In the past week, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ silly season for driver placement for 2027 has exploded, with six-time series champion Scott Dixon and new Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Felix Rosenqvist the biggest names on the move.
But other drivers are impacted by the shuffling, as well, including Christian Lundgaard, Nolan Siegel and likely more as the days and weeks unfold. At least 10 of the projected 25 full-time seats remain unresolved – or at least unannounced – including both at AJ Foyt Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing and Dale Coyne Racing. Only a handful of teams seem free of the remaining drama.
A reminder of where things appear to stand for next season:
AJ Foyt Racing: Two seats to confirm.
Andretti Global: Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power will return; Marcus Ericsson is in a contract year.
Arrow McLaren: Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and Ryan Hunter-Reay (at Indy) were confirmed July 6.
Chip Ganassi Racing: Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson will return; a driver for the No. 9 car has not been announced.
Dale Coyne Racing: Two seats to confirm.
ECR: Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen will return.
Juncos Hollinger Racing: Two seats to confirm.
Meyer Shank Racing: Marcus Armstrong was confirmed to the No. 60 car July 3. A driver for the No. 66 car needs to be announced.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Graham Rahal and Louis Foster are on multiyear deals; it’s unclear if Mick Schumacher wants to return.
Team Penske: Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas will return.
One thing that stands out about the confirmations is the series is moving into an even greater competitive arena. After more than a decade of the Big Two’s reign – drivers from Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske have won the past 13 season championships – there is shaping up to be a Big (Fill in the Blank). It can be argued there should be even more challengers amid Palou’s historic run.
Imagine if Palou, a four-time series champion positioned for his fifth title in the past six years, is paired with Christian Lundgaard, who already has a pair of race wins and five top-three finishes in 11 races this season. He is third in the standings. Rinus VeeKay (photo, above), who has been the more complete driver over the years while driving for smaller teams, would be an intriguing hire, as well.
Team Penske hasn’t produced its best two seasons, but it will return drivers who have combined to win 41 series races, plus Malukas, who has finished second at Indy the past two years. The team already appears on the rise.
Speaking of Indy, no driver lineup will be more stout on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval than Arrow McLaren’s. Three of its four drivers have won the race, including Rosenqvist this year with Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, and the group has combined to lead 1,118 career laps in the event. Dixon has nine career top-five finishes in the “500” while leading a record 709 laps.
Then there’s Andretti Global. Kirkwood is second in the standings, Power is a two-time series champion, and the team’s driver lineup will look even better when plans for the No. 28 car (currently driven by 2022 Indy winner Ericsson) is settled.
Meyer Shank Racing did well to retain Marcus Armstrong (photo, above) as he gets more competitive by the race. It will be fascinating to see which driver he is paired with, and the seat is coveted by many for good reason.
Juncos Hollinger Racing is on the rise, too, and might soon announce news that will make it stronger. It already has VeeKay 11th in the standings, just five points from equaling Dixon in ninth. The team has never had a driver finish higher than 16th in season points.
Keep in mind that ECR and Rahal Letterman Lanigan have won races since 2023, and A.J. Foyt’s team placed two drivers in last year’s top five at Indy. Dale Coyne Racing often presents as an exciting underdog.
It adds up to an intriguing lineup for 2027.
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