Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to Return to INDYCAR Full-time in 2027
Photo: Joe Skibinski
/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
With the purchase of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s third charter, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on a full-time basis next season. The previously Indianapolis 500-only team last competed in the series full-time in 2012.
According to Derek Reinbold, chief executive officer of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and son of team founder Dennis Reinbold, it is the realization of his late father’s longtime goal. The senior Reinbold passed away in June.
“There are a lot of emotions today. Let me just start with my dad because he spent years working towards this moment.
“He believed this team belonged in the INDYCAR Series full-time, and he never stopped building toward that goal. He and I were talking through this charter purchase right up until he went into the hospital.
“Today is bittersweet. But I know exactly how he'd feel today because this was his vision, and we're really proud to finish what he started.
“For my family, this is the next chapter of a story that goes back nearly a century,” Reinbold continued. “The Dreyer name has been part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since my great grandpa was around, and my dad carried that legacy forward with an entry in every Indianapolis 500 since 2000. Racing at Indy is just who we are, and starting in 2027, I'm excited that we get to live that every race weekend, not just in May.
“For the race team, this is what everybody in our shop has been working towards. I think we've earned this. We haven't competed full time since 2012, and getting to build for a whole season, not just for a month, changes what this team can become.”
Photo: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
For Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal, the relationship with DRR goes back years with much mutual respect.
"I have always had tremendous respect for Dennis Reinbold, both as a fellow team owner and as a fellow automobile dealer. His dedication to INDYCAR and the legacy he built over many years earned the respect of everyone in the paddock.
“As we evaluated the long-term direction of our organization, we made the strategic decision to return our full-time program to two-cars beginning in 2027. We believe this positions our team to be able to maximize our level of competition while allowing us to focus our resources as we prepare for the introduction of the new car.
“Dennis had expressed interest in acquiring a charter from the time the charter program was established, and we had several discussions with him before his passing. We're pleased we were able to complete this transaction, and we can't think of a more deserving organization to receive the charter. It reflects Dennis's longstanding commitment to the sport and helps ensure that legacy continues.”
Details regarding driver and engine supplier, as well as any alliance with an existing INDYCAR SERIES team have yet to be finalized. But team president and chief commercial officer Brett De Bord says DRR has a lot to offer.
“The human side is an integral part of what we do. We have some intellectual property around that place [Indianapolis Motor Speedway]. We've invested over a long period of time in some of the projects and things that Dennis specifically was passionate about and really committed to being really quick at that place and fast at that race. There's some things he invested in that made that happen, and we have a lot of equity in those things, people on the human side and people side but also some parts and pieces and things that we have found speed in.
“In terms of the fit, we offer an organization a lot of data and a lot of know-how and a lot of speed around that place to get around it quick. On a commercial level, too, going fast and performing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the most important thing that we do.
“But on the commercial side, too, to make it happen, we have partners. Not only can we partner with an organization on a technical level or an R&D level, find some efficiencies in people and parts and testing and wind tunnel and all those things, we also have commercial efficiencies. If we need more inventory or they need more inventory, we can partner together.
“I think you've seen another precedent with that with Root Insurance and some of the partners that spill over between CGR [Chip Ganassi Racing] and MSR [Meyer Shank Racing].
“It's not only on a technical level but our commercial operation I'm proud of. That's more my day-to-day. But we offer any organization both those things.”
Photo: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
Veterans Conor Daly and Jack Harvey raced at Indy for the team at Indy this year. With RLL downsizing to two cars next year, will Graham Rahal return? Armed with new personal sponsorship, what about current rookie Mick Schumacher?
As far as who will be DRR’s full-time driver next season, that’s still being decided according to Chase Selmen, team principal and chief operations officer.
“It's simple; we haven't signed another driver yet. We're throwing all the names in a hat that are available, and we'll evaluate each one of them on their own basis.
“Indy is obviously extremely important to us. But the simple facts of the matter is it's about the championship as well now. We've got to make decisions for the team that are going to put us ahead and help us develop not only for next year and do the catch-up program but when the playing field is leveled, if you will, with the new car, who puts us in the best place for that as well.
“A lot of factors we've got to put into play here. The next several weeks will be just that and deciding who it is.”
For sure, it will be an uphill climb for DRR in 2027. They’re well aware of that. But Reinbold is excited for the challenge and the opportunity.
“Now it's the right time, not just because the charter is available but because it was my dad's ambition that we go full time as soon as possible, get back to full-time racing, make this team a full-time team, and our ambition is to expand the program while obviously retaining the great results that we've had at the Indy 500 year over year.
“I think it's actually an exciting time. We'll have a year to kick the tires before the new cars come out, gain some experience and build towards a sort of long-term fast ability for ourselves.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.