Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) is aiming for a full-time return to the IndyCar Series in 2027 when there is expected to be a new car, according to team owner Dennis Reinbold.
The Indiana-based squad has not contested a full campaign since 2012, with DRR now tending to just enter itself for the Indianapolis 500 each year - despite previous hope to land a more regular spot, but that was squashed by COVID-19.
DRR has confirmed Jack Harvey and Ryan Hunter-Reay as its Indy 500 line-up next year, while Reinbold stated that 2027 is the perfect time for a "reset" in North America’s premier open-wheel championship.
“If we're going to go full-time, that's the time to do it, when everybody starts from ground zero and builds from there,” said Reinbold.
“That's what we would want to do. We've learned a lot just focusing on the Indy programme.
"For us to do it the right way, that's the only way we would come back and do it full-time in '27, would be to do all the testing necessary to be competitive in every discipline."
Reinbold added: “Why we haven't done it is just budget-related. We haven't had the budget to be able to do a full season, so we just focus on Indy only.
“We're pointing toward '27 to try to grow our budget, to be able to do it the right way and bring in additional engineers and really do the testing. If we can pull that off, that's our goal.”
IndyCar is aiming for a new, lighter chassis in 2027 alongside a new powertrain. But one element that may affect DRR's plans is the championship's newly-implement charter system, which runs until 2031.
As things currently stand, 10 teams occupy the 25 entries with the only exclusion being Prema, who will field two cars in its debut season next year.
Any entry under the charter receives a guaranteed starting spot in all IndyCar rounds other than the Indy 500, which is still set for the fastest 33 qualifiers.
“At that point in time, the charter becomes an issue,” Reinbold said. “For the near future or for the next two years, it's not an issue at all at Indy.
"They have said they're not going to carry that over to Indy, which I appreciate and hope that that continues long-term no matter what.
"Indy was basically founded on the fastest 33 go out and race each other, we see what we have. May the best man or woman win is kind of how it is.
“I like the purity of that, the history and nostalgia of that aspect of the Indy 500. Just the traditions in general, it's just such a great place to go to and be part of. It's an honour to be part of that.”
