IndyCar Silly Season Review

Christmas is now behind us, a New Year is approaching, and we are still 87 days until the start of the season. Teams and drivers are going to be looking to wrap up deals in the next couple months.

Chevrolet had thirteen engines on track post-Indianapolis and Honda had eleven. The lone Lotus of HVM is no longer with us and with that known, the rosters for each manufacture tentatively look something like this.

Chevrolet: Total- 12 (-1 from 2012).
Andretti- Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Hinchcliffe.
Penske- Castroneves, Power.
Panther- Hildebrand.
KVRT- Kanaan, de Silvestro.
Dragon- Bourdais, Legge.
Panther/D&R- Servia.
Carpenter- Carpenter.

Honda: Total- 9 (-2 from 2012)
Ganassi: Franchitti, Dixon, Kimball.
Foyt- TBA (Sato or Daly).
RLLR- Rahal.
Herta- Tagliani.
SFHR- Newgarden.
Schmidt- Pagenaud.
Coyne- Wilson.

Looking at this list, IndyCar would have a 21 car grid, down four from what was seen most of 2012. However, this appears likely to change. Dale Coyne Racing always finds a way to run two full-time cars. Talks of the fourth Ganassi entry being filled are still on the table. Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing wants to run a second car. Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports have been trying to expand for two years now. Should the extra spots at Ganassi, RLLR and SHM come to fruition, the grid would be 24 strong, only down one from the year before.

While teams look to expand their operations, talented drivers are the outside looking to capitalize on a seat for 2013.

Notable free agents:
Ryan Briscoe- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, RLLR, Penske.
James Jakes- Rumored Destinations: Coyne, RLLR.
EJ Viso- Rumored Destinations: New Team/Partnership with Herta.
Tristan Vautier- Rumored Destination: Schmidt.
Esteban Guerrieri- Rumored Destination: Was rumored to KVRT before 2012.
Gustavo Yacaman- Rumored Destinations: Ganassi, Shank Racing.

Along with Shank Racing, new/returning teams are AFS Racing and Conquest Racing. Since the contract with Lotus has been terminated, Chevrolet and Honda agreed to be available to field 60% of the grid, possibly opening more opportunities for these teams to receive the engine desired, unlike last year.

Indianapolis 500-only done deals to date are Chase Austin with Foyt and Carlos Muñoz with Andretti. Bryan Clauson won the USAC scholarship for a third straight year in 2012 and it has not been announced whether that will turn into a one-off at Indianapolis like it did this year. Mike Conway in a road course only effort has been rumored also. The third Penske seat had been offered to Tony Stewart for the Indianapolis 500, but he declined. The future of the entry, whether it be for Indianapolis-only or full-time is unclear moving forward.