IndyCar teams come to terms on the series' first-ever charter sale, which shakes up the grid for 2027
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Set to Return to Full‑Time IndyCar Competition After Charter Purchase
By Maine News Now Staff
IndyCar’s 2027 grid will look notably different after Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) agreed to sell one of its three charters to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR). The deal, announced Wednesday, marks the first-ever transfer of a charter since the series introduced the ownership model in 2024 and will see DRR rejoin the full‑time field for the first time since 2012.
Under the agreement, RLL will scale back from a three‑car operation to a two‑car program, while DRR will field a single entry. The transaction is pending final approval from IndyCar officials.
“This is a partnership between two organizations that want to see each other succeed,” said DRR CEO Derek Reinbold in a statement. He thanked RLL co‑owners Bobby Rahal, Mike Lanigan, David Letterman and IndyCar president Jay Frye for what he described as a collaborative approach from the outset. “They treated this as a partnership… and this announcement today reflects that,” Reinbold added.
The sale comes just weeks after the death of DRR founder and longtime owner Dennis Reinbold, who passed away on June 13. The acquisition is seen as a tribute to his legacy, bringing the team back to a year‑round presence after years of focusing primarily on the Indianapolis 500.
DRR last contested a full IndyCar season in 2012. In recent years, the squad has become a regular qualifier for the Indy 500, entering two cars for Conor Daly and Jack Harvey in this year’s race.
RLL’s current lineup includes the No. 15 Honda piloted by Graham Rahal, the No. 35 Honda driven by Louis Foster, and the No. 47 entry of rookie Mick Schumacher. According to Fox Sports insider Bob Pockrass, Rahal and Foster are both under contract for the 2027 season, while Schumacher’s future remains uncertain. That uncertainty has sparked speculation that the young German driver could be the odd man out.
Schumacher, however, offered a more optimistic outlook after notching a season‑best result at Nashville. “I feel there’s a high chance I’ll be on the grid in 2027,” he told Pockrass after the race.
The charter shift is occurring amid one of IndyCar’s most active “silly seasons” in recent memory. Even Christian Lundgaard—a two‑time winner currently sitting fifth in the championship standings—is reportedly searching for a new ride for next year.
The sale is expected to be ratified by IndyCar’s board of directors within the coming weeks. Until then, both teams will continue to operate under their current configurations while final paperwork is completed.
