IndyCar Silly Season Guide, Part Two

Now that the season is over and deals have been made and are being made, it is time to look at who is still looking and what new openings there are. Ryan Hunter-Reay has signed with Andretti Autosport, turned down Roger Penske, meaning the largest domino has fallen.

Breakdown:

Graham Rahal
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan seems to be the only option for Rahal. Haven't heard him and Ganassi looking to work an extension and haven't heard any other teams that are interested and pursuing the American.

Ryan Briscoe
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Penske, Ganassi, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Foyt.
Most Likely: The third Penske seat is now more interesting than ever. I can see Penske keeping him, but I can also see that seat going away. The fourth Ganassi is a possibility but the feeling is he would have to bring some money. Same goes with RLL, which SPEED's Robin Miller and Marshall Pruett discussed, where he would team with Graham. You have to feel Foyt is a possibility. Look at the Foyt's most recent drivers: Darren Manning (previously with Ganassi), Vitor Meira (Panther), Mike Conway (Andretti). Can't rule him out.

Mike Conway
Confirmed: Road and street courses only.
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: It would make sense Conway runs the #41 for Foyt on all oval and street courses, with Chase Austin running Indianapolis. Other than that, can't imagine him running next season.

Rubens Barrichello
Rumored Destinations: Schmidt-Hamilton or staying at KV.
Most Likely: Schmidt-Hamilton is more likely than KV but both will need sponsorship. KV had a disappointing 2012, I just can't see him staying.

Sebastian Saavedra
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: AFS Racing and Gary Petersen made it know through Curt Cavin at the Indianapolis Star, that he plans on going full-time in 2013.

Wade Cunningham
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: He raced at Indianapolis and Fontana for Foyt and he has done enough through Indy Lights and the few IndyCar races to date to earn a full-time ride.

Townsend Bell
No concrete rumor for Bell but he was on Foyt's list to run at Fontana after Conway pulled out. Bell has been consistent year in and year out at Indianapolis and very well could get a full-time ride.

Sebastien Bourdais
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Dragon, Penske, Ganassi
Most Likely: It looked like he had a deal done with Dragon but that has yet to be confirmed. It would make sense that the four time champion would be considered by Penske and Ganassi.

Justin Wilson
Rumored Destinations: Stay at Dale Coyne, Penske, Ganassi.
Most Likely: After years of being bounced around, he seems comfortable at Coyne with his last two victories occurring for the team. After his one season with Newman-Haas he was rumored to be going to Ganassi and has ran for the team at the 24 Hours of Daytona before. With that said, he has also ran for Mike Shank Racing in sports cars but that would seem to be an opposite of what Wilson wants.

Takuma Sato
Rumored Destinations: Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan, Herta, any Honda team.
Most Likely: Hard to see Honda's golden boy out of IndyCar for good. He has done well with RLL but  if Graham is signed, he will definitely become the teams number two driver. While winning two poles for KV in 2011, this was with out a doubt his best season with podiums at Sao Paulo and Edmonton, while contending for victories at Long Beach, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Fontana. If he does not stay at RLL, Honda will make sure he has a seat somewhere.

EJ Viso
Rumored Destination and Most Likely: Starting his own team. He has a ton of money behind him with Citgo and his team would become a way for Venezuelan drivers to make it to IndyCar. Viso has torn up a lot of equipment where ever he has gone. Would he start from scratch or buy a current team? Really isn't clear but it would be a big investment for anyone who plans to back him.

AJ Allmendinger
Rumored Destinations: Mike Shank, Penske, Foyt, Staying in NASCAR
Most Likely: Shank and Allmendinger are partners in Shank's IndyCar program, Penske brought Allmendinger to Fontana for the IndyCar race and Foyt has said he would consider the American if he cleaned up. Well he has been reinstated in NASCAR meaning he must have cleaned up his act. Could he be in Penske's third car? Maybe. Well a lot think he blew the "Penske Image" for his failed drug test, it has to be noted that being the fastest reinstated driver with NASCAR's road to recovery program and entering immediately is a class act and shows Allmendinger wants to race. Foyt is a reasonable guy and after a decade since his last victory, a proven winner maybe the way to go.

The Rest
Andretti Autosport is considering a fourth car. Ana Beatriz is a possibility. Oriol Servia seems set at Panther/DRR, same for Alex Tagliani at Herta. James Jakes is believed to be staying at Dale Coyne. Nothing new from the Italian team Scuderia Coloni or drivers Giorgio Pantano and Luca Filippi. Simona de Silvestro has a contract with HVM. HVM and Ed Carpenter Racing have both been rumored to merge with KVRT. Carpenter's team is also rumored to add a second car for 2013.