The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season ended this past Sunday afternoon with the Misson Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, although the championship was clinched one week beforehand at the Milwaukee Mile by Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, the five-time champion who has now clinched the title at least one race early in three of the past four years.
Silly season was a major talking point throughout much of the 2026 season, with the announcements of lineup changes for the 2027 season starting to roll in relatively soon after the checkered flag flew on May's Indy 500.
There are still several vacancies in the 25-car full-time lineup for 2027, including three entire teams that have yet to make any driver announcements.
A.J. Foyt Enterprises have two open seats, although Santino Ferrucci is expected to return for a fifth year behind the wheel of the No. 14 Chevrolet. Dale Coyne Racing have two open seats, although it's not uncommon for them to wait until two weeks before the season to solidify their lineup. And Juncos Hollinger racing have two open seasons, although Rinus VeeKay is expected to return for a second season behind the wheel of the No. 76 Chevrolet.
5 lineup changes confirmed for 2027 IndyCar season, with more to come
The big remaining vacancy, however, is behind the wheel of the No. 9 Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing, where Scott Dixon had spent the past 25 years before deciding to leave for Arrow McLaren.
Dixon's move to McLaren is one of five changes confirmed in IndyCar's driver lineup for the 2027 season. He is set to be joined by Felix Rosenqvist, this year's Indy 500 winner with Meyer Shank Racing, as they reunite as teammates to replace Christiain Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel alongside Pato O'Ward in the No. 7 Chevrolet and No 6. Chevrolet, respectively. Dixon and Rosenqvist spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons together at Ganassi.
Set to replace Rosenqvist is Mick Schumacher, who spent his rookie season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. However, Schumacher is set to take over Marcus Armstrong's No. 66 Honda, as Armstrong is set to move over to what was Rosenqvist's No. 60 Honda.
The other change also comes as a direct result of RLL Racing's decision to downsize from three cars to two, and that is the return of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to IndyCar's full-time lineup for the first time since 2012.
After purchasing a charter from RLL, forming a technical alliance, and switching to Honda, the 11th team on the grid announced that Conor Daly is set to drive the No. 24 car next year.
Following an offseason of roughly six months, the 2027 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 7 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Live coverage of the entire season is set to be provided by Fox.
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