Romain Grosjean No. 18 Indy Car to be stylized to pay tribute to late Kyle Busch’s NASCAR during Indy 500 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kyle Busch’s sudden death at age 41 last week has resulted in countless tributes in the motorsports world, with many honoring the life of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. That will continue at the 2026 Indy 500.
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Dale Coyne Racing is set to help memorialize Busch, with Romain Grosjean planning to drive a No. 18 car that will pay homage to the late NASCAR star.
With help from FOX commentator and former racer Townsend Bell, FOX Sports, and JGR, Busch’s former No. 18 will be seen on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Here’s how Dale Coyne Racing and Grosjean are honoring Busch in the Indy 500.
MORE: Reactions, tributes from sports world honoring Kyle Busch
Coyne Racing pays special tribute to Kyle Busch
On Saturday night, Sports Business Journal reporter Adam Stern reported that after Bell came up with the idea, Dale Coyne Racing was officially able to execute on bringing Busch’s former No. 18 to the Indy 500.
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Busch drove with the No. 18 from 2008 through the 2022 NASCAR Cup season and had 56 of his 63 Cup wins with the number, per Motorsport.
Dale Coyne Racing is also changing the No. 18 font on Grosjean’s 2026 Indy 500 car to mirror the font formerly used by Busch.
Bell also shared a message to social media, with his idea to honor Busch coming to life:
Who is Romain Grosjean?
Grosjean is making his fourth Indy 500 appearance in 2026, also with 181 Formula 1 races throughout his career. He qualified 24th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 18 DCR Honda, with his best past finish in the race being 19th in 2024.
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Grosjean will have a stylized No. 18 on his car in a font to honor Busch’s former NASCAR number during Sunday’s race.
What happened to Kyle Busch?
Busch died at age 41 on Thursday after being hospitalized with a “severe illness,” as his family initially announced.
On Saturday, the Busch family released a statement that said a medical evaluation concluded that Busch’s “severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” per Jeff Gluck.
MORE: Everything known about illness that led to Kyle Busch’s death
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