Esteban Gutierrez Returns to Dale Coyne Racing for Rest of 2017 IndyCar Season

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer

Dale Coyne Racing has announced that Esteban Gutierrez will be replacing the injured Sebastien Bourdais for the remainder of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season in the No. 18 Honda.

Gutierrez drove for the team at Detroit on the streets of Belle Isle, finishing 14th in the second race of the doubleheader weekend before not being approved for competition at  Texas because of a lack of oval experience.

Gutierrez will be partnering Ed Jones, who both tested at Road America in the time between the disastrous Texas race and the upcoming KOHLER Grand Prix.

“I’m very happy to finally announce my racing program for the rest of the season,” Gutierrez said.

“To represent Mexico in the Verizon IndyCar Series has a huge significance to all the fans that have been following the series through history and I’m very grateful to fill in this position.”

Team owner Dale Coyne is happy about Gutierrez being in for the rest of the year.

“We’re very pleased that Esteban can join us for the remainder of the season,” said Team Owner Dale Coyne. “Esteban did a very good job in Detroit despite having a lot to learn in a short amount of time. He fit in very well with the team and I look forward to our next races with him, starting with Road America this week.”

This won’t be the first time Gutierrez has raced at Road America. He raced there in 2007 as part of the Formula BMW USA season and won the second of two races held there that season. He lost the first race there to current Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi by .004 seconds.