Luca Filippi, James Davison to make IndyCar Series debut at Mid-Ohio

Two drivers will make their IZOD IndyCar Series debut this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, headlined by Luca Filippi for Barracuda Racing and James Davison of Dale Coyne Racing.

The Filippi debut comes off a successful test with the Barracuda-BHA team on Wednesday. But the official announcement was not made until Friday morning prior to practice.

The 27-year-old has seven years of GP2 experience but was unable to break the glass ceiling and earn his way into Formula 1 after winning six times in that league and serving as a Honda test driver in 2008.

He joins Barracuda after previously being linked to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2012.

Filippi told media on Friday at Mid-Ohio that it was always a dream to race in IndyCar and that the league is very popular in his native Italy.

“We have it on live TV and we really like it,” Filippi said. “It’s the kind of racing I’ve always wanted to do and finally I get an Indy car ride. I’m very excited.”

Filippi is currently only slated to run the Mid-Ohio race for the team after Alex Tagliani drove the first 13 events of the season. But Filippi is hoping for more seat time if this weekend is a success.

“It’s going to be a team decision,” Filippi said. “Obviously this is a great opportunity for myself. It’s obvious it’s going to be related to the performance that I do during the weekend. If I do well, probably I will have more chances.”

Davison makes his debut for Coyne after spending two seasons in Firestone Indy Lights. He was the 2009 season championship runner-up and is perhaps most-known for being one of Team Penske driver Will Power’s most trusted confidantes.

Davison has also driven sport cars and credits IMSA Prototypes Lites driver and team owner Joel Janco for helping him find sponsorship for IndyCar.

“With the help of Joel and some other gentleman drivers, I was able to secure enough sponsorship to test and now run for Dale Coyne Racing at Mid-Ohio,” Davison told the Detroit Free Press. “It might be four years too late, but late is better than never.”