Ferrucci confirmed for IndyCar debut with Coyne at Detroit (updated)

Haas Formula 1 development driver Santino Ferrucci will make his Verizon IndyCar Series debut for the June 2-3 Dual in Detroit doubleheader in the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.

Reached by RACER Friday morning, a DCR spokesperson would not intially confirm Ferrucci for the race in Michigan, but he was reported as being seen in the team's garage having a seat made. However the team later issued an announcement that the Connecticut-born racer is a lock for his first IndyCar appearance.

"“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to race the No.19 Paysafe car with Dale Coyne Racing at Detroit, especially that I’ll be coming off a F2 race in Monaco,” said Ferrucci in a team statement.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s just unfortunate that it’s under the circumstances of Pietro [Fittipaldi]’s injuries, I hope he has a speedy recovery and can come back very soon.”

After making waves on the American karting scene, the 19-year-old has focused on European open-wheel racing in association with the American F1 team owned by Gene Haas. Signed to the Trident Racing Formula 2 team, Ferrucci has an open window between rounds at Monaco late in May to the late June F2 event at Paul Ricard in France to drive the No. 19 DCR entry.

Zachary Claman De Melo during Indy 500 practice. (Image by LAT Images)

With a combination of Pietro Fittipaldi and Zachary Claman De Melo slated to share the car throughout the season, Fittipaldi’s recent injury has forced DCR to shuffle its driver line-up and race dates. As part of his last-minute substitute role for Fittipaldi at the Indy 500, Claman De Melo is believed to have forfeited the Detroit event for Coyne to make available for another paying driver.

In a press conference on Thursday, Coyne said, “I think the plan is we've moved some races around with Zach, so he'll do this race, probably Texas,” which left Detroit as the obvious rounds to fill.