Written by Archie O'Reilly
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) have confirmed that current Haas F1 Team test and reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will drive the No.30 car for the team in 2024. The Brazilian made nine starts for Dale Coyne Racing across 2018 and 2021, with highlights of 11th-place at Gateway and ninth-place at Portland.
Jack Harvey was dropped from the seat ahead of the final three races of the season after struggling to find the level he achieved at Meyer Shank Racing, with Conor Daly stepping in at World Wide Technology Raceway and Juri Vips covering the final two races.
Despite Vips qualifying a creditable seventh-place at Laguna Seca, and helping the team to get the No.30 entry into the Leaders' Circle, RLL have opted to turn to a driver with slightly more IndyCar experience. Fittipaldi is also a multi-time open-wheel championship winner as well as race-winner in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The 27-year-old, who is the grandson of 1989 IndyCar champion and two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, initially made six starts in IndyCar in a 2018 season broken up by breaking both legs in a crash during a WEC race at Spa. He then competed in three oval races amid Romain Grosjean's road and street-only programme in 2021. Next season will mark his first full-time drive.
"It’s an honor to join a team of the calibre of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing," Fittipaldi says. "With the experience I’ve gained over the last few years in F1 and other racing series, I am looking forward to the challenge of racing in IndyCar, one of the most competitive and versatile racing series in the world." Bobby Rahal adds: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to have Pietro join RLL as the driver of the No. 30 car. He has had previous experience in IndyCar in doing partial seasons with Dale Coyne Racing and impressively qualifying 13th at Indianapolis in 2021.
"I got to meet him then and since that time he has worked hard to become the reserve driver for Haas F1’s team. And from our discussions, I have been impressed with the maturity and experience that he will now bring to our program. I look forward to seeing what he can do over a full season of IndyCar competition in 2024."
RLL saw a significant upturn in form on road courses, and to some extent street courses, through 2023, but their oval form still needs improvement. They will hope that some encouraging oval outings from Fittipaldi during his initial stints in IndyCar will help to elevate the team as he joins Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal.