We’ve come a lot since our first goofy season back in July, with Romain Grosjean dominating the free agent market, Takuma Sato and Ryan Hunter-Reay on the way, Jack Harvey’s surprise move, Simon Pagenaud’s fresh start, question marks for Sebastien Bourdais and James Hinchcliffe, and one Flock of other developments that are in the works.
With the first race of 2022 only 118 days away (as of November 1), it might be surprising that only three teams in the NTT IndyCar Series have completed the teams. The rest, from sitting wide open to buttoning just an item or two to those drivers have signed up but waiting for public confirmations, keep the silly season alive and thrive during the off-season.
So which driver took the baton from Grosjean in the last two months of 2021 and became IndyCar’s best free agent? Say hello to reigning Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood, whose professional life has been one epic roller coaster ride over the past few weeks.
The often rumored plan for Andretti Autosports Lights title winner had tied his promotion to IndyCar to Michael Andretti’s desired takeover of the Sauber Formula 1 team. If the dominoes fell as intended, Andretti would have taken control of Sauber, Colton Herta – in whatever capacity – would have joined the Andretti F1 program, and Kirkwood would have replenished Herta’s No. 26 Honda in 2022.
But with Andretti’s F1 aspirations going sideways, Kirkwood’s rise to a championship-caliber IndyCar seat was derailed. It is believed that Andretti had an option for the 23-year-old from Florida through 11:59 p.m. Sunday evening until 12:00 p.m. this morning.
We’ll go into where he might end up and what’s going on with the other full-time teams and drivers in the run-through below.
With the door to a full-time Andretti ride closed now, where’s next for Kyle Kirkwood? Image by IndyCar
DECISIONS TO MAKE
AJ Foyt Racing
# 4 Chevy: Dalton needed
# 14 Chevy: TBD
No. 41 Chevy: TBD
We’re not quite at the stage where there is no hope that Sebastien Bourdais will return to number 14, but the odds are getting worse with every week that the team doesn’t confirm the four-time champions continue in the car.
ROKIT’s commitment as the # 14 main sponsor is the first contract, and we know there is an interest in potentially adding a second ROKIT-funded entry in the field.
ROKIT-affiliated Colombian Tatiana Calderon, who spent some time with Juncos Racing on Road To Indy before moving on to European and Japanese open wheel racing, is a top contender for the seat after finishing in Mid in July -Ohio had tested for Foyt.
And while 28-year-old Calderon is in the mix, Kirkwood has also emerged as a tough contender for number 14. We have mentioned Hunter-Reay in the past as one more driver who could end up in Foyt, but his most recent test with Ed Carpenter Racing (main picture) would suggest that ECR is where he focuses his energies.
It’s far too early to say who will claim the # 14 or whether the # 41 will materialize with a driver, but don’t sleep on Kirkwood as the solution to any of the vacancies.
Arrow McLaren SP
# 5 Chevy: Pato O’Ward
No. 7 Chevy: Felix Rosenqvist
No. 86 Chevy: TBD
We know AMSP intends to drive its third car for a sub-season, but the identities of its drivers are under constant investigation. Nico Hulkenberg recently tested for the team but I haven’t heard anything to suggest a return engagement is planned. Former McLaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne is set to test at some point in the near future, and while that could lead to some sort of IndyCar opportunity, I’m not sure the Belgian will bring the kind of fire and excitement that AMSP is looking for. The test is his chance to prove otherwise. Kirkwood is believed to have been close with the team for his third car, but negotiations are said to have failed.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has consistently said the team intends to drive the third car full-time in 2023 – for the team to make a big name for themselves when more high-powered free agents hit the open market.
AMSP likes young drivers or mid-career drivers so a Bourdais or Hunter-Reay is out of the question. The team wants the next Pato or Felix for the third car, and if that person isn’t currently available or doesn’t show up in 2022, we may not do much at # 86 outside of the month of May.
The most recent barber test could represent Nico Hülkenberg’s entire IndyCar adventure, so many question marks remain around AMSP’s third car. Image via IndyCar
Carlin Racing
No. 59 Chevy: TBD
What does the future hold for Carlin Racing and Max Chilton? The following section on Juncos Hollinger Racing is the best I can offer.
Chip Ganassi Racing
# 8 Honda: Marcus Ericsson
# 9 Honda: Scott Dixon
No. 10 Honda: Alex Palou
# 48 Honda: Jimmie Johnson / Tony Kanaan
The Ganassi team barely fits into this category, but they have to solve the matter with their Honda # 48 and oval drivers. With Johnson’s most recent Brickyard test and a chance he’ll want to stay in the car for the Indy 500 next year, Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner – who signed an oval two-year contract through 2022 – will be able to Wait and see what his friend and teammate decides.
If Johnson chooses the 500, CGR is expected to use its IMSA DPi team to drive a fifth car for Canaan. And if Johnson wants to make more ovals, there could be a bigger talk as it seems unlikely that CGR would want to put five cars in Texas, Iowa and Gateway. If Johnson sticks to his road and road course program, everything will remain simplified for CGR and Kanaan, and even with Johnson and Kanaan in their own cars at Indy, it’s a familiar routine for the team after his sports car crew drove an additional speedway car for many years.
Until Johnson answers the oval question, we won’t know what TK’s last final drive looks like.
Ed Carpenter Racing
No. 20 Chevy: Ed Carpenter / TBD
No. 21 Chevy Rinus VeeKay
The test run of ECR in Barber Motorsports Park with Hunter-Reay in number 20 has removed any doubt as to whether something could change with the car. It’s a sensitive issue that depends on the Air Force returning and selecting an American driver to represent the military division on street and street courses. Until we hear the Air Force will be back, which should be a solid option, we’ll be on hold to see if Conor Daly, RHR, or another driver gets the nod.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
No. 77 Chevy: Callum Ilott
TBD: TBD
What we know: Callum Ilott will be in JHR’s main car for the whole season. What we don’t know: whether or how Carlin Racing could include a second grid position. We know they are talking, but we cannot say what an alliance might look like. Ricardo Juncos wants an IndyCar veteran to work with Ilott to make his rookie campaign easier and more productive. So could that fit in with a Carlin / Max Chilton arrangement, Daly, RHR or something similar?
A second driver with some kind of budget is wanted so I doubt it is a direct hiring, but I also don’t think JHR would be against taking part of the budget needs if the right driver shows up. There is a lot to sort out here in a short time.
WAITING FORMAL CONFIRMATION
Andretti Autosport
No. 26 Honda: Colton Herta
No. 27 Honda: Alexander Rossi
No. 28 Honda: Romain Grosjean
No. 29 Honda: (Devlin DeFrancesco)
The only element that completes Andretti’s line-up is the addition of Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco to James Hinchcliffe’s former ride in a multi-year contract for the Indy Lights rider. While it has nothing to do with Andretti, I still hear that Hinch’s opportunities at IMSA are great, and when it all comes together in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, he’ll be busy driving and broadcasting next year.
Dale Coyne Racing
No. 18 Honda: (David Malukas)
No. 51 Honda (Takuma Sato)
We’ll have to wait and see how all of the usual DCR posts play out, but as we’ve already written, Sato is likely to be confirmed and with Malukas testing for the team at Barber there is no real question as who with the two-time Indy 500 winners will work together.
How DCR’s deals with Rick Ware Racing with Henry Malukas Drivers with Vasser Sullivan go and whether all three competitors are returning are the most important points to answer. And if HMD happens to replace VS, where does VS go? Would a Foyt or JHR be open to a new collaboration?
LINEUP COMPLETE
Meyer Shank Racing
No. 06 Honda: Helio Castroneves
No. 60 Honda: Simon Pagenaud
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No. 15 Honda: Graham Rahal
No. 30 Honda: Christian Lundgaard
No. 45 Honda: Jack Harvey
Team Penske
No. 2 Chevy: Josef Newgarden
# 3 Chevy: Scott McLaughlin
# 12 Chevy: Willpower
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