For 2017, it was announced that Sébastien Bourdais would drive the No. 18 car, to be joined by engineers Craig Hampson, who he won his 4 Champ Car titles with at Newman-Haas Racing and Olivier Boisson, who he won races with at KVSH Racing. In addition, 2016 Indy Lights champion Ed Jones would drive the No. 19 car. The team had early success to start the season with Bourdais winning at St. Petersburg and finishing second at Long Beach and holding an early season points lead, while Jones was 7th in points after two races after back to back top ten finishes. After a moderately successful race at Barber Motorsports Park, however, Bourdais' fortunes began to turn sour, as early retirements plagued the No. 18 both at Phoenix and the Indianapolis road course. Bourdais' season then came to a sudden end during qualifying for the Indy 500, where a severe accident left him with multiple pelvic fractures and a fractured hip. James Davison was hired as a last-minute replacement for the 500. Ex-F1 driver Esteban Gutiérrez was then signed to drive the car until Bourdais' return (at Gateway after a rapid recovery), with the exception of the Texas round where Tristan Vautier returned to the team. Jones would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors on the strength of his 3rd place finish at the Indy 500, but would depart for Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the year.