Photo Credit: Chris Owens/IndyCar
It was announced on Wednesday Gabby Chaves will join Dale Coyne Racing to driver the No.19 Boy Scouts of America entry this weekend during the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, both taking place and the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chaves was awarded the 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year. He was also crowned the Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 for being the highest qualifying rookie as well the highest rookie to finish in 16th place. He raced for Bryan Herta Autosport at the time.
“What can I say, I’m really excited. It’s been the longest off-season of my life,” expressed Chaves. “Throughout my whole career I’ve always been on the grid in the first race of the season and this has been the first time that I haven’t. I thought I had many deals in place before and for some reason or another it never came through. I’ve been speaking with Dale for years now and I’m excited to get something going with him and the team. I’m just really looking forward to it. With my time out of the car, I’ve really been able to value what it means to me to be in a race car. I can now get back on track and enjoy it even more.
“The Angie’s List Grand Prix was a really good race for me last year. I believe this is where I led my first race lap, I think it was only one lap though but it counts and we were the second or third fastest Honda in qualifying so I’m pretty comfortable around here and I think I can do the job.”
When the green flag drops, Chaves will be starting his 17th IndyCar series race and his first of the 2016 season. In the second race at Bell Isle last season he finished ninth which was his best finish. He finished 15th in the championship standings.
He is the 2014 Indy Lights champion and last season in the GP of Indy he finished 15th.
Chaves will be replacing Lucca Fillipi and will join teammate Conor Daly on track at 11am on Thursday, May 12 for the first practice session. The race which is the fifth round of the 2016 series will take the green flag Saturday, May 14th at 3:50 pm ET. You can watch the live coverage on ABC starting at 3:30 pm or you can catch live timing and scoring at racecontrol.Indycar.com
