Ed Jones is returning to the NTT IndyCar Series with the team that he started with. Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan announced today that the 2017 Rookie of the Year will take over the No. 18 SealMaster Honda for the full season. Jones has 47 career starts in the series. He spent 2017 with Coyne, 2018 with Ganassi, and 2019 with Ed Carpenter Racing doing the non-oval races. The 25-year old has three career podiums, with his first coming in his Indianapolis 500 debut.

While much of his success came in his rookie season with Coyne, things didn’t take off with Ganassi the way he had hoped. The 2016 Indy Lights champion crashed at Indianapolis and finished 31st and finished 13th in the championship standings. Jones qualified 4th with ECR in his most recent Indy 500 and finished 13th in the race. During today’s media availability, Coyne stated that he is hoping to announce their second driver next week. The full press release from today is below.

[Dale Coyne Racing Press Release]

Dale Coyne, Jimmy Vasser, and James “Sulli” Sullivan announced today that Ed Jones will drive the No.18 car, co-entered by Dale Coyne Racing and Vasser Sullivan Racing for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season.

The team also announced that, for the fourth consecutive season, the car will carry primary sponsorship support from SealMaster Pavement Products and be entered as the No. 18 Team SealMaster-Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan Honda.

“I’m really excited to join the Coyne Vasser Sullivan team for the 2021 NTT IndyCar season,” said Jones. “I started my IndyCar career with Dale, Jimmy and Sulli have had much success as owners together, and the combination of Coyne, Vasser Sullivan is a proven team over the last 3 seasons. I’m pumped for the opportunity to drive the #18 SealMaster machine and represent the SealMaster franchisees across the country, this really is the perfect opportunity.”

Jones is the 2017 IndyCar Rookie of the Year and was the top rookie finisher in the 2017 Indianapolis 500, placing third. He is also the 2016 Indy Lights Champion. Jones has made 47 IndyCar starts earning 14 top-10 finishes including three podium performances, the third at Indy in 2017, and third at Long Beach and Detroit Race 2 in 2018. Jones, 25, was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (of British citizenship) and currently resides in Miami, Florida.

“We’re very happy to have Ed Jones back with us and back in the NTT IndyCar Series this season,” said team owner Dale Coyne. “We were sad to see him leave after his first time with us but we’ve kept in touch since. Ed had a great rookie season at DCR in 2017, which included our best finish of third at the Indianapolis 500. Now with DCVS, we hope to continue where we left off with him and look forward to a strong season.”

“We’re full steam ahead having Ed Jones join us, and taking over the driver responsibilities for the No. 18 Team SealMaster machine,” said co-owner James Sullivan. “Ed has had some big moments in IndyCar, and we expect you’ll see some big moments with us together in 2021.”

The NTT IndyCar Series will kick off the 2021 season on April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park.