There are 4 remaining full-time seats on the grid for the IndyCar Sequence 2025 season, with greater than a handful of gifted drivers vying for a spot. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re listening to, in addition to ideas in terms of taking part in the chess board of the panorama.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photographs
JHR already introduced Sting Ray Robb as one in every of its two drivers for subsequent yr. Whereas some thought Romain Grosjean would return, particularly after main the group to its first best-ever IndyCar outcome with a fourth at Laguna Seca final season. He’s among the many shortlist of candidates however not the favourite.
As issues stand, Conor Daly is the frontrunner for taking the seat alongside Robb, with an announcement probably coming someday within the subsequent week. A local Hoosier, Daly constructed up a fast synergy with the group final season, regardless of becoming a member of for the ultimate 5 rounds after the group parted methods with Agustin Canapino midseason. Daly’s podium in Milwaukee helped pushed JHR again into the Leaders Circle — the highest 22 in entrant factors that’s price $1 million.
Past Daly and Grosjean, the opposite driver on JHR’s shortlist is latest Ed Carpenter Racing castoff Rinus VeeKay.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photographs
Graham Rahal and Louis Foster, the 2024 Indy NXT champion, are already set at RLL for 2025, with one seat left to occupy its three-car roster. Though Pietro Fittipaldi, who drove the third entry final season, may return, all indicators level to the group transferring a distinct course. Of observe, Fittpaldi not too long ago signed with Pratt Miller Motorsports as a part of an LMP2 run in IMSA subsequent yr, teaming alongside Andretti International Indy NXT driver James Roe.
Former Purple Bull Method 1 junior driver Jüri Vips made two begins with RLL in 2023, however misplaced out on a full-time drive this previous season. Nevertheless, he was saved on the roster in additional of a developmental function earlier than making a one-off look at Portland. RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal has persistently given Vips endurance and reward, which may see a payoff with a full-time drive.
With that stated, the most important hurdle protecting Vips from the seat is funding, which is why the motive force in play might be Devlin DeFrancesco, who final raced in IndyCar in 2023 with Andretti International. Throughout my visitor spot final week on “Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee,” it was shared by Lee, a very long time IndyCar reporter and announcer for NBC, that DeFrancesco was a significant candidate being thought of by RLL.
Dale Coyne Racing
Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photographs
There’s maybe no larger run of routine musical chairs than that of the group owned by Dale Coyne. It’s, surely, the reward that retains on giving in terms of random names from random locations, but in addition discovering diamonds within the tough [see Alex Palou].
In some ways, the 2025 season may look similar to this previous marketing campaign in having a rotation of drivers in each seats — though there is no such thing as a doubt a quest to have at the very least one full-time competitor. So, with a slew of drivers to select from, that is the most certainly vacation spot for a number of part-time efforts that may mix for 2 full-time entries.
After testing with the group at Indianapolis Motor Speedway final month, Veekay may see a while in a Coyne seat. One other risk is Grosjean returning. He final drove for the group in his part-time introduction to IndyCar in 2021.
Toby Sowery, who impressed in his three outings with the group final season, is prone to return in some capability. The Briton additionally not too long ago examined for DCR at The Thermal Membership earlier this month.
And there’s intrigue to see what may materialize with protecting the Fittipaldi identify on the grid. Pietro, who has a very good relationship with Coyne, drove part-time for the group in 2018 and 2021. Moreover, although, his brother, Enzo, examined with Coyne in October of 2023 and is close to the top of a 3rd full-time marketing campaign in Method 2.
One other identify that’s probably going to be within the cockpit in some capability is Hunter McElrea, who made one begin with Coyne final season at Toronto. There was little point out of 2022 Indy NXT champion Linus Lundqvist, who scored two podiums throughout his rookie marketing campaign earlier than being let go by Chip Ganassi Racing. However funding, as it’s for a lot of, is the most important hurdle for the Swede.
It’s recognized that Jacob Abel, runner-up for the 2024 Indy NXT title, is pushing exhausting for a full-time seat at Coyne subsequent season. He examined with the group at Sebring roughly a yr in the past and was additionally in CGR equipment earlier this month testing at Texas Motor Speedway.
Jack Harvey, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photographs
Though Jack Harvey was a major a part of DCR this previous yr, making 14 begins, the considered his function transferring ahead modified after not too long ago signing with Dreyer & Reinbold for a one-off for subsequent yr’s Indianapolis 500.
Amongst others that have been seemingly hopefuls unlikely to discover a place on the grid subsequent yr, at the very least in regularity, are ex-Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant, who examined an Indy automobile with Meyer Shank Racing at The Thermal Membership earlier this month. He, together with three-time W-Sequence champion and Indy NXT race winner Jamie Chadwick, not too long ago signed with packages within the European Le Mans Sequence, which options a number of scheduling conflicts with IndyCar in 2025.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Joey Barnes
IndyCar
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Juncos Hollinger Racing
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