2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay is set to make a remarkable comeback. He will once again join perennial Indianapolis 500 one-off team Dreyer and Reinbold Racing and Cusick Motorsports for a consecutive third year. With a target on his back to claim his second Borg-Warner Trophy, Hunter-Reay is all set to make his mark.

The Journey Continues - Hunter-Reay's Indy 500 Adventure

Building on Past Progress

Since teaming up with the 500-only team in 2023, Hunter-Reay has shown remarkable growth. Starting 18th in his debut, he worked his way up to 11th. Last year, as one of the three one-off drivers and the only for a wholly 500-only team, he made it to the Fast 12. Qualifying 12th, he ran solidly in the first half but a contact with Scott Dixon on the backstretch sent his No. 23 Chevy into a spin, resulting in a 26th-place finish. His journey showcases his tenacity and determination.The 43-year-old driver has logged three top-10s in the 500 since his 2014 victory over Helio Castroneves. These achievements with Andretti from 2018 to 20 highlight his consistent performance.

New Teammate - Jack Harvey

Jack Harvey, with seven previous runs on the IMS oval including a single top-15 finish in his first full-time season with Meyer Shank Racing in 2020, joins Hunter-Reay at DRR and Cusick Motorsports. After a year away from the 500, he brings valuable experience to the team.The Indy 500 field for 2025 currently has 28 confirmed participants. With as many as 35 entries expected, bumping on qualifying weekend is a likely scenario. Four full-season seats remain open, with at least two and possibly three more one-off 500 entries anticipated.Andretti Global, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have all run extra cars in recent years, and Honda-powered teams remain a likely destination for those seeking one-off rides. Chevy has 18 500 entries, which is the historical limit for both OEMs.Among the 500-only drivers for next May's prospective field are Kyle Larson (Arrow McLaren), Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), and Helio Castroneves (Meyer Shank Racing). Others still looking or yet to be confirmed include Conor Daly, Romain Grosjean, Rinus VeeKay, Linus Lundqvist, Devlin DeFrancesco, Marco Andretti, Katherine Legge, Hunter McElrea, Toby Sowery, Pietro Fittipaldi, Enzo Fittipaldi, Jacob Abel, and Jamie Chadwick.Andretti, with a one-off Indy 500 program for the last four years preceded by a 15-year full-time IndyCar career, now faces an uncertain future with recent leadership changes. His son's return remains unclear.Wednesday's news also indicates the increasing likelihood of Conor Daly's return to an expanded IndyCar schedule. After a midseason split with Ed Carpenter Racing in 2023, he started 29th in his debut with DRR and Cusick Motorsports and managed a 10th-place finish, his third straight and fourth in his last six starts on the IMS oval. With funding from Polkadot and his performance last year, he seems a likely target at Juncos Hollinger Racing.Daly finished the past season filling in for Agustin Canapino in Juncos Hollinger Racing's No. 78 Chevy, achieving three top-15 finishes including a pair of top-10s and the team's first-ever podium in Race 1 at Milwaukee (3rd place). His potential at JHR is significant.