Coyne proud to have three Indianapolis 500 Finishers

Indianapolis, Indiana - The Dale Coyne Racing team was significantly busier this Memorial Day weekend with the addition of a third entry for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500. Pippa Mann joined 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series regulars Justin Wilson and Carlos Huertas as the three car team looked to build on early season consistent results. The historic oval once again proved to be kind to some and to bestow misfortune upon others.

Justin Wilson started his seventh Indianapolis 500 in the middle of the pack in 14th position. He ran near that starting position during the long, caution free period and tried to stay out of trouble. In the final 50 laps of the race Wilson started to turn some of the fastest laps of the race and methodically move forward.

When the red flag came out on lap 191 he was running eighth. However, Wilson had the misfortune of hitting debris from the wreck that halted the field and resulted in an extra pit stop to change a broken front wing and left side mirror. Wilson recounts, “I hit the engine cover and it broke the front wing and the mirror [of my car], right before the cockpit opening so I'm pretty lucky.” While he is lucky to be safe, the misfortune of the incident relegated him from eighth to a 22nd place finish.

Carlos Huertas made his first Indianapolis 500 start on the outside of row seven in 21st position. “I ran the maximum I could and finished the race 17th. I would have loved to have a better result but that is what I had today,” he commented. While Huertas would have liked a higher finish, completing his first oval race on the lead lap is something to build upon. Huertas was the highest finisher for Dale Coyne Racing in the 2014 Indianapolis 500.

Pippa Mann started the race in a career best 22nd position. Consistent laps to start the race kept her running position near that position until her second pit stop on lap 61. A mechanical issue forced her to pit again shortly after that stop and put her several laps behind the leaders. Mann got back out after repairing the problem and brought the car home in 24th place.

While disappointed in the misfortune, Mann chose to focus on the bright spot saying, “I’m really pleased we were able to go out there and exceed our 400 lap target for the month, to raise funds and awareness for Susan G. Komen in the fight against breast cancer. It’s been an honor to carry the Susan G. Komen Running Ribbon this month.”

Teammates Wilson and Huertas will now prepare to race twice next weekend in the Chevrolet Indy Duel in Detroit. Race 1 will be on Saturday, May 31 with the second race occurring the following day on June 1. Both will air live at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. The team looks to continue their superior performance at Detroit after last year that saw three podium finishes, a pole, and race win for the DCR squad.

Dale Coyne Racing