IndyCar: Is the 2020 full-time driver lineup set?

With Dale Coyne Racing having confirmed Santino Ferrucci for the 2020 IndyCar season, is the full-time driver lineup set?

Just one day after A.J. Foyt Enterprises made Charlie Kimball the first driver to be confirmed for the full 2020 IndyCar season in over one month, Dale Coyne Racing confirmed that Santino Ferrucci is set to return for the team through a partnership with Vasser-Sullivan.

That brings the full-time driver lineup total to 20 with under two months remaining before the season is scheduled to get underway on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday, March 15.

There are still three more available seats that have been confirmed for the entire 17-race season but do not have any drivers tied to them. But is the full-time driver lineup now set following the confirmations of Kimball and Ferrucci?

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These three open seats are at A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Carlin. The #14 Chevrolet, which was driven by Tony Kanaan in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, does not have a confirmed driver lineup alongside Kimball behind the wheel of the #4 Chevrolet, and Carlin have two open seats and absolutely nothing confirmed about their 2020 driver lineup.

Let’s start by discussing what has been Kanaan’s ride. Amid the confirmation of Kimball as their full-time driver, team president Larry Foyt stated that he sees Kanaan continuing to drive for the team in the 2020 season. However, this would likely be in a part-time capacity through a deal that includes at least the five oval races.

Two other names have been linked to this ride: Dalton Kellett and Sebastien Bourdais. Kellett, a former Indy Lights driver, reportedly brings enough funding to sustain a part-time ride, and Bourdais, who was unexpectedly released by Dale Coyne Racing after the 2019 season, would not be able to compete throughout the entire season anyway because of his full-time switch to IMSA.

As for Carlin, it’s like playing pin the tail on the donkey. Last season, they did not have any full-time drivers. Max Chilton was supposed to be their lone full-time competitor, down from two in 2018 when Chilton and Kimball ran full-time in the team’s maiden season, but he pulled out of the oval events after failing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

By the end of the season, six drivers had driven for Carlin at some point in the 2019 season, or seven if you want to include the Carlin-supported McLaren entry in which Fernando Alonso attempted — and embarrassingly failed — to qualify for the Indy 500.

Set the over/under for 2020 at 5.5.

Then there is James Hinchcliffe, whose options for a full-time Honda ride are officially shot, unless Honda are willing to supply 14 engines full-time. Reports suggest that 13 is their limit, and they have already hit that number, but Hinchcliffe does have sponsorship for the two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

Could he parlay that into a part-time ride with Honda? Could he potentially make the switch to Chevrolet and drive for Carlin full-time? Don’t rule anything out as he continues to try to get back on the grid after being cut by Arrow McLaren SP a few months ago.

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Is the 2020 IndyCar full-time driver lineup set following the confirmations of Charlie Kimball and Santino Ferrucci at A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan, respectively, or will A.J. Foyt Enterprises and/or Carlin add a full-time driver between now and the start of the season on Sunday, March 15? Will James Hinchcliffe land the full-time ride he has been seeking?