Dale Coyne Racing to carry Busch’s No. 18 livery at Indianapolis 500

Dale Coyne Racing to carry Busch's No. 18 livery at Indianapolis 500

Dale Coyne Racing will display the No. 18 livery associated with the late Kyle Busch’s NASCAR Cup Series career on its entry at the 110th Indianapolis 500, a tribute conceived by Fox Sports IndyCar commentator Townsend Bell and facilitated with the cooperation of Joe Gibbs Racing, which holds the trademark on the number.

Busch used the No. 18 for 15 years during his tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing, winning both of his NASCAR Cup Series championships under that number. The car became widely identified with the team’s M&M’s-sponsored paint schemes and is regarded by much of the sport’s fanbase as the most recognisable number of his career. Busch died at the age of 41, prompting tributes across motorsport. He never competed in the Indianapolis 500 or in the IndyCar Series, though he accumulated significant success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in NASCAR competition.

The Dale Coyne Racing entry carrying the tribute livery is the No. 18 Honda driven by Romain Grosjean. The alignment of car numbers between the two series made the tribute a natural fit, and Bell’s idea required JGR’s formal sign-off given trademark protections around the number.

Grosjean will start Sunday’s race from 24th position on the grid. The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled as the centrepiece of the Memorial Day weekend racing calendar and is one of the longest-standing events in global motorsport.