Pippa Mann will drive for Conquest Racing at this year's Indianapolis 500, the team announced on Tuesday. The British driver will join Sebastian Saavedra to complete the team's lineup for the race. She will make her IndyCar Series race debut at the wheel of the No. 36 car.
Mann, the only woman to have secured a pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway thanks to last year's top spot in the Freedom 100, had tested for the team in March.
"Having the chance to compete in the Indy 500 is something that we have been working extremely hard to bring to fruition over the winter," she said. "I tested with Conquest Racing earlier this year and given how well that test went, we have since been working tirelessly to put this deal together. The past few months have been a roller-coaster ride for me, and I'm just thrilled that we're now able to tie things up.
"There are a lot of entries for the race this year, so it's a somewhat interesting time to be a rookie, but my qualifying record on superspeedways is good and I'm definitely up for the challenge. For obvious reasons, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of my favorite ovals, so I can't wait to get out there in the 36 car and see what we can achieve."
Mann moves up to the IZOD IndyCar Series after finishing in fifth position in last year's Indy Lights series. She is the fourth woman confirmed for the Indy 500 alongside Danica Patrick, Simona de Silvestro and Ana Beatriz.
A total of 42 entries have been confirmed for the 100th anniversary race of the Indy 500, vying for the 33 available grid slots.