Pippa Mann confirms Dale Coyne Racing drive in Fontana

Pippa Mann and Dale Coyne Racing have confirmed that the British driver will run for the team in IndyCar’s final Triple Crown event of the year, to be held in Fontana, California.

Mann drove for the Illinois-based team in both the previous Triple Crown events – the Indianapolis 500 and Pocono IndyCar 400 – and she will complete the Dale Coyne Racing line-up alongside fellow Brit Justin Wilson for the MAVTV 500 in October.

Speaking about the announcement, Mann said: "Being a part of Dale Coyne Racing this year, and bring Cyclops Gear to IndyCar has been such an amazing opportunity, and a great experience. I've had fun at every track I’ve had the opportunity to drive at, and I was pleased to bring home a top 15 for the team this time out in Pocono, and help them keep the No.18 car up in the Leaders Circle points for 2014. I'm learning every time I get in the car, and the guys are doing a tremendous job of making me feel at home both in the team, and in the DW12 chassis. It's a great feeling to have a team owner working with you as hard as Dale has been, to try and help me keep getting back into one of his race cars, and I can't wait to drive Fontana for the first time this fall. October can't get here soon enough!"

Team owner Dale Coyne added: “Pippa has really showed her worth and that she belongs in this sport, and we’re looking forward to welcoming her back to complete the Triple Crown of events at Fontana later this year. After her performance at Pocono and in a very short season, she has shown great promise for the future."

Mann has raced in three events for the Dale Coyne Racing team in 2013 – the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, the Firestone 550 and most recently the Pocono IndyCar 400. Her latest outing saw the 29-year old qualify 19th around the “Tricky Triangle", less than 0.1 mph slower than Dario Franchitti and ahead of her Dale Coyne Racing team mate Justin Wilson. Following a strong 400-mile drive around the challenging 2.5-mile tri-oval, Mann took 15th place, scoring her best IndyCar finish to date.

The MAVTV 500 is the final race of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season, and will take place on October 20, 2013 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.