Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023, and we are republishing it part of our coverage of this year’s race. Some references may be out of date.
No, Sting Ray isn’t a nickname.
Advertisement
Sting Ray Robb, a 24-year-old driver for Dale Coyne Racing, has Sting Ray on his birth certificate — and he’s not named after the fish, either. His parents, who are Chevrolet enthusiasts, named him after the sports car Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Ironically, the IndyCar rookie is driving the No. 51 Dallara-Honda for Dale Coyne Racing — straying from his Chevrolet roots. He is in Sunday’s :Last Chance Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, competing with three other drivers for the final three spots in the race.
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Fireworks are set off as the gates open Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Fireworks are set off as the gates open Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Yellow shirts are given a pep talk Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Gasoline Alley ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Adin Parks/For IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Fireworks go off at 6 a.m. as the public gates open Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Tyler Ward/For IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Driver Flags stand in Gasoline Alley as foot traffic picks up Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Adin Parks/For IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Smoke moves near the Snake Pit on Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
Vehicle handler Glen Miesik cleans a Chevrolet truck Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Adin Parks/For IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
The DEX Imaging Center bustles with activity Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Adin Parks/For IndyStar)
Indy 500 2026 race day comes to life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as start time nears
A crew brings tires to pit lane Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
But as Robb realizes his dream on the IndyCar circuit, his parents have been supportive.
“That’s a tricky question,” Robb said of his parents’ love for Chevrolet. “Yeah, my parents are big Corvette fans, and I think that they ruled out criticizing me too badly because they know the dream is IndyCar. I’ll be in a Honda car and I’m assuming it’ll go pretty quick, so I’m okay with all of that.”
Advertisement
And he doesn’t need to change his name to NSX, another sports car with a Honda engine.
“My name is my name,” Robb said. “I don’t need a rename. Thank you.”
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A group of friends from Indianapolis drink beer Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A group of friends from Indianapolis drink beer Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Annabel Steele and Lauren Anderson, dressed as pickles, make their way to the Snake Pit on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Morgan Berry and Taylor Klose put glitter on their faces before heading into the Snake Pit on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Logan Kunselman dresses as Donkey Kong on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
David and Andy Beyer put their race flags together Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A group of friends from Indianapolis play drinking games Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Fans grab their spots on the turn four viewing mounds Sunday, May 24, 2026, during the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mary Romans (left) and Stephen Possell of Indianapolis take a shot with Lillian Kearby of Michigan on Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Fans enter Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Fans enter Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People sleep in the infield Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Allison Van Tress, 29, sleeps in the infield Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People enter Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People enter Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People sleep in the infield Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People set up in the infield Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Doug Richardson, 67, smokes Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
Indy 500 fans 2026: See packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway
People set up in the infield Sunday, May 24, 2026, ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar)
After transitioning from the developmental Indy NXT league, Robb began his career as an IndyCar driver. He got into the No. 51 seat by chance in 2023, taking the offer after he found out Linus Lundqvist wasn’t going to take it.
“I think the driving style is fairly similar moving from Indy Next to IndyCar,” Robb said. “My first day in the car it felt very natural. It felt like it was an Indy Next car that did what I wanted it to do. I didn’t have to wrestle it around as much. But at the same time, you had more tools at your disposal. Obviously more speed, more power, better handling, the tires are much grippier. I think the biggest thing for me to learn would be on the strategy side, pit stop side of things, because that’s nothing what we’ve had to do before.”
(After post-qualifying penalties) Row 11 for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 (from left): Sting Ray Robb, Caio Collet, Jack Harvey
Sting Ray Robb Indy 500 driver profile
-
Best Indy 500 finish: 16th, 2024
-
Indy 500 career earnings: $1,298,700
Advertisement
Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing − IndyCar driver profile
-
Nationality: United States
-
Hometown: Payette, Idaho
-
Race team: Juncos Hollinger Racing
-
2026 IndyCar results: He finished 17th on the Indianapolis road course and stands 24th in points.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sting Ray Robb is really this Indianapolis 500 driver’s name
