INDIANAPOLIS — It was never really in doubt that there would be 33 entries for the 106th Indianapolis 500 because Roger Penske’s senior management team was more than confident it would happen.
Their confidence has been rewarded, thanks to Cusick Motorsports, DragonSpeed, A.J. Foyt Racing and driver Stefan Wilson. The four joined forces to field the No. 25 Chevrolet entry in the May 29 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The partnership has been widely speculated in the IndyCar paddock in recent weeks and was officially announced Thursday morning.
It combines two teams that have independently competed at the Indianapolis 500 recent years. Cusick Motorsports brings the business-to-business acumen while DragonSpeed, one of the world’s most active sports car teams, returns to the Indy 500.
The Chevrolet engine and chassis will be provided by A.J. Foyt Racing.
It would be Wilson’s fourth Indy 500 start and his second straight with Cusick Motorsports.
LOHLA SPORT will be the primary sponsor with co-primary partner Sierra Pacific Windows. GNARLEY Premium Cut Jerky has been added as a major associate sponsor.
Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Don Cusick, Cusick Motorsports’ first official event was the 2021 Indianapolis 500 with Wilson behind the wheel. Cusick and Wilson have expanded their effort with an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup entry in partnership with Hardpoint.
“I’m so excited to be back at the event that ignited my passion for motorsports several decades ago,” Cusick said. “To be partnered with a young, hungry and professional organization like DragonSpeed makes it all the better.
“Last year was an incredible first on-site experience for Cusick Motorsports and our partners, and we’re so glad to have them with us again. To have LOHLA SPORT and Sierra Pacific Windows returning as the primary and co-primary partners is just fantastic, and we’re excited to welcome GNARLY Jerky to this group as well. A big thank you to Jay Frye from IndyCar, Team Chevy, and Anders Krohn for being instrumental in putting this program together. We have some unfinished business from last year with Stefan Wilson and our partners, so we cannot wait to get the event going.”
The DragonSpeed Cusick Motorsports No. 25 to be wheeled by Stefan Wilson. (DragonSpeed Cusick Motorsports photo)
Having claimed LMP2 ProAm honors at Le Mans in 2021, DragonSpeed started 2022 with its third Rolex 24 at Daytona LMP2 class victory in four years.
Operated by former driver Elton Julian, the squad has proved its mettle in a wide range of machinery since 2010. After competing in the Indianapolis 500 in 2019 and 2020, DragonSpeed’s IndyCar ambitions stalled with the COVID-19 pandemic.
DragonSpeed is targeting a full-time return to the NTT IndyCar Series and sees the partnership with Cusick Motorsports and Stefan Wilson as the perfect springboard to achieving that goal.
“This opportunity means so much to us,” said Julian. “Putting this program together with Don Cusick, Stefan Wilson, and the Cusick Motorsports partner group brings us back to Indy even earlier than we hoped, and a step closer to becoming a full-time IndyCar team. With that target in our sights, I can tell you we are not coming to the Brickyard to make up the numbers – we’re here to resume our IndyCar learning curve and build on our experience from 2019 and 2020, and Stefan’s past performances aswell.
“I know that Don and Stefan share our ambitions and I’m grateful to A.J. Foyt Racing and Larry Foyt’s racer spirit for helping make this effort possible through the use of theirequipment. We also massively appreciate the support of Jay Frye at IndyCar and Jim Campbell at Team Chevy. Adding the 500 to our IMSA commitments is complicated, but everyone at DragonSpeed is 100 percent up for the challenge of Indy.”
Wilson has an impressive résumé that includes three Indianapolis 500 starts, Indy Lights race wins, the 2007 McLaren Autosport BRDC Awardand top-ten finishes in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring with Cusick Motorsports in 2022.
“The journey to the 2022 Indianapolis 500 has been a rollercoaster ride for Cusick Motorsports, our partners and myself,” said Stefan Wilson. “A few short weeks ago itdidn’t look like this was going to happen for us, but I’m so relieved all of the pieces came together to get another shot at this race. The Cusick Motorsports and DragonSpeed partnership couldn’t be a better fit and I know it’ll be a great combination for Indy this year, as well as for future opportunities.
“I’m also looking forward to joining Team Chevy and wearing a bowtie this month. There are so many people I have to thank for making this happen for us. First and foremost, a big thank you to Don Cusick for believing in me and being by my side as we fought to make it back to the 500, Elton Julian and the DragonSpeed team for their commitment to join forces with us and a big thank you to Jay Frye and IndyCar along with Jim Campbell and Chevrolet for their support in making this happen.”
Keyword: It’s Stefan Wilson For 33rd Indy Entry