IndyCar is a collection that’s rife with household legacy and storied groups that hint again to the times of ‘CART’ previous to the collection that we all know in the present day. In 2026, a deal has been executed that can convey a few new period for a family-owned workforce with ties to Indianapolis for over 40 years.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) is returning to full-time competitors in IndyCar for the primary time since 2012. The workforce introduced in the present day that it has bought an IndyCar Collection constitution from one other family-owned workforce, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. They may discipline a single-car entry starting in 2027.
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Whereas DRR by no means totally ‘left’ the IndyCar series-fielding Indianapolis 500-only entries since 2013 – this will likely be an enormous leap for the workforce and for the collection itself. That is the primary constitution sale since Penske Leisure launched the constitution system in 2025.
The Historical past of Dreyer & Reinbold Paves New Roads for IndyCar
The timing of this announcement is immensely vital to the game, coming only one month after the DRR founder Dennis Reinbold handed away at 65 following a most cancers analysis. His son, Derek Reinbold, now runs the workforce and has made it clear that this $13M leap is one instantly influenced by his father’s legacy.
DRR has technically fielded solely vehicles within the IndyCar Collection since 2000, with their first and solely win at Walt Disney World Speedway in 2000. Nevertheless, their precise historical past spans again to the Nineteen Twenties, when Dennis’ grandfather, Floyd ‘Pop’ Dreyer, constructed race vehicles for the Indianapolis 500.
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That stated, bringing again the workforce to a season-long schedule required shopping for into a brand new system that Dennis Reinbold had wished to be part of from the beginning.
“My dad constructed Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and poured his life into it, and our household has been part of the Speedway for 4 generations. Competing for a full season once more is the truest method we will honor his legacy, and we intend to make him proud.”Derek Reinbold, DRR CEO
Nobody understands that household legacy as a lot as Bobby Rahal and the remainder of the RLL group – Mike Lanigan and David Letterman. Mike added that the best way they approached this constitution sale was as companions who “need to see one another succeed.”
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal (15) sits on the pit wall along with his father, Bobby Rahal, on Saturday, Might 18, 2024, throughout qualifying for the 108th operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. | USA TODAY Community by way of Reuters Join
Bobby Rahal, 3-time CART and 1-time Indianapolis 500 champion, echoed the sentiment from RLL’s aspect.
“Dennis had expressed his curiosity in buying a constitution [before his passing]. We’re happy we have been in a position to full this transaction, and we won’t consider a extra deserving group to obtain the constitution.”Bobby Rahal, RLL Racing
The IndyCar Constitution System
This DRR and RLL transaction was the primary domino to fall within the utilization of the IndyCar constitution system. This technique was launched in 2025, giving 10 groups a complete of 25 charters that assure their entry to each race apart from the Indianapolis 500.
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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was one of many 5 groups that acquired the utmost allotment of three charters. Nevertheless, the workforce’s lack of constant outcomes and funding since this growth in 2022 had made the way forward for the workforce unsure.
This transaction was the primary time that charters have been offered and was a ‘proof level’ for Penske Leisure’s CEO, Mark Miles.
“The system is working as supposed. The constitution system gives groups with a precious asset encouraging their continued funding within the long-term progress of the game whereas additionally offering new possession teams with a transparent pathway into the collection.”Mark Miles, CEO Penske Ent.
Jul 27, 2025; Salinas, California, USA; PREMA Racing driver Callum Ilott (90) in the course of the Monterey Grand Prix at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Necessary Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Pictures | IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Join
Whereas that is the primary time a constitution has been efficiently offered, there’s a historical past of a workforce coming into the collection with out a constitution. Prema Racing competed in the course of the first 12 months of the system in 2025. The two-car workforce would have been in a position to compete with a 27-car restrict at non-500 races, however the funding and precariousness of this association prompted the workforce to tug out in 2026.
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This isn’t a shock to the system, although. The rumored worth of the DRR and RLL constitution sale was $13 million -a reference level for any offers executed sooner or later.
IndyCar Driver Panorama in 2027
The 2027 IndyCar foolish season has already begun with Scott Dixon’s exit from Chip Ganassi and Felix Rosenqvist from Meyer Shank Racing – with . Now, RLL has misplaced a automobile and DRR has gained one.
Basic math says that the third RLL driver who’s left with out a automobile might transfer laterally to the DRR entry. Nevertheless, that’s unlikely to be the case.
Might 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; IndyCar Collection driver Mick Schumacher in the course of the one hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures | IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Join
Because it stands, Graham Rahal, Mick Schumacher, and Louis Foster are the three RLL drivers in 2026. The one strong truth is that Graham Rahal, son of the workforce proprietor, is not going to be the driving force impacted. Not merely due to possession, however as a result of he has dramatically outperformed his youthful teammates in 2026, with three podium finishes and twelfth within the IndyCar standings.
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So, does the workforce select to let their two-year veteran, Louis Foster (18th), or the rookie with unmatched racing pedigree, Mick Schumacher, go? It’s Schumacher’s future that’s presently in query, however the truth stays that this will likely come all the way down to particular person funding dropped at the RLL effort somewhat than outcomes.
As for the Dreyer & Reinbold seat? Conor Daly, a 13-year veteran of the IndyCar collection,is the plain frontrunner. He has not solely run two Indianapolis 500s with Dreyer & Reinbold (2024 and 2026), but additionally raced for the workforce of their Motocross effort in 2023.
Might 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; IndyCar Collection driver Conor Daly (23) in the course of the one hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures | IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Join
The opposite choices for the workforce are former Indianapolis 500 individuals, Jack Harvey (presently Fox Sports activities Pit Lane Reporter) or one of many newly launched McLaren Drivers like Nolan Siegel. The IndyCar world is basically DRR’s oyster.
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IndyCar foolish season continues on, and this constitution is simply the most recent piece to fall within the puzzle that’s the 2027 IndyCar grid.
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