Key facts
- Dennis Reinbold, founder of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, died Saturday at age 65.
- His racing team competed in IndyCar and the Indy 500 for over 25 years.
- The DRR team's best finish in the Indy 500 was fourth place in 2012.
- Reinbold also owned a successful family of automobile dealerships.
- He started DRR in 1999, honoring his family's racing legacy.
Dennis Reinbold, the owner and founder of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR), a team that competed in IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500 for over 25 years, has died at the age of 65. His team and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway confirmed his passing on Sunday, stating he died peacefully surrounded by his family.
Reinbold established DRR in 1999, with the team name honoring his family's racing heritage, including his grandfather Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, who was involved in early Indianapolis racing. The DRR team achieved its best finish in the Indy 500 in 2012, securing fourth place. The team was also in contention in the 2025 race with 31 laps remaining before a driver ran out of fuel. DRR had led the iconic race in four of the last six events and successfully qualified all 53 of its entries.
Beyond his motorsports endeavors, Reinbold was also recognized for building a successful family of automobile dealerships across Indiana and was dedicated to the Indianapolis community. His passion for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the pursuit of an Indy 500 victory fueled his daily efforts. The team expressed a desire to honor Reinbold by striving for a win in the upcoming 111th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing began racing full-time in the IndyCar series in 2000, achieving its sole series victory with Robbie Buhl driving at Walt Disney World. The team also recorded two second-place finishes in 2010 and four third-place finishes between 2001 and 2012, when it last competed full-time in the series. After running only five series races in 2013, DRR shifted its focus exclusively to the Indy 500 from 2014 until last month's race, with a brief return to four IndyCar races in the 2020 season.
Numerous notable drivers have raced for DRR, including two-time Indy 500 champion Al Unser Jr., and Indy 500 winners Buddy Lazier, Buddy Rice, and Simon Pagenaud. Other drivers who have competed for the team include JR Hildebrand, Townsend Bell, Conor Daly, and IndyCar series champion Paul Tracy.