IndyCar: Several seats remain unconfirmed in 2020 driver lineup

By Asher Fair | Nov 22, 2019

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Josef Newgarden #2 of United States and Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet races during the NTT IndyCar Series Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 22, 2019 in Monterey, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

Several seats remain unconfirmed in the 2020 IndyCar driver lineup with the offseason between the 2019 and 2020 seasons now two months underway.

Two months ago today, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden capped off a four-win 2019 season to capture his second IndyCar championship, his second title in the last three years.

There have been several driver confirmations since then as far as the the 2020 lineup is concerned, including Chip Ganassi Racing confirming Felix Rosenqvist and adding a third car for Marcus Ericsson, Arrow McLaren Racing SP confirming Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew as their two full-time drivers, Meyer Shank Racing announcing Jack Harvey as their full-time driver and forming a technical alliance with Andretti Autosport and Ed Carpenter Racing confirming Rinus VeeKay as the full-time replacement for Spencer Pigot.

In total, there are currently 18 drivers under contract to compete in each of the 2020 season’s 17 races, a decent total with just under four months remaining until the season is scheduled to get underway.

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But there are still several cars without unconfirmed drivers, including five that are set to compete in every race throughout the year along with one that is set to compete in the 12 road and street course races.

Two of these five full-time cars belong to A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and they have been driven by Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist in both of the last two seasons. Kanaan is slated to return to the #14 Chevrolet for a third season next year, but the team have not yet confirmed this. Even with the loss of ABC Supply Co. as their primary sponsor, they still plan to run a second car as well.

Two of the other full-time cars belong to Carlin. After Charlie Kimball and Max Chilton drove full-time for the team in their maiden season in IndyCar in 2018, they both drove for the team again in 2019.

But four other drivers, O’Ward, Conor Daly, RC Enerson and Sage Karam, drove for the team in 2019, and none of the six who competed for them at any point throughout the year drove full-time.

The other full-time car belongs to Dale Coyne Racing. Santino Ferrucci drove the #19 Honda for the team in the 2019 season and he has been tipped to return in 2020 unless he were to join Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as a third driver alongside Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have not confirmed a third car for 2020.

Finally, the road and street course car without a confirmed driver for the 2020 season belongs to Ed Carpenter Racing. Team owner Ed Carpenter is set to drive this car, the #20 Chevrolet, in the five oval races, and there have been a few drivers linked to land the seat in the 12 road and street course races, including Daly and Nico Hulkenberg. Carpenter ruled out Hulkenberg, however.

As stated above, there is also still a chance that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing add a third full-time car. They have shown interest in adding another entry for James Hinchcliffe, who was released by Arrow McLaren Racing SP despite the fact that he initially had a contract to drive for the team in the 2020 season.

Dale Coyne Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing have also confirmed interest in adding a car for Hinchcliffe, with the former currently operating as a two-car team and the latter currently operating as a three-car team.

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Which drivers will be confirmed with which teams over the course of the next few months before the 2020 IndyCar season gets underway? The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled to get the season started on Sunday, March 15 on the streets pf St. Petersburg, Florida.