By: Spencer Neff
January 18, 2023

On Wednesday morning, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing confirmed their 2023 driver lineup.

2022 Indy Lights (now Indy NXT presented by Firestone) runner-up Sting Ray Robb will drive the No. 51 for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series campaign.

The Payette, Idaho native finished runner-up to Linus Lundqvist in last year’s Indy Lights championship.

Robb earned his first career victory in the first race of the season-ending doubleheader at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with Andretti Autosport.

He will join David Malukas at DCR, who returns for his sophomore year behind the wheel of the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports.

“This is an opportunity – a dream – that has been long in the making,” expressed Robb in today’s announcement.

“I’m honored to join forces with Dale Coyne, Rick Ware and the whole organization. I am excited and grateful to be on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid for 2023. We had a great first test together in early January and I was very impressed with the efficiency of the DCR with RWR team and how well we worked together on our first day.”

“Dale Coyne Racing has a historically distinguished program that has seen success with many drivers and most recently, with young, talented drivers. I’m looking forward to continuing in that trend and expecting some strong results as we enter my rookie season.”

Robb joins a rookie class that includes A.J. Foyt Racing’s Benjamin Pedersen, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Agustin Canapino and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong (road and steeet courses only).

Earlier this month, Robb tested with DCR at Sebring International Raceway in Florida, with the team being impressed with their new driver.

We’re very excited to have Sting Ray join our team,” Team Co-owner Dale Coyne exclaimed.

“He is coming off a very strong INDY NXT season and he impressed us and performed very well earlier this month at our test. I think he and David will make a great pairing. With David continuing where he left off last year, and Sting Ray wanting to do well in his rookie season, we have two young and eager drivers who, I think, are a force to be reckoned with.”

Rick Ware Racing also shares Coyne’s views regarding the team’s new driver, and potential for the 2023 season.

“Dale and I have spent a lot of the off season testing and discussing driver options,” said Rick Ware, fellow co-owner.

“Getting Sting Ray Robb on board to compete for the INDYCAR Rookie of the Year championship, as well as the Indy 500 Rookie of the Race honors, is pretty incredible. He’s young and already has multiple years in the IndyCar ladder system.

“I am really looking forward to another fresh driver and personality to the No. 51 team and partnership platforms. With Sting Ray’s road course experience, and Dale’s oval-track program, we are very optimistic.”

Robb and the NTT IndyCar series will have their first major opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season on February 2-3 at California’s Thermal Club during the open test.

The 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season kicks off March 5 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Header Image By Sean Birkle/INDYCAR