The NTT IndyCar Series driver lineup is one step closer to being solidified for the 2027 season, following the long-awaited announcement that ex-Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard is set to replace the McLaren-bound Scott Dixon behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
It's the second announcement of the offseason already, with A.J. Foyt Enterprises having made the surprise announcement that ex-Dale Coyne Racing driver Dennis Hauger is set to replace Santino Ferrucci behind the wheel of the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet.
Five open seats remain on the 25-car grid. Here's what we know so far.
What's already confirmed in the 2027 IndyCar lineup
Team | Car | Driver |
|---|---|---|
A.J. Foyt Enterprises | No. 14 Chevrolet | Dennis Hauger |
Andretti Global | No. 26 Honda | Will Power |
Andretti Global | No. 27 Honda | Kyle Kirkwood |
Andretti Global | No. 28 Honda | Marcus Ericsson |
Arrow McLaren | No. 5 Chevrolet | Pato O'Ward |
Arrow McLaren | No. 6 Chevrolet | Scott Dixon |
Arrow McLaren | No. 7 Chevrolet | Felix Rosenqvist |
Chip Ganassi Racing | No. 8 Honda | Kyffin Simpson |
Chip Ganassi Racing | No. 9 Honda | Christian Lundgaard |
Chip Ganassi Racing | No. 10 Honda | Alex Palou |
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | No. 24 Honda | Conor Daly |
Ed Carpenter Racing | No. 20 Chevrolet | Alexander Rossi |
Ed Carpenter Racing | No. 21 Chevrolet | Christian Rasmussen |
Meyer Shank Racing | No. 60 Honda | Marcus Armstrong |
Meyer Shank Racing | No. 66 Honda | Mick Schumacher |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | No. 15 Honda | Graham Rahal |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | No. 45 Honda | Louis Foster |
Team Penske | No. 2 Chevrolet | Josef Newgarden |
Team Penske | No. 3 Chevrolet | Scott McLaughlin |
Team Penske | No. 12 Chevrolet | David Malukas |
Who lands the five remaining vacancies?
Let's start with the new most obvious "worst-kept secret", following the Lundgaard announcement.
No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Rinus VeeKay's name was briefly mentioned as a possible Dixon replacement, but he was never a serious challenger to Lundgaard. The fact that he finished 10th in the championship standings, a new career-high in his seventh season, in his first year with Juncos Hollinger Racing leads me to believe that this could be a very successfully long-term partnership.
Some reports have suggested that VeeKay's return has already been formalized, even if not publicized. There's no reason to think otherwise.
No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
With Hauger out, there will once again be changes at Dale Coyne Racing. But I don't think those changes will take place in the No. 18 team. Dale Coyne's team remains rumored to add a rookie, and retaining a veteran presence in Romain Grosjean, who quietly extended one of the sport's most underappreciated streaks with his runner-up finish in Markham, could prove massive.
No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
IndyCar's new licensing standards could indeed put a wrench in the team's well-known plans to bring in Josh Pierson and his sizable budget, even following his first Indy NXT win at the end of the 2026 season. But I don't believe those licensing standards will prevent him from landing at least a part-time ride.
However, Ferrucci returning for the ovals remains an intriguing possibility, especially as he has publicly stated that he has spoken to the team about remaining with them part-time. He is also eight-for-eight in terms of finishing the Indy 500 in the top 10.
No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Reigning Indy NXT champion Nikita Johnson wants to be in IndyCar next year, and this landing spot makes the most sense, just one year after then-reigning champ Hauger landed the same seat. That said, it's not a foregone conclusion, since his name has also been mentioned for the other open seat. However, that other open seat now reportedly has a new frontrunner.
No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Callum Ilott is a driver whom many believe should be in the series full-time, and he has reportedly been working on putting together the budget to make that a possibility after missing the 2026 season entirely.
A reunion with Juncos Hollinger Racing, where he competed from 2021 to 2023, would indisputably give them their best overall lineup since entering the series, if how the initial relationship ended doesn't prove to be an obstacle. It certainly shouldn't, given some of the changes within the team in the three-plus years since then.
Fox is set to provide live coverage of the entire 2027 NTT IndyCar Series season, starting with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg from the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday, March 7, although the full schedule has not yet been announced.
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