A 34-year-old Frenchman, Vautier will drive the Honda-powered No. 51 entry for DCR on the tight and difficult 1.645-mile, nine-turn road circuit primarily based within the coronary heart of Motor Metropolis.
The upcoming outing will mark Vautier’s return to the IndyCar Sequence since 2017, when he was known as upon by DCR as an alternative to the injured Sebastien Bourdais at Texas Motor Speedway and completed sixteenth.
The final time Vautier was in Detroit with DCR was when IndyCar raced at close by Belle Isle as a part of a doubleheader weekend, which noticed him end seventeenth within the first race earlier than scoring an series-best results of fourth within the nightcap. He has 31 profession IndyCar begins together with 12 with Dale Coyne Racing.
“I’m very pleased to be returning to the NTT IndyCar Sequence and Dale Coyne Racing this weekend,” shared Vautier.
“It’s been some time since I’ve been in an Indy automotive however I’m very a lot wanting ahead to getting again behind the wheel this weekend and to be discovering the Detroit monitor.
“Coming again to Dale Coyne Racing is like coming again to household and I wish to thank Dale and Falcon Motorsport for giving me this chance.”
Vautier has spent his latest years discovering success in sportscar racing, competing in each the IMSA Sportscar Championship, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in addition to the European Le Mans Sequence (ELMS). In 2021, he was a part of the push to guide JDC-Miller MotorSports to victory within the 12 Hours of Sebring. He was additionally a part of two podiums with the workforce the next 12 months on the 24 Hours of Daytona, the place he claimed third, and the 12 Hours of Sebring, scoring a runner-up consequence.
Vautier will get his first style of Indy automotive racing with opening observe for the Detroit spherical set for Friday, Could 31 at 3pm ET. Qualifying will happen on Saturday, June 1 at 12:45pm ET.
The inexperienced flag waves for the Detroit Grand Prix at 12:45pm ET on Sunday, June 2. Protection for the race begins on USA Community beginning at Midday ET.
