Jack Harvey is set to return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2025 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, a team renowned for its singular focus on the prestigious event. Having competed with multiple teams over the years, Harvey is enthusiastic about the opportunity and holds high regard for the team’s commitment to excellence.
Harvey on Dreyer & Reinbold’s competitive edge
Speaking to the media including Pit Debrief in preparation for the new season, Harvey expressed admiration for Dreyer & Reinbold’s preparation and competitiveness.
They have consistently made the field at the 500, and the team has been genuinely competitive. Sage Karam finishing P7 in 2021 reflects that. Ryan Hunter-Reay qualified P12 last year, outpacing Alex Palou and Scott Dixon in the process.
“I mean, just generally how competitive they are. They always come and everything always looks really well prepared. Obviously, they’ve always been very fast. Then you go to the race shop and it’s exactly the same way.
“This is just the standard of racing that everybody at Dreyer & Reinbold hold themselves to, and they might only be in the 500 right now, but it’s a team that operates as high a level as I’ve been a part of. So whether they did the whole season or just one race, you just know that they have a basic standard they hold themselves to, and I feel very lucky to be a part of a program like that.”
Reinhold’s passion for the event
Harvey also highlighted team owner Dennis Reinbold’s deep-rooted passion for the Indy 500 and its impact on the team’s culture.
“Yeah, honestly, it’s really cool when you go to the shop, just the amount of memorabilia, genuine memorabilia that he has,” he explained.
“I don’t want to get in trouble because I don’t know how much of it is meant to be had and how much he promotes, but there are some really cool things there. So then when you see how he runs his race team and also his car dealerships and everything, Dennis clearly just has a standard that he holds himself to, which is really cool.
“But then when you see his passion for the speedway, and then you start talking to him about just the events that I’ve been a part of and what he remembers and then how far back that knowledge goes. I mean, Dennis in his heart really is just a huge race fan, as well, and a huge advocate for the Indy 500 and really a lot of things in Indiana.”
Belief in the team’s winning potential
This passion is a driving force behind the team’s consistent performances at the event, and Harvey believes Dreyer & Reinbold has what it takes to contend for victory.
“I think that’s the biggest thing when I went and met with Dennis, straight away he wanted to see what my passion was for winning,” remarked Harvey.
“I wanted to see what his was for winning, because obviously, you see these people and you have a lot of respect for them as competitors, but we hadn’t met in person or spent a lot of time together.
“Our first conversation was just very good in the sense of we just were aligned on everything that you’d want to be aligned on. Some of the guys that go full-time say just focusing on Indy is an advantage. I have no idea if it is or it isn’t. I think you could make a strong case either way that there are aspects that that singular focus probably does free up some time and resources to focus on it.”
Teaming up with Ryan Hunter-Reay
Having been teammates with Ryan Hunter-Reay before, Harvey is looking forward to working closely with the former Indy 500 winner. With enthusiasm, he said, “I would say what’s going to be different about this coming year is perhaps it’s a bit more intimate. It’s just the two of us, whereas before it’s been a part of a very large team. I’m going to be leaning on him a little bit more, a little bit closer.
“He’s [Ryan Hunter-Reay] always been very open with his feedback, very happy to try and help, because at the end of the day, he knows that helping me is also going to be pushing him, which helps just elevate the entire team, and ultimately that’s what we’re here to do as a single race entrant, I guess.”
Mental shift from full-time racing
Harvey’s focus is entirely on the Indy 500 this season, a stark contrast to his near full-time campaign with Dale Coyne Racing in 2024 and previous campaigns. He reflected on the mental shift required for a single-race programme.
“Not doing the 500 last year, at the start of the season we were just grateful to be racing. I think that gratitude has always got to be a primary feeling and one that you keep very high up your list all the time and very at surface.
“That being said, when you are there in May, and you’re on the starting grid, but you’re not driving, not just for me but also for our partners and our sponsors, that was a bit of — that was a bad moment, really. It was a great moment, but it was a bad moment that we weren’t going to be actually in the race.”
Putting your ego aside and learning
When asked by Pit Debrief about maximising the car’s performance and preparing for the Indy 500, he answered, “I’ve had very good teammates the whole time that I’ve been in INDYCAR racing really. What I’ve learnt really, you always should ask the question.
“I think the best environment I’ve been in is one where you can leave your ego at the door and really just immerse yourself with the team, with the engineers, and just ask. Ask as much as you can.
“In terms of this isn’t the first time that May has been our first race. My first Indy 500 that was the only race we had sorted for that year. However, at this point — it’s not my first 500. I think this is actually going to be No. 8 for me. I think it gives you — you understand what it means on both sides of — a good and a bad month, what that can look like.
“I don’t know if there’s any one thing that really I’m approaching it with other than a super open mind. Happy to have lots of conversations, will ask lots of questions, and will leave my ego at the door, because ultimately all I want to do is put myself in a position to compete the best we can.
“Obviously if winning is on the cards, we’ll go for it, no matter what it takes, and if it was the final lap we’ll do whatever it takes to try and win. But I think it’s more so just the mindset of just complete openness and willingness to learn, and that’s probably my biggest thing heading into 2025 in general.”
A possible full-time comeback
Beyond the Indy 500, Harvey remains open to potential opportunities throughout the season and expressed his readiness to jump in when needed.
“Well, I live in America all year-round, so it kind of makes sense to have my helmet available,” he said. “I’m not targeting anything really before May. That was kind of one thing that me and Dennis had chatted about. If something pops up, then really it’s his call. I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardise the 500 programme.
“But absolutely ready in case something should happen or someone calls to do it. We haven’t got the rest of our 2025 sorted yet. There’s some things that we’ve been obviously working on and trying to put together that isn’t just driving.”
A potential future in broadcasting?
Ultimately, Harvey remains dedicated to his racing career, but he also sees potential in a future role in broadcasting, driven by his love for the sport.
“In my heart, first and foremost, I’m a race fan, and I absolutely love living in America. I love the INDYCAR paddock. If I could drive, then obviously that would be my very primary desire, but if this was a way to still be in this environment and in this industry and in this community, then I wouldn’t see it as a plan B or a — maybe a sidestep, but I would see it as something I would throw myself into and try and do the very best that I could because I love being here and everyone has made me feel very welcome the whole time, and I think I could contribute something kind of insightful to it.”
With his return to the Indy 500 secured, Harvey is preparing for what he hopes will be a strong campaign with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, as he continues to shape his career both on and off the track.
