IndyCar: 33rd driver confirmed for 2021 Indy 500

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing have confirmed that Sage Karam is set to be back with the team for another shot at the Indy 500 for this year’s running of the IndyCar race.

Sage Karam tested for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks ago in preparation for the 105th running of the Indy 500, but it had not yet been confirmed that he would be back behind the wheel of the #24 Chevrolet for another shot at IndyCar‘s greatest race.

Now that news is official.

Karam has competed in each of the last seven editions of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) oval in Speedway, Indiana, and he has done so with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing on all but one occasion, that being in 2015 when he drove for Chip Ganassi Racing.

His entry is set to be fielded through a partnership with 500 Festival Foundation, retail electric service company AES Indiana and fundraising platform Omaze.

Here is what team owner Dennis Reinbold had to say, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"“The 500 Festival is near and dear to me, and the whole team, as we have always admired and supported the work that the non-profit organization does in our community as well as the traditions it upholds for the Indy 500 and the entire month of May.“We are grateful to longtime sponsor WIX Filters for working with us to create a platform to highlight AES Indiana, the AES 500 Festival Parade and the 500 Festival Foundation on our No. 24 car, and not to mention draw attention to the awesome Omaze prize that will benefit the 500 Festival Foundation.”"

The livery of the #24 Chevrolet is set to feature branding from the 500 Festival Foundation, AES 500 Festival Parade, AES Indiana and Omaze.

The 26-year-old Nazareth, Pennsylvania native is the 33rd confirmed driver for next month’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, and his #24 Chevrolet is the 34th confirmed entry.

The #52 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda remains the lone confirmed entry without a confirmed driver. With more than 33 cars on the entry list, bumping is a guarantee for the first time since 2019.

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Karam’s best finish in the Indy 500 is his ninth place effort in his first attempt in 2014. He started that race on the 11th and final row in 31st and made up 22 spots by the time the checkered flag flew. That was unfortunately the only time he finished the race until his 19th place finish in 2019. He finished in 24th last year.

Dreyer & Reinbold have fielded two cars in this race in each of the last three years, but Karam will likely be their only driver for this year’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. J.R. Hildebrand, Karam’s teammate in the event from 2018 to 2020, has already been confirmed as the driver of the #1 Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

There are still expected to be three or four more driver confirmations for this race before practice begins in mid-May.

Indy 500 qualifying is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23. The race itself is set to be broadcast live on NBC from Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 30.