DRR/Cusick sets Indy 500 line-up with Hunter-Reay and Harvey
12/04/2024 10:00 AM
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with Cusick Motorsports will field a two-car effort for the Indianapolis 500 featuring 2014 race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and seven-time Indy 500 starter Jack Harvey.
It marks Hunter-Reay’s third month of May with the team, and for Harvey, it's a reunion of sorts with former Andretti Global driver Hunter-Reay after Harvey spent three Indy 500s as a satellite teammate through Meyer Shank Racing's technical alliance with Andretti.
The pairing of Hunter-Reay and Harvey is the third different line-up in as many years: the Dennis Reinbold-led team entered Hunter-Reay and Stefan Wilson in 2023, Hunter-Reay and Conor Daly in 2024, and now Harvey alongside the 2012 NTT IndyCar Series champion.
"We’re excited about Jack from the standpoint of we feel like he can prove a lot and hasn't had had his best outcome yet for the 500," Reinbold told RACER. "We like his competitiveness and how he goes about racing. We want to win, and we are very clear and on the same page with that respect.
“With Ryan, that goes without saying. We’ve had some circumstances that have happened over the last two runs with Ryan that just didn’t give us a shot to be there at the end. But we’ve had the speed and had a good car, and he’s proven that he can drive the thing like the champion he is. So we’re excited about getting it right and getting all aspects of the race to fall into place. We think both guys can win it and we’re going in with a bit of a chip on our shoulder, as we typically do, because it’s a tall task to just do that race."
The driver nicknamed "Captain America" loves what's in motion.
"Thrilled to be back with this talented group for the third consecutive year following our strong 2024 performance," Hunter-Reay said. "Qualifying in the Fast 12 as the sole Indy-only program was a tremendous accomplishment and collectively we've been working hard to return in even better form. Looking forward to again teaming up with Jack Harvey; we'll be working together to contribute to our goal of fighting for a win at Indy."
Harvey's best Indy 500 came with MSR in 2020, when he qualified 20th and finished ninth. After signing a part-time deal with Dale Coyne Racing in 2024 that focused on road and street courses, the Briton missed the Indy 500 and relishes the chance to return.
Harvey’s looking forward to taking care of unfinished business at the Speedway. James Black/IMS Photo
"I am absolutely over the moon to get the opportunity to qualify and hopefully compete in the 109th Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Dennis, his partners, and the entire team. I'm really looking forward to working with RHR again. Ryan has always been really generous with his time and knowledge; I know we'll have a great month together.
"This is also the first time in my IndyCar career that I'll get to work with Chevrolet, which is pretty exciting."
For Cusick, the relationship with DRR is a fulfilling collaboration.
"Cusick Motorsports looks forward to our fifth Indy 500 and especially our third in a row with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing," Don Cusick said. "We have made great strides as a team, including a Fast 12 qualifying slot with Ryan and a top-10 finish with Conor that came with leading the race for 24 laps in the 2024 race.
"For 2025 we are super excited to welcome back Ryan and also bring in Jack Harvey, both IndyCar veterans with the experience and ability to win the race. Always, we are super grateful to Dennis Reinbold, Brett DeBord, Chase Selman and the entire DRR crew and staff for letting us be a part of the Greatest Spectacle on Earth."
