Motorsport news: Who are the Indianapolis 500 one off entries in 2026?

With it being standard practice since 1934 for there to be 33 cars on the Indy 500 grid, additional entries help keep the tradition alive.

They also provide opportunities for specialist teams and drivers, including outfits such as Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Abel Motorsports, to compete on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.

Independent, non chartered teams and drivers are able to take their shot at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, helping preserve the Indy 500’s long standing tradition of open competition.

So, who are the additional entries for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500?

Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler takes a closer look.

Can Helio Castroneves secure a record breaking fifth Indy 500 victory?

Driving the No. 06 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing, Brazil’s Helio Castroneves will compete in the Indianapolis 500 for the 26th time.

Across his previous 25 appearances, Castroneves has led 326 laps and started from pole position four times, in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

If the Brazilian wins the 2026 Indy 500, he will become the first driver in history to claim five victories in the event.

He is currently tied on four wins with racing legends A. J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

Castroneves famously drank the traditional winner’s milk in victory lane after his triumphs in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021.

His most recent Indy 500 appearance came in 2025, where he started 22nd and finished 10th.

Can Takuma Sato win again at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Japanese driver Takuma Sato will compete in the 2026 Indy 500 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, driving the No. 75 Honda.

Sato is a two time Indy 500 winner, having claimed victory in both 2017 and 2020.

He has made 16 starts in the race and led a total of 138 laps.

Sato also became the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar Series race after securing victory at the 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix, before later becoming the first Japanese winner of the Indy 500 in 2017.

In his most recent Indianapolis 500 appearance in 2025, Sato started second and finished ninth.

Who is Arrow McLaren’s additional entry Ryan Hunter Reay?

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren in this year’s race.

The 18 time NTT IndyCar Series race winner has made 17 Indy 500 starts and led 218 laps.

During the 2025 running, Hunter Reay started 25th but finished 21st after completing 177 laps before suffering a mechanical issue.

Which IndyCar team owner continues to race in the Indy 500?

Described by IndyCar as a “staple of the IndyCar paddock”, Ed Carpenter remains the only owner driver in the field.

After more than 23 years in IndyCar competition, Carpenter now races exclusively in the Indianapolis 500.

With pole positions in 2013, 2014 and 2018, Carpenter’s best result in the event was a second place finish in 2018.

He currently shares the record for the most Indy 500 starts without a victory alongside George Snider, a mark he would surpass if he fails to win this year’s event.

In his most recent appearance in 2025, the owner of Ed Carpenter Racing started 14th and finished 15th.

Can Conor Daly claim his first Indy 500 victory?

American racer Conor Daly will compete in the Indianapolis 500 for the 13th time this year.

The driver, who has led 82 laps in the race, will drive the No. 23 Chevrolet for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Daly’s best Indy 500 finish came in 2022 when he placed eighth. He also finished eighth in the 2025 edition after starting 11th.

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Which member of the Fox Sports IndyCar team is racing in the Indy 500?

Fox Sports IndyCar pit reporter Jack Harvey continues to balance broadcasting duties with racing.

The British driver, whose best Indy 500 result was eighth place in 2020, has made eight starts in the event and led three laps.

In his most recent Indy 500 appearance in 2025, Harvey finished 19th after qualifying 26th.

For 2026, Harvey will drive the No. 24 Chevrolet for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Who is the only female driver in the 2026 Indianapolis 500?

Driving the No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports in partnership with AJ Foyt Racing, British racer Katherine Legge will compete in her fifth Indianapolis 500.

Her best finish came in 2022 when she placed 22nd.

Legge also holds the record for the fastest qualifying speed by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 after averaging 231.070 mph across four laps during qualifying in 2023, according to Guinness World Records.

Her most recent Indy 500 appearance came in 2024, where she started 31st and finished 29th following mechanical trouble.

Which additional entry is an Indy 500 rookie?

Jacob Abel, racing for his father Bill Abel’s team Abel Motorsports, will drive the No. 51 Chevrolet.

The 2026 edition will mark the American’s Indy 500 debut.

Abel progressed through the IndyCar development ladder and competed in the Indy NXT by Firestone series in 2024 with his family run team before making his IndyCar debut in 2025 with Dale Coyne Racing.

How have the additional entries performed in practice so far?

In IndyCar oval racing, lap performance is measured by average speed in miles per hour.

The opening Indy 500 practice session on Tuesday, May 12 produced the following results among the additional entries:

Conor Daly was the highest placed of the additional entrants, finishing third overall with an average speed of 225.838 mph, just 0.0174 behind session leader Alex Palou.

Jack Harvey was the second highest placed of the additional entries in 11th with a best average speed of 223.743 mph.

Takuma Sato finished 14th with an average speed of 223.426 mph.

Helio Castroneves placed 15th overall after recording a speed of 223.332 mph.

Ed Carpenter finished 16th with a best average of 223.297 mph.

Indy 500 rookie Jacob Abel ended the session 17th overall with a speed of 223.155 mph.

Ryan Hunter Reay finished 29th after posting an average speed of 221.037 mph.

Katherine Legge was 33rd overall with a best speed of 218.304 mph.

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When does the action continue?

The Indianapolis 500 practice schedule runs from May 12 through to May 22, with six further practice sessions still to take place.

Qualifying for the race will be held between May 16 and May 17.

The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24.

Could one of the additional entries spring a surprise?

While the full time IndyCar stars remain favourites, the Indianapolis 500 has a long history of unexpected stories and emotional victories.

With experienced names, former winners and ambitious underdogs all joining the field, the additional entries could once again play a major role in one of motorsport’s greatest events.

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