Pippa Mann will enjoy her first IndyCar start since the Indianapolis 500 this weekend at Pocono Raceway, linking up with Dale Coyne Racing to race in honour of Bryan Clauson.
American short-track veteran Clauson died at the age of 27 earlier this month from injuries sustained during a midget race in Kansas.
Clauson raced in three Indy 500s, the most recent being with Dale Coyne Racing in May where he finished 23rd alongside full-time driver Conor Daly and Mann in two of the team's other cars.
Daly will race in the #88 BC Forever entry this weekend in honour of Clauson, while close friend Mann returns in the #19 car, her previous appearance before the 500 being last year's race at Pocono where she finished 13th for Dale Coyne Racing.
"The past week has been incredibly tough for everyone in the racing family, and I’m amongst those who have been feeling the loss of a friend, and a teammate," Mann said.
"When I heard from Dale last week that he had decided that I would drive the #19 car this weekend, it meant so much to me, because it gives me the opportunity to be one of the drivers helping Bryan reach his 200 starts this year.
“I’m also adding an edited version of the BC Still Chasing 200 logo to my helmet for this weekend so I can carry him with me for the race. He told me this May he always wanted to run this race, so I hope between Conor and I, he sees this as us making those starts for him."
Daly added: "It means a lot to our whole team to be driving the #88 BC Forever entry this weekend. I think everyone enjoyed working with Bryan throughout the month of May. Jonathan and David Byrd have sort of accepted us into their family.
"They already had a big racing program with Bryan and then they added me and Dale Coyne Racing to that as well. It’s going to be a great way to pay tribute and obviously a little extra motivation to ‘Park it’ in Victory Lane for Bryan."
The ABC Supply 500 at Pocono takes place on Sunday August 21.
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