IndyCar: Driver lineup changes from 2019 to 2020

The 2020 IndyCar driver lineup looks fairly different than the 2019 driver lineup. What changed from one season to the next?

The 2020 IndyCar driver lineup is set, with 21 full-time drivers having been confirmed for the upcoming 17-race season, the highest total since the 2001 CART season.

There are a total of 24 full-time entries that have been confirmed, although there are four full-time entries, not three, without confirmed full-time drivers, as one of the 21 full-time drivers is slated to drive two cars throughout the year.

Last year, there were 19 full-time drivers, including 18 who competed in all 17 races on the schedule. Of these 19 drivers, 17 are set to be back in 2020, but only 14 are slated to continue driving full-time.

More from IndyCar

• IndyCar: Two teams with no drivers confirmed for 2024
• IndyCar: Chip Ganassi Racing news hints Alex Palou announcement
• IndyCar: ‘Addition by subtraction’ could pay off in a big way
• Team Penske should make a bold driver signing for 2024
• IndyCar: 5 teams that still have open seats for 2024

Of these 14 drivers, 12 are set to continue driving for the same team while two have switched teams. Of the 12 who are set to continue driving for the same team, two are set to pilot different cars.

Of the three full-time drivers who are set to return from last year but as part-time drivers, just one is set to return with the same organization.

Meanwhile, seven drivers who did not compete on a full-time basis in the 2019 season are slated to do so in the 2020 season. Of these seven drivers, three are slated to compete for the Rookie of the Year Award. None of these three rookies have any previous IndyCar experience.

The other four drivers who are slated to compete full-time in the 2020 season after not doing so last year all competed part-time in 2019. Three of them have actually competed in the series for several years, with the most experienced one having previously been a full-time driver for eight seasons.

Here is a list of the changes to the driver lineup ahead of the 2020 season.

NOTE: (R) means rookie. Only full-time entries are listed.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises

#4 Chevrolet

• IN: Charlie Kimball
• OUT: Matheus Leist

#14 Chevrolet

• IN: Tony Kanaan (part-time), Dalton Kellett (part-time), Sebastien Bourdais (part-time)
• OUT: Tony Kanaan (full-time)

Andretti Autosport

#88 Honda

• IN: Colton Herta (Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport)

Arrow McLaren SP

#5 Honda-turned-Chevrolet

• IN: Patricio O’Ward
• OUT: James Hinchcliffe

#7 Honda-turned-Chevrolet

• IN: Oliver Askew (R)
• OUT: Marcus Ericsson

Carlin

#31 Chevrolet

• IN: Felipe Nasr (R) (part-time), full driver lineup TBD
• OUT: Charlie Kimball (part-time), Patricio O’Ward (part-time), Sage Karam (part-time), RC Enerson (part-time)

Chip Ganassi Racing

#8 Honda

• IN: Marcus Ericsson

Dale Coyne Racing

#18 Honda

• IN: Santino Ferrucci (with Vasser-Sullivan)
• OUT: Sebastien Bourdais

#19 Honda

• OUT: Santino Ferrucci

#55 Honda

• IN: Alex Palou (R) (with Team Goh)

Ed Carpenter Racing

#20 Chevrolet

• IN: Conor Daly (road and street courses only)
• OUT: Ed Jones

#21 Chevrolet

• IN: Rinus VeeKay (R)
• OUT: Spencer Pigot

Meyer Shank Racing

#60 Honda

• IN: Jack Harvey (full-time)
• OUT: Jack Harvey (part-time)

Team Penske

#1 Chevrolet

• IN: Josef Newgarden (reigning champion)

#2 Chevrolet

• OUT: Josef Newgarden (took #1)

The 2020 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.