MotorSportsTalk continues its look through the Verizon IndyCar Series field, driver-by-driver, in 2016. Luca Filippi had a potential full-season effort with Dale Coyne Racing go away after a handful of starts, but he was present in IndyCar for a fourth consecutive partial campaign.
Luca Filippi, No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
- 2015: 21st Place (10 starts), Best Finish 2nd, Best Start 6th, 1 Podium, 1 Top-5, 4 Top-10, 2 Laps Led, 12.4 Avg. Start, 13.9 Avg. Finish
- 2016: 26th Place (5 starts), Best Finish 14th, Best Start 12th, 0 Top-5, 0 Top-10, 0 Laps Led, 13.2 Avg. Start, 17.8 Avg. Finish
The likable Italian, Filippi had his fourth chance at IndyCar when Dale Coyne Racing brought him in to at least start the year. And grid spots of 15th, 16th, 12th and 12th were nothing to scoff at all – especially considering the Honda aero kit, while better, still wasn’t a match for the Chevrolet.
But in the races, Filippi often faded to the rear of the field in his No. 19 Honda. It came as little surprise to most when Coyne pulled a switcheroo and brought in Gabby Chaves for the month of May, considering Chaves was still available. Filippi’s lack of results, though, were perhaps vindicated when Chaves couldn’t do much better in his seven starts, before Filippi made a one-off return back at Toronto. Bad caution timing there prevented a possible top-10.
Between driving for Bryan Herta, Bobby Rahal, Ed Carpenter and now Coyne, Filippi’s already been through almost half the paddock, and has had few standout weekends from start-to-finish.
