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

Possible Indy 500 additions: No. 4 – Dale Coyne Racing

Unlike A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Dale Coyne Racing haven’t fielded a third Indy 500 in a few years, most recently doing so in 2020. However, they might actually be in a better spot to do so in 2023.

As mentioned on the first slide, the team named rookie Sting Ray Robb as the full-time driver of the Rick Ware Racing-supported No. 51 Honda. David Malukas, the highest finishing rookie in last year’s Indy 500, is set to return for a second year behind the wheel of the HMD Motorsports-supported No. 18 Honda.

Before Robb was confirmed as a full-time driver, there was already talk about the team potentially fielding a third Indy 500 entry. Takuma Sato drove the Rick Ware-supported car full-time in 2022 but stepped back from competing full-time in 2023. The belief was that the team could replace him behind the wheel of the No. 51 Honda and then run a third entry for him in the oval races.

Sato is indeed set to drive in the five oval races on the 2023 calendar, but he is set to do so with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Considering he had a deal with Dale Coyne Racing that was once “99% sure”, could this, coupled with the addition for Robb, signal that the team are no longer keen on fielding a third entry, or could they still field that entry for somebody else?

If the third entry remains on the table, don’t forget about reigning Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist, who drove a Dale Coyne-supported entry for HMD Motorsports in his championship-winning season. He still doesn’t have a ride and could be an ideal candidate for some sort of part-time ride, presumably with support from Henry Malukas’s outfit.

The 105th running of the Indy 500 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 28, with qualifying scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.