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Esteban Gutierrez to make IndyCar debut with Dual in Detroit

By Brittany Frederick

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 1: In this handout image supplied by Formula E, Esteban Gutierrez (MEX), Techeetah, Spark-Renault, Renault Z.E 16 during the FIA Formula E Championship Mexico City ePrix on April 1, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by LAT Images / Formula E via Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 1: In this handout image supplied by Formula E, Esteban Gutierrez (MEX), Techeetah, Spark-Renault, Renault Z.E 16 during the FIA Formula E Championship Mexico City ePrix on April 1, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by LAT Images / Formula E via Getty Images) /
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Former Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez will make his IndyCar debut on Saturday, replacing James Davison for Dale Coyne Racing.

Dale Coyne Racing has named Esteban Gutierrez its second driver for IndyCar’s Dual in Detroit this weekend. Gutierrez, who was let go from the Haas Formula 1 team last year, is taking over the No. 18 entry from James Davison.

Gutierrez had been racing in the electric Formula E series, where his best finish was 8th over three races. He drove 59 races in Formula 1 with a top result of 7th.

The 25-year-old will now be stepping into an IndyCar team for the first time, taking the race seat from Davison, who himself was called up on short notice to replace Sebastian Bourdais after the Frenchman’s crash.

Davison showed well in last weekend’s Indy 500. The Australian had to start dead last because of the driver change but climbed his way through the field, even leading several laps. His charge from the back was spoiled when he was involved in a late-race wreck and came home 20th.

Yet that gutsy performance wasn’t enough to keep him in the car for another week.

Instead Coyne opted to go with Gutierrez, who it is believed provides more funding for the No. 18 car as he’s part of Mexico’s Escuderia Telmex racing program formed by businessman Carlos Slim.

Dale Coyne offered the following statement to Racer explaining the decision:

"We’re going to miss having Sebastien in the No.18 car, but we’re very happy with our choice of a replacement for him this weekend. Esteban has a great open-wheel racing background, especially with his time in Formula One and the GP2 Series. I think he’ll do well in an Indy car despite the learning curve and we all look forward to seeing what he’ll do this weekend in Detroit."

The selection of Esteban Gutierrez is certainly a gamble for Dale Coyne Racing—not only because of Gutierrez’s complete lack of IndyCar experience, but because of the documented off-track concerns about the young driver’s attitude.

Gutierrez was publicly critical of Haas F1 last season, and though he apologized to his team for his remarks, there was much friction between him and the team, and even him and some of his fellow Formula 1 drivers.

The extra funding he provides is certainly beneficial to a smaller team like Dale Coyne Racing, for whom every dollar is valuable, especially after needing to recoup the costs from having two cars crash over the Month of May.

But will his behavior, and his inexperience, also play a part?

The hiring of Esteban Gutierrez also gives Dale Coyne Racing two first-year drivers. Gutierrez joins Ed Jones, who’s a strong IndyCar Rookie of the Year candidate after he finished on the podium at the Indy 500.

It also puts DCR back in the headlines this week as Coyne had previously made the news for being vocal in his disbelief that Jones lost the Indy 500 rookie award to another Formula 1 transplant in Fernando Alonso.

Yet Alonso had proved himself as a two-time Formula 1 world champion and a universally praised driver before coming to IndyCar. Esteban Gutierrez is still looking for his success on and off track, and he’ll be thrown directly into the fire running IndyCar’s only doubleheader.

Next: Kyle Larson open to NASCAR, IndyCar double duty

Whether or not Gutierrez will stay on with Coyne past the Dual in Detroit is unknown. But with the short turnaround between this weekend and next week’s race in Texas, it may be likely that he is the future for Dale Coyne Racing.