Pippa Mann sets sights on 100th Indy 500

Pippa Mann is aiming to be on the grid for next May’s Indy 500, but admits that there are financial hurdles to overcome before she can be sure of having a car to qualify.

Mann, who has 13 IndyCar starts to her name, including four “500s”, told Motorsport.com: “I have a few smaller partners already working with me, and the interest level in me and the 100^th seems the best it’s ever been on the money-hunting side, so that’s a good sign, hopefully.”

After a race each with Conquest Racing and then Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing back in 2011, Mann has since become synonymous with Dale Coyne Racing. For the past two editions of the Indy 500, her car has run the colors of Susan G. Komen, America’s largest breast cancer foundation. However, since Komen is a non-profit organization, it’s become known that Dale Coyne himself has provided much of the funding for the entry.

Said Mann: “I wouldn’t begin to speculate about what Dale’s plans are for 2016, but I will continue to partner with Komen and raise money for them in whatever ways I can. I will still run a pink helmet, and I plan on running another Get Involved campaign to raise money.”

That campaign, which saw fans donate for every lap Mann completed in the Indy 500, raised some $50,000 for the charity last year.

“I know Dale likes the program and supports the cause, so that’s encouraging,” said the 32-year-old. “Let’s put it this way, my number one priority is to put a car with my name on it into that race. If I find enough like-minded partners to provide the backing to make it happen, I’d say the chances of keeping the car pink [Susan G Komen color] seems high.”

Last season, Coyne ran seven drivers in his two cars, and notably chose to run Mann on all the ovals, despite no outside sponsorship for her car post-Indy. That provided her with the opportunities to post the best finishes of her career, taking 13th-place finishes at Texas Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway.