IndyCar: Way-too-early top 10 drivers for 2020

By Asher Fair | Oct 5, 2019

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Takuma Sato of Japan, driver of the #30 ABeam Consulting Honda, races Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, at the start of the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Santino Ferrucci #19 of United States and Cly-Del Manufacturing Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

No. 9 – Santino Ferrucci

Santino Ferrucci, who drove the #19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in his rookie season this past year, is confirmed to return to IndyCar with some team next year. He has a deal in place to return to Dale Coyne Racing, but he is allowed to seek other options if they are available.

If he does leave Dale Coyne Racing, he has been rumored to sign with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing or Arrow McLaren Racing SP.

Regardless, Ferrucci is in a position to improve upon his 13th place finish in the championship standings. This 13th place finish could easily have been a top 10 result had it not been for his crash, his first crash of the season, in the double points-paying season finale.

Dale Coyne Racing have never been known for their success in oval races, yet Ferrucci took to the oval tracks like a veteran. He finished in fourth place in the oval championship standings and made a very strong case for himself as perhaps the best oval driver in the series.

If he can improve upon his results in road and street course races, where he managed only three top 10 finishes and a top finish of ninth place, he could even be considered a dark-horse championship contender next year, no matter where he ends up driving.