Gutierrez out for Texas; Dale Coyne looks for (another) replacement driver

Jim Ayello | IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS — Dale Coyne Racing is looking for yet another replacement to drive the No. 18 Honda in the stead of Sebastien Bourdais.

The team had hoped to get Esteban Gutierrez, Bourdais’ replacement for the doubleheader at Detroit, approved to drive at Texas, but he needed to test on an oval first.

A Coyne official told IndyStar that the team requested that IndyCar allow Gutierrez to test at Chicagoland Speedway this week, but the request was denied by IndyCar on the grounds that this part of the calendar is a testing blackout period.

An IndyCar official told IndyStar that the series' statement on the matter is only that "Gutierrez is not approved to run at Texas."

That means the team will need to find another replacement for Bourdais, who is rehabbing after fracturing his hip and pelvis during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Bourdais is expected to miss most, if not all, of the remaining Verizon IndyCar Series season.

Among drivers who could be considered to pilot the No. 18 on the challenging oval of Texas Motor Speedway are James Davison, who filled in for Bourdais at the 500 and led two laps before crashing late in the race.

Pippa Mann also drove for the team at the 500 and could be considered by Coyne along with IndyCar veteran Oriol Servia, who drove at both the 500 and the Detroit doubleheader for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

For his part, Gutierrez told IndyStar on Sunday he hoped he would be the driver behind the wheel of the No. 18 car in Texas but wasn't sure it would work out.

Coyne has said it's not out of the question that Gutierrez will return for other races, including ovals, later in the season.

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello.