Unbelievably, we’re less than 90 days from the start of the 2018 season. In what feels like an eternity, the IndyCar season ended back in September. After crowning its new champion, Josef Newgarden; the news cycle never really dropped off. Thanks in large part to the new aero kit testing that’s taken place but also because there’s been a few seat swaps throughout the paddock. Sprinkle in a few new drivers, a few new teams, and some personnel changes? Well it would seem it’s been a busy silly season thus far. Here’s how the teams are shaping up:
Team Penske
The Captain, Roger Penske is retaining his 2017 Series Champion, Josef Newgarden. Newgarden has spent a little time behind the wheel of the “new” car this winter. Testing at Texas and Sebring. Teammates Will Power and Simon Pagenaud also return to cockpit for the Penske and company. Missing will be familiar face, Helio Castroneves. Castroneves has moved onto IMSA Prototypes with the Penske factory Acura team. It’s projected that Castroneves will still run the 2018 Indianapolis 500.
Chip Gannasi Racing
Also downsizing this year, CGR is only bringing two Dallara Hondas to show. Gone are Charlie Kimball, Max Chilton and Tony Kanaan. Joining the party will be rookie stand out Ed Jones, formerly of Dale Coyne Racing. The Brit will be paired with the legendary Scott Dixon. Jones and Dixon will take the fight to the field, two cars short of years past.
Andretti Autosport/Bryan Herta Autosport
The Andretti/Herta outfit had a few interesting moves this fall. First being that they lost their 2017 Indy 500 winner, Takuma Sato, to Rahal Letterman Lannigan Racing. Ryan Hunter-Reay returns to the #28 DHL powered Honda. The young standout Zach Veach secured a ride with the backing of new sponsor Group One Thousand One for the #26. 2016 Indy 500 champion Alexander Rossi is bringing Napa know how back to Andretti.
Interestingly enough, Rossi won’t be retaining his infamous #98. He and teammate Marco Andretti are switching seats and numbers. Rossi will don the #27 while Marco will take #98. The #98 car was brought in by Bryan Herta when he joined forces with Michael Andretti. Also during the 2017 campaign, Herta was on the timing stand calling the races for the struggling Marco. One would assume, that the youngest Andretti just became a Herta Autosport driver, with Rossi now officially apart of Andretti.
Dale Coyne Racing
One of the few gaps in the paddock is with the DCR boys. Currently Coyne is bringing back French stud Sebastien Bourdais. Bourdais was on a tear early in 2017, before a devastating crash during practice for the Indianapolis 500 cut his season short. Bourdais was able to return for the season finale at Sonoma. The second seat remains vacant as things stand currently. Fans and media types alike are hoping Conor Daly can secure the funding needed to land the ride.
Rahal Letterman Lannigan Racing
The RLL squad is bringing back Graham Rahal and the Steak and Shake #15 to no one’s surprise. What was a bit of a shock was the addition of Takuma Sato. It’s speculated that Sato got tired of waiting for Michael Andretti to decide whether or not he was going to switch to Chevy back in the summer. Sato is a long time Honda favorite and needed to stay with a Honda power unit to keep his funding. RLL was a great fit. Rahal and the boys should benefit nicely from the Japanese veteran.
A.J. Foyt Racing
After an abysmal season, managment over at Foyt Racing basically cleaned house. Colombian Carlos Munoz and American Conor Daly were ditched, in favor of an IndyCar vet and rookie out of Brazil. Tony Kanaan will take a seat along with new comer Matheus Leist to form an all-Brazilian front. A.J. Foyt Racing is looking to make significant improvement this upcoming season.
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Sam Schmidt and the boys are bringing the Mayor back to town. James Hinchcliffe is returning to to the Honda-powered Arrow machine. New addition is former DTM Mercedes driver Robert Wickens. Effectively forming Team Canada on the grid.
Harding Racing
One of the new teams this year is Harding Racing. Harding made a few appearances in 2017 with Gabby Chavez. They ran the Indy 500, Texas and Pocono. When Harding purchased his chassis for the 500 it came with the super speedway aero kit. So, the team decided to run all three super speedways. Look for Chavez to continue his consistency of clean races. He’s known for staying out of trouble and not getting in over his head.
Carlin Motorsport
For the the first time since 1977 there is a British-run team hitting the grid in 2018. Owner Trevor Carlin started an Indy Lights team in 2015 with Ed Jones and Max Chilton behind the wheel of a pair of IL-15’s. He claimed his first Indy Lights championship in 2016 with Jones. He decided to step up to the big leagues in 2018 with former Ganassi aces Charlie Kimball and Chilton. Kimball still has the backing of diabetic research company Norvo Nordisk. Chilton will be bringing the money of Gallagher Insurance. Carlin is no stranger to building champions. With his European efforts in GP2 and GP3, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo saw seat time on their way to Formula 1 fame.
Ed Carpenter Racing
Indiana native and fan favorite Ed Carpenter returns in 2018 with a new line-up. Gone is JR Hildebrand after a less than impressive return to a full time IndyCar ride in 2017. Spencer Pigot, who only served as the team’s road/street course driver, has been promoted to full time duty for 2018. Owner/driver Carpenter will continue to be the second car for all oval events. No word on whether or not Carpenter will field a second full time Dallara.
Juncos Racing
Ricardo Juncos makes the step up to the big time in 2018 with a part time effort. Juncos will promote 2017 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kaizer to the Verizon IndyCar Series. After an impressive Indy Lights season with Juncos Racing, Kaizer earned the scholarship and the funding needed to help Juncos take that next rung of the ladder. It’s unclear which events Kaizer will run in 2018.
Michael Shank Racing
Michael Shank finally has his chance to field an IndyCar team. It’s been a long road for the sports car team owner. Jack Harvey will try to tame the Honda powered Auto Nation Dallara. Shank will be joining forces with Schmidt Peterson racing for a part time effort.
The 2018 season is coming in hot. A lot of new faces in new places and with a new car to boot. Teams will be taking a break for Christmas soon. But it’ll be full speed ahead come January, with a lot of new story lines to follow.
