IndyCar: 4 cars that could be added to the Indy 500

The Indy 500 entry list is slowly but surely coming together, and there could end up being as many as 36 IndyCar drivers on it by the time May rolls around.

Following Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing’s confirmation of rookie Sting Ray Robb behind the wheel of the No. 51 Honda for the full 2023 IndyCar schedule, there are 32 confirmed entries for the 107th running of the Indy 500.

This announcement followed Chip Ganassi Racing’s confirmation of Takuma Sato behind the wheel of the No. 11 Honda for the oval races and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s confirmation of rookie Agustin Canapino behind the wheel of the No. 78 Chevrolet for the full season.

In addition to the 27 full-time entries, there are five confirmed part-time entries at five different teams for this year’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”: Andretti Autosport (Marco Andretti), Arrow McLaren (Tony Kanaan), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports (Stefan Wilson), Ed Carpenter Racing (Ed Carpenter), and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (driver TBD).

Which other entries could be added? Here’s a look at four.

Possible Indy 500 additions: No. 1 – Chip Ganassi Racing

Chip Ganassi Racing’s four full-time entries all have confirmed drivers for the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Speedway, Indiana, but there could still be a fifth.

Jimmie Johnson made his Indy 500 debut with the team last year as a full-time driver. While he isn’t returning to the series full-time in 2023, the door is still open for him to return to the Indy 500 in a fifth entry.

Team owner Chip Ganassi Racing is reportedly waiting on Johnson to make his decision, with primary sponsor Carvana presumably able to make it happen if needed.

Even if Johnson doesn’t return, could the team field a fifth entry in an effort to win the race for the second straight year?