New team Harding Racing enters Chaves for 500

Two Indianapolis businessmen, Mike Harding of Harding Group and Dennis Reinbold of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, have formed a technical alliance for the 101st Indianapolis 500 and will field an entry for 2014 Freedom 100 winner and Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves.

The Harding Group, which has partnered with IMS on paving projects and hospitality, has chosen the 500 as the first race for the newly formed Harding Racing. IndyCar veteran Larry Curry will serve as the team manager and competition director.

"I'm extremely delighted to have the opportunity to get to challenge for my third Indy 500," said Chaves, who will pilot the No. 88 Harding Racing Chevy. "I am very excited to be joining a new team with our new owner, Mike Harding, and everyone involved, including Larry Curry, who has been instrumental in getting the team together and guiding it."

The team plans to attend Wednesday's open test at Texas Motor Speedway for Chaves to complete an oval refresher test and turn practice laps for the first time in Chevrolet equipment.

"I'm excited to be working with car owner Mike Harding on forming his new Indy car team and we are very lucky to have driver Gabby Chaves, along with Chevrolet," Curry said. "We have assembled a great team and are looking forward to our shakedown test in Texas on Wednesday."

Chaves was IndyCar's 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year for Bryan Herta Autosport, also capturing top rookie honors in the Indy500 when he finished 16th. The 23-year-old drove in seven races for Dale Coyne Racing last season, including a 20th-place Indy 500 finish.

Harding Racing has also brought in Al Unser Jr. as the team's driving instructor. Matt Curry, Larry's son who worked last season for AJ Foyt Racing and was an engineer on Tony Kanaan's Indy 500-winning effort in 2013 with KV Racing Technology, will be the lead engineer.

"I have complete faith and confidence that our engine partner Chevy will give us the best package and support to give our Harding Racing machine a chance to challenge for the win," Chaves said. "I've had good races at IMS, although the result has never come together. But I think this is the year that I really have to put it together to get the result. That's my main focus, and I definitely think I'm going to have one of the best programs out there among those focused on Indy only.