How and why IndyCar wants to reach 33 entries for the Indy 500

On paper, one might think that 33 is ultimately just a number. And the facts would seem to support this interpretation. After all, whether there are 32 or 33 cars on the starting grid on May 24th for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 wouldn't make a significant difference to the quality of the event offered to the 350,000 fans in attendance, and to the millions watching the race on television worldwide.

However, you don't achieve iconic status in motorsport and a 110th edition by doing things halfway. Among the aspects that make Indianapolis so special are its many traditions. The line of bricks laid across the finish line, a reference to the 4 million bricks laid in 1909, the bottle of milk given to the winner… and the 33 drivers on the starting grid on Memorial Day, a very important holiday in the United States, when Americans pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in various battles.

Indeed, since 1934, the standard practice has been for the Indianapolis 500 to start only the 33 fastest cars from qualifying, arranged in eleven rows of three. While in 1947, only thirty competitors showed up, in protest against a far too low prize purse, the number of 33 has never been reduced since. In 1979 and 1997, amidst regulatory disputes, 35 cars qualified. Since the separation of CART and the Indy Racing League in 1996, some years have been more complicated than others in reaching the target of 33. While 40 drivers were present and attempted to qualify in 2011, the 33rd qualifier for the 2003 Indy 500 only materialized on the morning of the final qualifying session.

On several occasions, and it seems that this will be the case again this year, theIndyCar must work to find one or more teams capable of entering an additional car, simply to avoid what would be seen as a public relations disaster: having "only" 32 cars on the grid. Panther Racing entered a third car at the last minute in 2003, while Cusick Motorsports was able to make its 2022 Indy 500 debut in part because the Speedway needed to reach its 33-car entry limit.

With Andretti confirming that a fourth car (initially planned for Colton Herta) will not be entered, and Prema theoretically withdrawing, the grid remains at 32 entries. Thirty-one are already confirmed, and Abel Motorsports is expected to field a car for Jacob Abel. At Penske Entertainment, it's all hands on deck to find a team capable of fielding a 33rd car for the 110th running of the Indy 500. All signs point to AJ Foyt Racing, which will likely be powered by Chevrolet. Having a technical partnership with Team Penske, the team of the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner is reportedly preparing for the possibility of needing to quickly add a third car. IndyCar can help by slightly reducing entry fees or by assisting the team in assembling a crew of mechanics and engineers.

Honda and Chevrolet, the only two engine manufacturers in IndyCar, are reaching their limit with the 16th and 17th engine supplies they must maintain for May. The presence of a third engine manufacturer, which hasn't materialized since Lotus's departure at the end of 2012, could help alleviate the pressure and increase the number of entries in the Indy 500. The price increases of recent years, which haven't necessarily been accompanied by a significant increase in prize money for teams finishing in the back of the grid, are further factors explaining the difficulty in reaching the 33-entry limit.

While crystal ball gazing isn't our specialty, the history of the Indianapolis 500 allows us to state this with reasonable certainty: there will be 33 qualifiers for the 2026 Indy 500. The question remains: who will be the lucky ones?

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