Dale Coyne Racing just might be “Team Opportunity” for the three drivers joining join the team’s lineup for 2024.
For Nolan Siegel, it's the golden opportunity to begin his career as an INDYCAR SERIES driver while chasing a championship in INDY NXT by Firestone. For Colin Braun (pictured above), it’s the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dram. And for Jack Harvey, it’s the chance to begin a new chapter.
“What happened (last year) and all that has been put to bed and moved on from,” Harvey said of his time with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. “So just getting the opportunity to continue being a part of the INDYCAR SERIES is fantastic.”
Harvey is slated to make 14 starts in Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 18 Honda with sponsorship from INVST, an independent, registered investment advisor headquartered in Indianapolis. Harvey sees the potential despite getting a late start on preseason preparations.
“I've had a lot of respect for Dale, from the time I've been in America to now,” the 30-year-old Englishman said. “So finally, the opportunity came to work together. And I think we both were really keen from the off. I was chatting to Dale at (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca) last year on what we could do, what it might look like, etc., etc. Sometimes these things take time.”
With no real plans for 2024 set, Harvey spent the early part of the offseason visiting his family in the United Kingdom. He attended his sister’s wedding and did “fun” things that helped him hit the reset button on his racing career.
Harvey kept up with an offseason training program assuming he was going to be racing in 2024 and working alongside his longtime mentor, Louise Keith, whose relationship with Harvey dates back to his time racing go-karts.
“I think just doing things outside of racing that were hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime sort of deal gave me perspective, really,” he said. “So then after that, when I came back, I really felt fine. Coming into the season now with another more amount more experience, good and bad, on either side of that spectrum to now contribute to the team hopefully in a bigger and stronger way.
“I really just love my life. And I think when I'm so content and happy with just everything that's happening around me, racing is just a bonus and it's just this the best part of what we get to do and I'm glad to be doing it for as much as we can this year.”
Versatile Braun Ready for INDYCAR SERIES debut
Even though Braun has made his name racing top-level sports cars for close to two decades, the 35-year-old Texan has always dreamed of racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. But he also felt that dream was slipping away.
“Certainly, it was something that as each year goes by, I feel like was less and less of a chance,” Braun said of getting an opportunity in this series. “And then we had a great season last year in an Acura GTP car and I think that sort of revitalized it and it’s cool to be able to make it happen.”
After five years racing in NASCAR’s Truck Series, Xfinity Series and ARCA – and a stop in rallycross’ development series – Braun has said his recent NTT INDYCAR SERIES test at Sebring International Raceway was just the latest lap in his career.
“It certainly has never been a straight path for me,” said Braun, who was the NASCAR Truck Series’ top rookie in 2008. “You know, in a way I think it's kind of cool. I've done a lot of different things and gotten to drive a lot of cool cars. But I've always wanted to drive an (INDYCAR SERIES car). Who doesn't? Right? Thankfully it all came together and got a chance to come and do it.”
Braun will race the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda at St. Petersburg and the Thermal Club. He said he had heard his name mentioned for potential tests with NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams over the last few years, but the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona winner didn’t believe it was possible until scoring three wins alongside Tom Blomqvist in Meyer Shank Racing’s Acura GTP prototype last season.
Braun said he leaned on Blomqvist when the opportunity presented itself, knowing that his former teammate had a good idea of what the experience would be like.
“Tom, he's a great friend of mine,” Braun said. “I felt like he was the one guy I could call and sort of say, ‘Hey, what's this going to be like? What am I going to get into? How does it compare to what we what we both drove?’ And he was nice enough to give me some good tips and give me some good pointers, at least to get me get me started down the right path.
“Obviously, this car is totally different than what we were driving last year. And so it was really nice to be able to kind of come at it with at least some idea in my head of what to expect and yeah, very, very helpful.”
As for expectations, Braun isn’t ready to give up his day job of racing in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“I'm just trying to take it one step at a time and learn as much as I can and do as good of a job,” he said. “I think certainly I've done a lot in the sports car world and have loved my time there and accomplished a lot.
“But I think human nature is to enjoy something different than a new challenge and try something new and learn and progress as a driver. Certainly a lot of different skills, a lot of different things that need to be in play here to be quick compared to what I'm used to and just learning those step by step has been awesome.”