By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer
While it has been speculated for some time, Dale Coyne and Pippa Mann have made it official. The Coyne team will enter Pippa Mann in a Honda-powered car for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Oil.
The timing of the announcement coincides with the kickoff of the 2016 Pink #GetInvolved campaign, raising funds for Susan G. Komen. Mann will once again be behind the wheel of the familiar pink number 63 IndyCar as she sets the goal of raising $100,000 to go towards a worthy cause.
For the past several years, Mann has been a wonderful advocate for the foundation that holds a special place in her heart. When she is not at the racetrack, she puts in countless hours of her time to raise awareness and support the cause.
“This cause is something very personal to me, and to Dale Coyne Racing,” said Mann in a press release. “While racing a pink car the past two years certainly attracts attention and awareness for Susan G. Komen, the most important part of our partnership is taking this amazing stage that is the Indianapolis 500, and using it to raise money that can actually go towards care and research.”
Team owner Dale Coyne, whose passion for racing is only matched by his philanthropy, is happy to welcome Mann back to the team that she has run with in eleven previous IndyCar events.
“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Pippa and the Susan G. Komen organization”, said Coyne. “Pippa has shown tremendous dedication and drive in a sport that has been our lives for years. With her positive efforts on the ovals last year, coming back for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 this year is only a natural.”
The team will partner with Genetic Technologies Limited, a molecular diagnostics company specializing in women’s health, and provider of BREVAGenplus®, a first-in-class, clinically validated risk assessment test for sporadic breast cancer. Additional sponsorship partners are expected to be announced at a later date.
The 32-year old driver cut her racing teeth in European Formula Renault before relocating to Indianapolis to join the Indy Lights series. In 2010, she became the first female driver to sit on the pole at Indianapolis in the Freedom 100. Later that season, she took a big win at the Kentucky Speedway.
For the month of May, Pippa Mann will be teamed with Conor Daly, Luca Filippi, and Brian Clausen. Rob Ridgely will serve as her race engineer. Ridgley and Mann previously worked together during the six Verizon IndyCar Series races she ran in 2015.
“I think the continuity of having worked together last year will really help us conquer some of the learning curve that comes from being a one-off entry each year,” said Mann. “Working together, we finished both of the other 500 mile races in the top 15 last year, so it would be nice to try and continue, or improve, upon that trend this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
For more information on the Pink #GetInvolved campaign, or to make a donation visit GetInvolved2016.
There are a variety of perks available for donating to the cause, including signed Pippa Mann merchandise, race-worn items, or a chance to race against Pippa in a go-kart. It is important to note that 100% of the proceeds from this campaign will go to the Susan G. Komen organization, and not towards the racing effort.
The 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 29, 2016.
Image: Chris Jones/INDYCAR
