There are four remaining full-time seats on the grid for the IndyCar Series 2025 season, with more than a handful of talented drivers vying for a spot. Here is a breakdown of what we’re hearing, as well as thoughts when it comes to playing the chess board of the landscape.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
JHR already announced Sting Ray Robb as one of its two drivers for next year. While some thought Romain Grosjean would return, especially after leading the team to its first best-ever IndyCar result with a fourth at Laguna Seca last season. He is among the shortlist of candidates but not the favorite.
As things stand, Conor Daly is the frontrunner for taking the seat alongside Robb, with an announcement potentially coming sometime in the next week. A native Hoosier, Daly built up a quick synergy with the organization last season, despite joining for the final five rounds after the team parted ways with Agustin Canapino midseason. Daly's podium in Milwaukee helped pushed JHR back into the Leaders Circle — the top 22 in entrant points that is worth $1 million.
Beyond Daly and Grosjean, the other driver on JHR’s shortlist is recent Ed Carpenter Racing castoff Rinus VeeKay.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Graham Rahal and Louis Foster, the 2024 Indy NXT champion, are already set at RLL for 2025, with one seat left to occupy its three-car roster. Although Pietro Fittipaldi, who drove the third entry last season, could return, all signs point to the team moving a different direction. Of note, Fittpaldi recently signed with Pratt Miller Motorsports as part of an LMP2 run in IMSA next year, teaming alongside Andretti Global Indy NXT driver James Roe.
Former Red Bull Formula 1 junior driver Jüri Vips made two starts with RLL in 2023, but lost out on a full-time drive this past season. However, he was kept on the roster in more of a developmental role before making a one-off appearance at Portland. RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal has consistently given Vips patience and praise, which could see a payoff with a full-time drive.
With that said, the biggest hurdle keeping Vips from the seat is funding, which is why the driver in play could be Devlin DeFrancesco, who last raced in IndyCar in 2023 with Andretti Global. During my guest spot last week on “Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee,” it was shared by Lee, a long time IndyCar reporter and announcer for NBC, that DeFrancesco was a major candidate being considered by RLL.
Dale Coyne Racing
There is perhaps no bigger run of routine musical chairs than that of the team owned by Dale Coyne. It is, without a doubt, the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to random names from random places, but also finding diamonds in the rough [see Alex Palou].
In many ways, the 2025 season could look very similar to this past campaign in having a rotation of drivers in both seats — although there is no doubt a quest to have at least one full-time competitor. So, with a slew of drivers to choose from, this is the most likely destination for several part-time efforts that will combine for two full-time entries.
After testing with the team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, Veekay could see some time in a Coyne seat. Another possibility is Grosjean returning. He last drove for the team in his part-time introduction to IndyCar in 2021.
Toby Sowery, who impressed in his three outings with the team last season, is likely to return in some capacity. The Briton also recently tested for DCR at The Thermal Club earlier this month. And following seven starts last year with Coyne, Katherine Legge is another that could return for select rounds.
And there is intrigue to see what could materialize with keeping the Fittipaldi name on the grid. Pietro, who has a good relationship with Coyne, drove part-time for the team in 2018 and 2021. Additionally, though, his brother, Enzo, tested with Coyne in October of 2023 and is near the end of a third full-time campaign in Formula 2.
Another name that is potentially going to be in the cockpit in some capacity is Hunter McElrea, who made one start with Coyne last season at Toronto. There has been little mention of 2022 Indy NXT champion Linus Lundqvist, who scored two podiums during his rookie campaign before being let go by Chip Ganassi Racing. But funding, as it is for many, is the biggest hurdle for the Swede.
It is known that Jacob Abel, runner-up for the 2024 Indy NXT title, is pushing hard for a full-time seat at Coyne next season. He tested with the team at Sebring roughly a year ago and was also in CGR machinery earlier this month testing at Texas Motor Speedway.
Although Jack Harvey was a significant part of DCR this past year, making 14 starts, the thought of his role moving forward changed after recently signing with Dreyer & Reinbold for a one-off for next year’s Indianapolis 500.
Among others that were likely hopefuls unlikely to find a place on the grid next year, at least in regularity, are ex-Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant, who tested an Indy car with Meyer Shank Racing at The Thermal Club earlier this month. He, along with three-time W-Series champion and Indy NXT race winner Jamie Chadwick, recently signed with programs in the European Le Mans Series, which features multiple scheduling conflicts with IndyCar in 2025.
