Zachary Claman DeMelo has been confirmed as the driver to share the #19 Dale Coyne Racing IndyCar with Pietro Fittipaldi.
Fittipaldi’s seven-race deal was announced a day earlier, with Claman DeMelo’s signing largely expected to follow.
Done deal!! I will drive 10 races for @DaleCoyneRacing in the @IndyCar series this season 🔥👊 blessed to continue representing @PaysafeGroup pic.twitter.com/nV4mRgB8cI
— Zach Claman Demelo (@ZACHCD13) February 7, 2018
The Canadian made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in last year’s season finale at Sonoma.
On that occasion, he carried the backing of international payments provider Paysafe, which will sponsor the #19 DCR car in 2018.
“Paysafe helped me attain a life ambition last September when I made my Verizon IndyCar Series debut in Sonoma,” said Claman DeMelo.
“I am hugely grateful for their ongoing support as I prepare for the forthcoming races.
“I feel proud to be representing their brand again on the racetrack and I shall be doing all I can to get the Paysafe car into victory lane.”
Claman DeMelo, who has tested with DCR at Sebring and Sonoma, will test again at the former before his first start with the team in the season-opener in St Petersburg on March 9-11.
He is set down for 10 starts, with Fittipaldi at this stage given the #19 Honda for the Indianapolis 500 alongside team-mates Sebastien Bourdais and regular one-off Brickyard entrant Pippa Mann.
The confirmation completes the line-up of full-time entries for the 2018 season.
IndyCar Series 2018 full-time entries
Team | Num | Driver(s) | Engine |
Team Penske | 1 | Josef Newgarden | Chevrolet |
Team Penske | 12 | Will Power | Chevrolet |
Team Penske | 22 | Simon Pagenaud | Chevrolet |
AJ Foyt Racing | 4 | Matheus Leist | Chevrolet |
AJ Foyt Racing | 14 | Tony Kaanan | Chevrolet |
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | 5 | James Hinchcliffe | Honda |
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | 6 | Robert Wickens | Honda |
Chip Ganassi Racing | 9 | Scott Dixon | Honda |
Chip Ganassi Racing | 10 | Ed Jones | Honda |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | 15 | Graham Rahal | Honda |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | 30 | Takuma Sato | Honda |
Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan | 18 | Sebastien Bourdais | Honda |
Dale Coyne Racing | 19 | Zachary Claman DeMelo (10 races) Pietro Fittipaldi (7 races) | Honda |
Ed Carpenter Racing | 20 | Ed Carpenter (Ovals) Jordan King (Roads/streets) | Chevrolet |
Ed Carpenter Racing | 21 | Spencer Pigot | Chevrolet |
Andretti Autosport | 26 | Zach Veach | Honda |
Andretti Autosport | 27 | Alexander Rossi | Honda |
Andretti Autosport | 28 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Honda |
Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | 98 | Marco Andretti | Honda |
Carlin | 23 | Charlie Kimball | Chevrolet |
Carlin | 59 | Max Chilton | Chevrolet |
Harding Racing | 88 | Gabby Chaves | Chevrolet |