IndyCar: 3 possible oval drivers for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023
By Asher Fair
Possible Chip Ganassi Racing drivers: No. 2 – Takuma Sato
Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Takuma Sato would be stepping back from his full-time role with Dale Coyne Racing and becoming a part-time ovals-only driver. However, there is a chance that he could take on this role with a team other than the team he drove for in 2022.
Interestingly, Marcus Armstrong had reportedly been in talks about driving full-time for Dale Coyne Racing in 2023, with Sato in a third part-time entry. Could Sato now end up splitting a ride with Armstrong at Chip Ganassi Racing?
It is well-known that Dale Coyne Racing, which have had a partnership with Rick Ware Racing since the 2021 season, also have a growing partnership with HMD Motorsports. They fielded the No. 18 Honda for David Malukas, the son of HMD owner Henry Malukas, during the 2022 season, and they are keen to find a place for Linus Lundqvist.
Lundqvist won the 2022 Indy Lights championship driving for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing, yet he hasn’t yet announced any sort of deal for the 2023 IndyCar season.
As for Sato, driving the No. 11 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing in the five oval races would give him an amazing opportunity to become a three-time Indy 500 winner — and with three different teams. He won his first Indy 500 in 2017 with Andretti Autosport before winning his second in 2020 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
In terms of Indy 500 winning capability, Sato is unquestionably the top option for Chip Ganassi’s team.