The #51 entry has had various drivers throughout the season. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
Dale Coyne Racing has revealed that Tristan Vautier will be taking the wheel of the team’s #51 entry for the upcoming IndyCar race on the streets of Detroit.
The 34-year-old has previously competed in IndyCar, but he has more recently been involved in sportscar racing.
Vautier has participated in prototypes in both the IMSA and WEC series over the past ten years, achieving a single victory in the 2021 12 Hours of Sebring.
His return to IndyCar puts him back in an open wheel machine for the first time in seven years and continues Dale Coyne Racing’s pattern of introducing new drivers to the #51 almost every weekend.
“I’m thrilled to be making my comeback to the NTT IndyCar Series and Dale Coyne Racing this weekend,” said Vautier.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in an Indy car, but I’m eagerly looking forward to getting back behind the wheel this weekend and exploring the Detroit track.
“Returning to Dale Coyne Racing feels like returning to family, and I want to express my gratitude to Dale and Falcon Motorsport for giving me this opportunity.”
Vautier will be the fifth different driver to pilot the #51 entry this season, following Colin Braun, Nolan Siegel, Luca Ghiotto, and Katherine Legge, who have all taken their turns so far this year.
The French driver last competed in IndyCar in 2017 in a one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway, also with Dale Coyne Racing.
Before that, he completed a full season with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2013 and a partial season with DCR in 2015, achieving his best result of fourth place on the Detroit Belle Isle track.
Vautier will return to Detroit this weekend, racing alongside Jack Harvey in the #18. The arrangement is only for a single race, leaving the driver for the #51 undisclosed for the remainder of the season.