As IndyCar Testing Continues, Free Agents Vie for Final Spots

May 11, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; IndyCar Series driver Sage Karam drives through the pits during practice for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Sage Karam

Upside: Chip Ganassi Racing development driver Karam debuted in last year’s Indianapolis 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold, starting on the last row and flying to a ninth-place finish. Regardless of attrition’s role, Karam made brave, aggressive overtakes with the same flash he displayed in this year’s Rolex 24.

At the 500’s banquet, Karam, then a high school senior, joked he would use his six-figure earnings as lunch money. That youth has never been an impediment; Karam was the Indy Lights champion at 18 and the U. S. F2000 titlist while 15.

In four starts at the Iowa Speedway across the IndyCar ladder series, Karam has four wins. Even as a rookie, he’d be a shoo-in for the race this July.

Questions: With Target narrowing its sponsorship to just one car, the Ganassi team – Karam’s most likely home – will need funding to run a fourth entry.

Verdict: Either Karam drives Ganassi’s #8 or it doesn’t run.