Indy 500 loses late entry as car count confirmed for 2021

There are 35 cars, not 36, on the entry list for the 105th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this month.

With the confirmation of Top Gun Racing’s IndyCar debut with RC Enerson behind the wheel of the #75 Chevrolet for the 105th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it looked as though this year’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” would see 36 cars attempt to qualify for the 33 spots on the starting grid.

A total of 36 cars would be tied for the largest entry list for this 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) oval in Speedway, Indiana since the 2011 saw 41, as the 2019 race also saw 36 cars attempt to qualify.

However, there are just 35 cars on the entry list for this year’s running of the race, as one car that was thought to be confirmed was withdrawn late.

That car is the #52 Honda of Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing.

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This ride never had a confirmed driver, however. It was Cody Ware’s to lose after testing it multiple times over the offseason, but he needed sponsorship to make it happen and could not secure it. The full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver and son of team owner Rick Ware has yet to make his IndyCar debut.

So Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing will field only the #51 Honda for oval driver Pietro Fittipaldi in this race. Fittipaldi has not yet competed in an Indy 500. Dale Coyne Racing’s other car, the #18 Honda, is fielded in partnership with Vasser-Sullivan and driven full-time by Ed Jones, who finished in third place in his Indy 500 debut driving for Dale Coyne’s team back in 2017.

With 35 cars on the entry list for this year’s Indy 500, we will ultimately see two drivers who attempt to qualify fail to do so. This marks the third time in the last four years for which there will be multiple drivers bumped to set the 11 rows of three ahead of the green flag.

Practice for the 105th running of the Indy 500 is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, May 18 before qualifying on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23. The race itself is set to be broadcast live from Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on NBC.