Dale Coyne Racing announced this morning that Zachary Claman De Melo – fresh off a 12th-place finish in the INDYCAR Grand Prix while substituting for the injured Pietro Fittipaldi – will fill in again for the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.
Claman De Melo, a Verizon IndyCar Series rookie, will make his first laps in an Indy car on an oval track later today when he participates in the rookie orientation program portion of the opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice. Claman De Melo is driving the No. 19 Paysafe Honda, one of four team entries in this year’s race.
“I’m very much looking forward to turning my first laps aboard the No. 19 Paysafe Indy car on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Claman De Melo said. “It’s an iconic venue and I’m extremely fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to drive here. Again, it’s unfortunate that it’s under these circumstances with Pietro’s injuries, so I realize how lucky I am to have this chance.
“I want to thank Dale (Coyne) and Paysafe for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to get on track to complete my rookie orientation program.”
102ND INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRESENTED BY PENNGRADE MOTOR OIL: Updated entry list
Fittipaldi was scheduled to drive the car in both the INDYCAR Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 until sustaining a broken left leg and broken right ankle in a crash during qualifying for the World Endurance Championship sports car race in Spa, Belgium, on May 4. The injuries are expected to sideline the grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi for at least eight weeks.
While Claman De Melo has not driven an Indy car on an oval to date, he does have two appearances in the Freedom 100, the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires race on the IMS oval. In 2016, he finished 13th driving for Juncos Racing. Last year, he placed sixth for Carlin. Claman De Melo scored his lone Indy Lights win at Road America last season and had three additional podium finishes on road and street courses.
Including Saturday's INDYCAR Grand Prix, Claman De Melo has driven in a total of five Verizon IndyCar Series races. He made his debut in the 2017 season finale at Sonoma Raceway with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing before joining Dale Coyne Racing this season in a deal that was originally to include 10 races. He drove in races earlier this season for Dale Coyne Racing at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Barber Motorsports Park.
Opening-day practice on the 2.5-mile IMS oval begins for veterans at 11 a.m. ET. The slot set aside for rookie orientation and veteran refreshers for those who haven’t already completed them is 1-3 p.m. The track then opens to all drivers from 3-6 p.m.
Practice continues daily through Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. All practices will stream live on RaceControl.IndyCar.com. Two days of qualifications to set the 33-car field are scheduled for May 19-20. The 102nd running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” airs live at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 27 on ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.