Dale Coyne has made clear his ambition to place Dale Coyne Racing at the heart of Honda’s forthcoming factory programme, declaring that he “would like to be in the game” when the manufacturer activates its works entry in 2028.
Under IndyCar’s new multi-year agreement with engine suppliers, both Honda Racing Corporation US and Chevrolet will each receive a charter aligned with the debut of the series’ next-generation chassis and power unit in 2028. Crucially, manufacturers may either operate a standalone factory effort or align that charter with an existing team running fewer than three entries.
The Charter Landscape
At present, three Honda-powered organisations — Andretti Global, Chip Ganassi Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing — already field the maximum three charters permitted under current regulations. That leaves only two viable Honda partners for a factory alignment: Dale Coyne Racing and Meyer Shank Racing, each operating two-car programmes.
| Team | Honda-Powered | Current Charters | Eligible for 2028 Factory Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andretti Global | Yes | 3 | No |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Yes | 3 | No |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Yes | 3 | No |
| Meyer Shank Racing | Yes | 2 | Yes |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Yes | 2 | Yes |
Coyne acknowledges the competitive reality. Honda Racing Corporation US President David Salters has already confirmed discussions with Meyer Shank Racing, a team with which Honda — under its Acura banner — shares an established factory relationship in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“I know they’ve got a relationship with Meyer Shank in sports cars, so that’s pretty solid,” Coyne conceded. “But we’d love to be able to do something with them in the future.”
Strengthening the Case
Coyne believes his organisation is better positioned than ever. For 2026, the team has forged a technical alliance with Andretti Global, while Meyer Shank Racing benefits from engineering support via Chip Ganassi Racing. Meanwhile, Coyne has reinforced his own technical structure: veteran engineer Michael Cannon continues to oversee rookie Dennis Hauger’s programme, and former IndyCar Vice President of Competition and Race Engineering Bill Pappas has joined to guide Romain Grosjean’s No. 18 Honda entry.
Coyne’s message to Honda is simple: maintain momentum and demonstrate consistency. “They’re happy with what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re more serious about this than ever.”
However, Honda has now clarified its direction. Chuck Schifsky confirmed that the manufacturer has chosen to pursue its 2028 charter entry in partnership with Meyer Shank Racing, citing the success of their existing IMSA collaboration — particularly the factory-supported No. 93 Acura GTP operation run with significant HRC US involvement.
While respectful of Coyne’s achievements and recent resurgence, Honda appears set on continuity. Nevertheless, with two seasons remaining before the 2028 rules cycle begins, the political and competitive landscape may yet evolve.
For Coyne, the ambition remains clear: ensure his team’s performances make it impossible to overlook when the next era of IndyCar truly begins.
