James Black/IMS Photo
McElrea to make IndyCar debut with Coyne in Toronto
Hunter McElrea will make his NTT IndyCar Series debut this weekend at the Honda Indy Toronto in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be making my NTT IndyCar Series debut,” McElrea said. “I’ve been working towards this for a long time, and I have to thank Dale for the opportunity.
“I can’t wait to get to Toronto, which is one of the coolest events of the year. I want to thank JR Smart and Courtesy Corporation for making this possible for me.”
The Indy NXT championship runner-up from 2023 recently tested for the team at Mid-Ohio.
“Hunter impressed the team during our test last week at Mid-Ohio,” said Coyne. “He quickly got up to speed and helped run through our testing plan. I’m excited to see what he can do on the streets of Toronto, this weekend.”
The Toronto race in the No. 18 was originally scheduled to have new Arrow McLaren driver Nolan Siegel in the seat. McElrea not only fills that void, but also gives the injured Jack Harvey, who stepped out of the car on Sunday in favor of Conor Daly, more time to recover as the series moves into an extended break during the Olympics.
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.
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