IndyCar Silly Season Guide

With one of the most talented crop of free agents since the split, many drivers could be on the move for the 2013 season.

As mentioned prior, Graham Rahal is reportedly looking for a new team in 2013 and he just adds to an already deep field of who's who. Sebastien Bourdais, the four-time champion is looking for a full-time ride for the first time since 2007. After having his 2012 season cut to only road and street courses after Indianapolis, he has shown speed and had great races at Toronto and Mid-Ohio. Ryan Briscoe is in the uncomfortable position of being the low man at Penske Racing and many have him out of his current ride, opening one of the best seats in the series. Josef Newgarden has reportedly caught the eye of Roger Penske but has two more years left on his current contract and any move from Sarah Fisher-Hartman Racing will have to be by a buyout.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is in his final year with Andretti Autosport but is working on an extension. Rubens Barrichello has expressed interest in heading to a new team if KV Racing Technology does not become more competitive. Other free agents on the outside are Giorgio Pantano, Luca Filippi, Ana Beatriz, Pippa Mann, Martin Plowman and Sebasitan Saavedra.

Breakdown:

Graham Rahal
Rumored Destinations: Resign with Ganassi, go to Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, go to Penske, help restart Newman-Haas.
Most Likely: Either signs with his dad's team because they have been quick each week and a two car team with Rahal and Sato could be a threat or resign with Ganassi and believe they are going to treat who more like you are on the "A Team".

Sebastien Bourdais
Rumored Destinations: Dragon Racing or Penske Racing.
Most Likely: I do not see Will Power being happy if they bring Bourdais in as his teammate. Dragon can easily compete and I think Jay Penske will keep him.

Josef Newgarden
Rumored Destinations: Stay at SFHR, go to Penske.
Most Likely: Unless Penske is going to pay top dollar to help out Sarah, Josef is staying.

Ryan Briscoe
Rumored Destinations: Unknown, just not Penske, demotion to Dragon, maybe.
Most Likely: It really hasn't been covered who would sign Briscoe, only that most people on the outside do not see him with Penske in 2013. A swap of Briscoe and Bourdais makes the most sense but I do not see that happening at this time. I think Briscoe will get a ride, where is just unclear right now.

Ryan Hunter-Reay
Rumored Destinations: Resign with Andretti, go to Penske.
Most Likely: Hunter-Reay wants to stay with Andretti and I think he will. The only way I see him going to Penske is if he gets a massive offer.

Rubens Barrichello
Rumored Destinations: Stay at KV, other than that a team better than KV.
Most Likely: Nothing specific where Rubinho would go if he leaves KV, other than he wants to go to a better team if they do not improve. I see Tony Kanaan calming Rubinho down and him staying with other changes at the team.

Giorgio Pantano
Rumored Destinations: Vacated Ganassi seat, Scuderia Coloni.
Most Likely: Not clear at this time. He has the talent to be in IndyCar and he would do well with Ganassi. With Scuderia Coloni expressing interest in IndyCar after announcing they would be leaving GP2 after 2012, Pantano, who raced for Coloni in 2006, would be a likely choice for the Italian team.

Luca Filippi
Rumored Destinations: Scuderia Coloni.
Most Likely: Filippi finished second in the 2011 GP2 championship with Coloni and makes as much sense as Pantano, if not more. Filippi was thought to be set for a half season with Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan this year but that fell through. Coloni has not committed to IndyCar for 2013.

The Rest
Ana Beatriz ran for Andretti in partnership with Conquest Racing at Sao Paulo and Indianapolis. If Conquest does return to IndyCar full-time in 2013, either her or Martin Plowman who races for the team in ALMS make the most sense. Sebastian Saavedra or Beatriz could be in a fourth Andretti or AFS Racing goes full-time with Saavedra. Haven't heard a thing about where Pippa Mann would land.