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IndyCar: 2019 Indianapolis 500 entry list update; where do things stand?

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Marco Andretti, driver of the #98 U.S. Concrete / Curb Honda leads a pack of cars during the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Marco Andretti, driver of the #98 U.S. Concrete / Curb Honda leads a pack of cars during the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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With just over five weeks to go until the 2019 Indianapolis 500, where do things stand in regard to the entry list for IndyCar’s most prestigious race?

On Saturday, March 9, one day before the 2019 IndyCar season started with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, the 33rd driver was confirmed on the entry list for this year’s running of the Indianapolis 500.

James Davison became the 33rd confirmed driver for the 103rd running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana when Dale Coyne Racing confirmed him as the driver of the #33 Honda.

But that was six weeks ago now.

To this day, the 32-year-old Australian remains the most recently confirmed driver for this year’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

As far as the entry list and potential updates to that entry list between now and next month when Indy 500 practice is scheduled to kick off, where do things stand?

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It still looks as though this year’s Indy 500 will be the first Indy 500 with more than 35 drivers on the entry list since 41 drivers were on the entry list for the 95th running of the race back in 2011. The entry list for last year’s Indy 500 featured 35 drivers, the highest driver total for the race since 2011.

Juncos Racing recently confirmed that they will field the #32 Chevrolet in this race, although they did not confirm who the driver of that car will be. Kyle Kaiser is the most likely candidate at this point. J.R. Hildebrand pretty much has a ride solidified, likely with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing like he did last year, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports are set to field a third car for this race as well, likely for Oriol Servia, while questions remain regarding whether or not Harding Steinbrenner Racing will field a second car, the #8 Honda, after they had to drop the #8 Honda as a full-time entry before the season started.

There is also still a slim possibility that Andretti Autosport will add a sixth car to their driver lineup for this race, but that possibility gets slimmer by the day.

With all things considered, the entry list for this year’s Indy 500 is still slated to feature 36 or 37 drivers with the slim possibility of a 38th being added. With practice for this race, which is the sixth of 17 races on this year’s IndyCar schedule, scheduled to get underway in just over three weeks, expect more driver confirmations to be made in the very near future.

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The 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 26, and it is set to be broadcast live from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on NBC beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.