INDYCAR: Clock ticking for final Indy 500 seats

The race to fill the field of 33 cars for the 100th running of the Indy 500 is nowhere close to being finished. Opening practice for IndyCar's biggest race starts in just 27 days, making the rush to land the few seats available a heated and contentious affair on both sides for those buying and selling rides.

Some deals that were thought to be done have fallen apart, others once considered a sure thing have become questionable, and altogether, the realistic chances of having 34 cars trying to make the race – much less the 33 required to complete the field – have fluctuated on a daily basis.

Of the Indy 500 entries we can safely assume will be present in May, there's A.J. Foyt Racing (3), Andretti Autosport+Herta (5), Chip Ganassi Racing (4), Ed Carpenter Racing (3), Dale Coyne Racing+Jonathan Byrd's Racing (4), Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (1), KVSH Racing+Pirtek Team Murray (2), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2), Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (2), and Team Penske (4).

That makes for 30 solid cars and three grid spots to fill in order to reach 33. Two of those teams, SPM and KVSH, are working to add third cars, and if both come to fruition, IndyCar only needs one more to reach the magic number.

Although Schmidt told RACER there were no guarantees his third car will be in the race, I'm confident IndyCar will ensure its seat is filled.

Dale Coyne Racing has yet to confirm its complete four-car Indy 500 roster. Bryan Clauson, Conor Daly, and Pippa Mann have plans for three of the cars, and the fourth, currently driven by Luca Filippi, is said to be open for possible use by a different driver.

Lazier Partners Racing intends to make another attempt to qualify after missing the race last year. However, the Chevy-powered team is said to have a significant financial hurdle to clear before it can outfit its car with the latest aero kit pieces and the Bowtie's engine, making its presence on the grid a question mark.

AFS Racing is believed to be headed for a return with Sebastian Saavedra. Team owner Gary Peterson partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015, although with a two-car Ford GT program consuming CGR's additional staff members, Peterson would need to supply a complete crew to run with almost any team for this year's 500. It's also unclear which engine package he would use.

Bryan Herta seems intent on helping a coalition of the willing with the use of his spare chassis. "I do have a chassis and offered it to Mike Shank if he wants it," Herta told RACER. "I really like the guy and if I can help him, I will."

Aspiring Indy 500 entrant Will Marotti told RACER he's "still working hard" on the Marotti Racing program.

Looking at the SPM, KVSH, and DCR opportunities, leading candidates include the aforementioned Chaves, Servia, Stefan Wilson, James Davison, Jack Harvey, and Jay Howard.

If deals are done with the SPM and KVSH cars, and any of the three Grace, LPR, or AFS options become solid, the Indy 500 would have 33 or more. And the remainder from those three and a Shank or Marotti, or another, unidentified entry materializes, the field will definitely be oversubscribed.