Dreyer & Reinbold Racing schedules full-time IndyCar return for 2027

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) has been a consistent name in the IndyCar paddock, but not as a full-time effort for more than a decade, since the 2012 season. Instead, the organization has focused mostly on solo efforts at the Indianapolis 500 and the occasional one-off and additional races. But the team is aiming for a season-long comeback indycar series 2027, when a new car is expected to be introduced.

During a recent media call, when DRR confirmed jack harvey And Ryan Hunter-Reay As for its Indy 500 lineup for 2025, team owner Dennis Reinbold shared that the goal is to be full-time in North America’s premier open-wheel championship, he said with the arrival of new cars and new engine programs in the 2027 season. Will allow for a new beginning. A game they are eager to be a part of.

“If we’re going to go full-time, this is the time to do it, with everyone starting at ground zero and building from there,” Reinbold said. “That’s what we would like to do. We’ve learned a lot by focusing on the indie program. For us to do it right, that’s the only way we’ll come back and do it full-time in ’27, is to do all the testing we need to be competitive in every discipline.

Motorsport.com asked Reinbold whether the scenario was simply a case of having a clean slate because of the car or also a case of building better infrastructure. The team owner shared that a deeper pool of resources is needed. Overall, there will be a “complete restructuring” of personnel along with the necessary testing.

“Why we didn’t do it is just budget related,” he said. “We don’t have the budget to be able to do a full season, so we just focus on Indy.

We’re looking toward ’27 to try to increase our budget, do it the right way, and bring in additional engineers and testing to really do it the right way. If we can accomplish that, that’s our goal.”

Another element that will come in handy is IndyCar’s newly-implemented charter systemWhich runs till 2031. As things currently stand, 10 teams have fielded 25 entries, with the only exception being Prema, which will field two cars in its debut season in 2025. Any entry under the charter receives a guaranteed starting spot in all IndyCar rounds other than the Indy 500, which is still determined by the fastest 33 qualifiers.

“At that point, the charter becomes an issue,” Reinbold said. “For the foreseeable future or the next two years, this is not an issue in Indy. They have said they won’t be taking it to Indy, which I appreciate and hope that continues for a long time, no matter what. Indy was basically founded on the fastest 33 going out and racing each other, let’s see what we’ve got. May the best man or woman win, that’s just how it is.

“I love the sacredness of it, the history and nostalgia of that aspect of the Indy 500. The traditions in general, it’s a great place to go and be a part of. It’s an honor to be a part of that event.”