Pippa Mann to drive 3rd Dale Coyne car in 500

Pippa Mann

Dale Coyne Racing has confirmed that Pippa Mann will drive for the team in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

The 29 year-old joins fellow Briton Justin Wilson and Brazil’s Ana Beatriz to complete three Honda-powered entries for the team into the 97th running of the Indy 500.

Speaking about the announcement, Mann said: "I’m delighted to be able to share this news! I actually first met Dale several years ago, before I came to the US, 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."

"We have known and followed Pippa from her first interest in coming over to America and the IndyCar series," commented Team Owner Dale Coyne. "Her hard work and dedication are commendable and have shown results. She has qualified for Indy, qualified on pole at Indianapolis for the Indy Lights race, won an Indy Lights race at Kentucky and has been a great asset for the sport".

This will be Mann’s second entry into the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing", following her debut in 2011 when she became the eighth woman in history to qualify for and race in the Indy 500, and the first British female to do so.

Further details about the entry are to be announced shortly, prior to opening weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, when timed practice for the Indianapolis 500-Mile race gets underway on Saturday, May 11.