DragonSpeed sets target for on-track debut
The new DragonSpeed IndyCar team is targeting a late February or early March testing debut for rookie driver by Ben Hanley and its Chevy-powered Dallara DW12 chassis.
Although the team will not be testing with the rest of IndyCar’s entrants next week at Circuit of The Americas, Hanley will be on site for IndyCar’s media day functions, and at the track with team owner Elton Julian to observe the action.
“We won’t make the COTA test, but we have a date at Barber Motorsports Park we’re looking at later this month, and another at Sebring a few days before St. Petersburg on our calendar,” DragonSpeed commercial director David Aronson told RACER.
Along with St. Petersburg, DragonSpeed announced its intent to compete at Barber, the Indianapolis 500, Road America, and Mid-Ohio during its debut season. Complementing its existing base in Florida, the team has moved into a new shop in Indianapolis where the brand-new Dallara will be built and maintained.
The team has also taken recent steps to complete the open-wheel side of its organization. DragonSpeed team manager Brian Bailey, who oversees its FIA WEC prototype program, and his team of mechanics will run the car, Paul Thomas has been hired as DragonSpeed’s IndyCar technical director, and John Slater has been brought in to assist Bailey and Thomas.
“Paul’s leading the build in Indy, and we were fortunate to get John back to handle logistics, and he’s doing a brilliant job,” Aronson added.
Hanley's Dallara-Chevy will carry the No. 81 in competition.
Presented by:
For making every mile more exhilarating
Marshall Pruett
The 2026 season marks Marshall Pruett's 40th year working in the sport. In his role today for RACER, Pruett covers open-wheel and sports car racing as a writer, reporter, photographer, and filmmaker. In his previous career, he served as a mechanic, engineer, and team manager in a variety of series, including IndyCar, IMSA, and World Challenge.
Read Marshall Pruett's articles
Latest News
Comments
Comments are disabled until you accept Social Networking Cookies. Update cookie preferences
If the dialog doesn't appear, ad-blockers are often the cause; try disabling yours or see our Social Features Support.