Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Updated Silly Season driver lineup for 2018

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: The cars coross the line for the start of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: The cars coross the line for the start of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: JR Hildebrand, driver of the #21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, and Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: JR Hildebrand, driver of the #21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, and Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet

No. 20. Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet. ED CARPENTER. #20.

As long as Ed Carpenter wants to drive the ovals, he will do so, as he is the owner of Ed Carpenter Racing. Seeing as how next year will make it four years since his most recent win at Texas in 2014, there is no reason to believe that he will want to relinquish the oval driving duties of the #20 Chevrolet to another driver. Carpenter’s return to the #20 car in the oval races is pretty much a sure thing.

. No. 20. Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet. SPENCER PIGOT. #20

While he has the talent to be a full-time driver somewhere, it may be in Spencer Pigot’s best interest to drive part-time in the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet on the road and street courses for the third straight season. He has shown speed at many tracks, but his results just have not been good enough to warrant a full-time ride with another team. And as long as team owner Ed Carpenter wants to drive the ovals, there will likely be a road and street course-only driver of the #20 car. Pigot would be smart to stay, and Carpenter has an interest in him staying as well.

#21. . No. 21. Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet. JR HILDEBRAND

JR Hildebrand’s return to IndyCar as a full-time driver this season has been quite interesting. As expected, he has struggled on the road and street courses, finishing no higher than 11th place in 10 attempts. However, he was a consistent front-runner at most of the six oval races. If not for a penalty and three unfortunate crashes, he very well could have had four or five top 5 finishes this season. Even with that constant misfortune, he still managed two podium finishes. However, aside of those podium finishes, he never finished in the top 10. But with almost a full return season under his belt, he will certainly be able to take what he has learned this season and apply it to next season if given the chance. Team owner Ed Carpenter would be smart to continue to invest in Hildebrand.