experience to Dale Coyne Racing and should bring a unique perspective to the new Honda aero kit making its debut in 2015.

While trying to control his excitement Dracone said, “It is good to be back in America and great to be back in IndyCar.  I feel that it is the best single seater series for a driver to be in.”  He continued, “Working with Dale Coyne is an honor and a privilege because he is one of the most experienced team owners and he runs a great team.”

“Francesco shows great enthusiasm for our sport,” said Dale Coyne.  “We look forward to working with the rookie in preseason testing and early races as he looks to IndyCar for his future.”

With his only competitive IndyCar starts being in the previous generation car, having several days of testing in the DW12 chassis will be invaluable.  The team will test with him two additional days after the 2015 Barber Open Test.

After IndyCar’s “spring training” test at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, Dale Coyne Racing, with Dracone at the wheel, will continue to test on March 23 and 24 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.  The team will kick off competitive action on March 29 in St. Petersburg, Florida for the 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.