"For the near future, it's not an issue at all" - Dennis Reinbold addresses charter system's potential impact on DRR's 2025 Indy 500 participation

NTT IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix - Source: Getty
NTT IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix - Source: Getty

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s owner Dennis Reinbold has come out and addressed the effect of the charter system on his team’s 2025 Indy 500 participation and the future. IndyCar introduced the idea of the charter system in 2023. After negotiations with the 10 full-season teams, the agreement was signed earlier this year.

Dennis Reinbold was featured on the Divebomb YouTube channel for episode 84 of the IndyCar podcast. The host asked the DRR owner about the implications of the charter system for his team. Reinbold replied:

“I don't think there’s any implication of the charter situation for the Indy 500 for the next two years. Obviously we’re pointing at 2027 as a bit of a reset. There’s going to be new cars, new engine programs coming in and we want to look towards being part of that. And so at that point in time charter becomes an issue but for the near future, for the next two years it’s not an issue at all at Indy.” (10:44 onwards)
“They have said that they are not going to carry it over to Indy which I appreciate and hope that continues long term, no matter what. Indy was basically founded on the fastest 33 go out and race each other and we see what we have. May the best man or woman win is kind of how it is. So I like the purity of that and the history and nostalgia of that,” he added.
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As per the charter system, 25 charters (one for each entrant) have been divided amongst the 10 permanent teams depending on the number of full-time cars run by them over the last 2 years. The charter guarantees a place to all 25 entrants on the IndyCar calendar except for the Indy 500.

Like Dennis Reinbold mentioned the Indy 500 has about 33 of the fastest cars from qualifying battling it out on the race day. Multiple teams including DRR only participated in the Indy 500 event. Hence for Indy, the charter rule doesn't apply, i.e. it doesn't guarantee the top teams a spot on the Indy 500 grid.

Dennis Reinbold reveals DRR’s preparations for the 2025 Indy 500

DRR raced in IndyCar as a full-season entrant until they withdrew midway through the 2013 season following the lack of sponsorship. Since then, DRR has become an IndyCar 500 entrant only. As a result, the team can focus solely on the race at the superspeedway throughout the offseason.

NTT IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix - Qualifying - Source: Getty
NTT IndyCar Series GMR Grand Prix - Qualifying - Source: Getty

Speaking about the 2025 preparations, Dennis Reinbold said:

“So we don't take that lightly and we work really hard in the off-season. We've been working really hard. Ryan (Hunter-Reay) alluded to it earlier. From our test, we figured out where are some deficiencies we have as a team and we have to absolutely attack the new hybrid system and figure out how that's going to impact our setups and it's going to impact everyone equally.” ( 11:50 onwards)
“So whoever figures out that out the best is going to have the better chance of coming out on top. So we dedicated our resources pretty much full-time. We've worked hand in hand with Chevy, our partner since the end of the race last year. We've worked with them. They put their neck out to get us as part of that test that we did in October and so we're working with them as well to try to develop,” he added.

DRR has confirmed Jack Harvey and Ryan Hunter-Reay as their drivers for the 2025 Indy 500. However, according to reports, Dennis Reinbold plans on setting his team up to make a full-time return for the 2027 season with the new chassis and the powertrain.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar
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