Coyne misplaced his earlier star rookie, Alex Palou, to Chip Ganassi Racing on the finish of final yr and the Spaniard is now main the 2021 IndyCar Collection championship standings.
His alternative at Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, Romain Grosjean, is competing in all street and road programs – and can make his oval debut at Gateway later this month – and has repeatedly starred this yr, with pole place and a runner-up end within the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
However there are growing rumours that Grosjean will exchange Ryan Hunter-Reay within the #28 Andretti Autosport, and that he’s of explicit attraction to a global firm comparable to DHL, whose long-time contract with Michael Andretti’s squad was prolonged by only one yr in direction of the shut of final season. Grosjean’s pace on street and road programs, incessantly on show this season, and his willingness to strive oval racing, could also be sufficient to entice DHL to remain on board the #28 automotive.
Nevertheless, Coyne says that he and Grosjean are nonetheless in talks about extending their deal.
“I believe he’s proud of us, though I realise a number of persons are taking a look at him proper now,” he informed Autosport. “We’ve executed an excellent job for him, I believe he understands that.
“We took an opportunity on him, he took an opportunity on us, and I believe it’s labored out good for each of us and I hope that pays off for each of us in the long run and we’re in a position to maintain him subsequent yr.
“Andretti’s group is sweet, and I perceive a driver desirous to go there however I believe we’re doing an excellent job for him, too. He’s been fast all over the place we’ve run him, in qualifying and the race, which reveals he’s fairly full. However you want to have the automotive to get the job executed, and I believe he’s helped present that we’re fairly full.
“He and Olivier [Boisson, race engineer] have good chemistry, and that’s all through the group, everyone right here. This group looks like a household, we’ve heard that from quite a lot of drivers, and so they like that. And this household likes Romain and his household very a lot.
“So we’re nonetheless speaking and I hope we keep collectively.”
Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda
Picture by: Chris Jones
Ought to he lose Grosjean, Coyne believes that the 35-year-old has nonetheless demonstrated that the group is a possible go-to place for high quality drivers of all expertise ranges.
“Yeah, actually, I do know that’s true – and if I allow you to take a look at my telephone data of the previous couple of months, you’d see the proof, too!” he stated. “I believe it confirmed final yr with Alex Palou, and I believe it’s true of Santino [Ferrucci], too.
“Santino was a man everybody had dismissed as a cocky child who didn’t deserve a experience as a result of he wasn’t adequate. He got here right here and he did a good job, and a extremely good job on the ovals. He labored to alter his character, and I believe that confirmed.
“Alex Palou arrived with a robust resume and he did very nicely. And now Romain – one other driver who has executed an excellent job for us and I believe we’ve executed an excellent job for him, and the motorsport world sees what we will do. That’s why I’ve gotten all of the telephone calls.”
The way forward for the second Coyne automotive, the #18 co-entered with Jimmy Vasser and James Sullivan and pushed by Ed Jones, has been the supply of a lot hypothesis.
“We’ll see what occurs with the #18 automotive,” stated Coyne. “I’d wish to maintain going as now we have, with Jimmy and Sulli, however we additionally know that issues change. So time will inform, and we’ll maintain speaking.
“Each group proprietor right here is attempting to arrange for various situations for subsequent yr as a result of there are such a lot of shifting items proper now. I’d say within the subsequent three or 4 weeks we’ll know much more.
“We’re engaged on drivers, we’re engaged on sponsors. A lot of issues in play proper now.”