Ferrucci signs two-race IndyCar deal

Santino Ferrucci will return to the Verizon IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing for the final two races of the 2018 season at Portland and Sonoma following the team's decision to expand to a three-car entry.

Ferrucci, 20, made his IndyCar debut in Detroit earlier this year with Coyne, and will return for the season-ending rounds in September alongside Sebastien Bourdais and Pietro Fittipaldi.

"I am extremely grateful to Dale and everyone at Dale Coyne Racing for giving me this opportunity to get back behind the wheel of an Indy car in Portland and Sonoma,” Ferrucci said.

“I’m also excited to be bringing my long-time sponsor Cly-Del on board and introducing them to the world of Indy car racing.

“I truly enjoyed my time with Dale Coyne Racing in Detroit earlier this season and I couldn’t be more excited to be back with them for a couple more races, as I look to the future and enter the next chapter of my career.”

Team boss Dale Coyne added: "We were very impressed with Santino at Detroit this year, and not just by his performance behind the wheel, but also by his professionalism and maturity outside of the race car.

"We’ve had lengthy discussions with Santino in the past few months and we’re excited to have him back for the final two rounds of the season.

“We look forward to seeing what he will do with this opportunity as he gets back behind the wheel of an Indy car. We’re also happy to welcome Cly-Del to our ever-growing family of sponsors.”

Ferrucci's move into IndyCar comes six weeks after his final Formula 2 appearance with Trident at Silverstone, who terminated his contract after incidents on- and off-track that saw him receive a two-round ban from the championship.

Despite still remaining part of the Haas Formula 1 team's junior programme at present, his position is known to be under review through the summer.