Remaining IndyAutomotive seats for 2025 and certain prospects

There are 4 full-time spots left on the grid for the 2025 IndyAutomotive Series season, with greater than a handful of talented drivers competing for the spot. Here's a breakdown of what we're hearing, in addition to some thoughts on easy methods to play on the landscape checkerboard.

Juncos Hollinger Racing

Conor Daly and Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet

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Photo: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images

JHR has already announced that Sting Ray Robb will likely be one in all its two drivers for next yr. Some thought Romain Grosjean would return, especially after he led the team to its first-best IndyAutomotive finish with a fourth-place finish at Laguna Seca last season. He is on the shortlist of candidates, but he shouldn’t be the favourite.

As it stands, Conor Daly is the favourite to take the spot alongside Robb, with an announcement potentially made next week. A Hoosier native, Daly quickly established a relationship with the organization last season, though he joined the team for the ultimate five innings after the team parted ways with Agustin Canapino midseason. Daly's podium in Milwaukee helped push JHR back into the leaderboard – the highest 22 finishers in $1 million points.

In addition to Daly and Grosjean, the opposite driver on the JHR shortlist is Rinus VeeKay, who recently left Ed Carpenter Racing.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Pietro Fittipaldi and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda

Photo: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images

Graham Rahal and Louis Foster, the 2024 Indy NXT champion, are already committed to the RLL for 2025, with one spot left to fill the three-car lineup. Although Pietro Fittipaldi, who finished third within the table last season, may return, all the things indicates that the team is heading in a special direction. Notably, Fittpaldi recently signed with Pratt Miller Motorsports for next yr's LMP2 race in IMSA, teaming with Andretti Global Indy NXT driver James Roe.

Former Red Bull Formula 1 junior driver Jüri Vips competed twice within the RLL in 2023 but missed out on the full-time race last season. However, before his one-off appearance in Portland, he remained within the squad in a more developmental role. RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal consistently shows Vips patience and praise, which may repay in a full-time job.

With this in mind, the largest obstacle stopping Vips from taking off is funding, which is why the motive force in the sport might be Devlin DeFrancesco, who last raced in IndyAutomotive in 2023 with Andretti Global. During my guest appearance last week on “Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee,” Lee, a longtime IndyAutomotive reporter and announcer on NBC, said DeFrancesco was the highest candidate being considered by RLL.

Dale Coyne Racing

Katherine Legge and Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Photo: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images

There is probably not a greater series of musical chair routines than the band owned by Dale Coyne. This is undoubtedly the gift that keeps on giving in relation to random names from random places, but additionally finding diamonds within the rough [see Alex Palou].

In many respects, the 2025 season could look very just like the previous campaign by way of driver turnover in each positions – although there isn’t a doubt that we’re aiming to have no less than one full-time driver. So, with loads of drivers to select from, that is most certainly a destination for several part-time jobs that may mix to present you two full-time entries.

After testing with the team on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month, Veekay could have had Coyne's seat for some time. Another possibility is Grosjean's return. He last drove for the team during his part-time IndyAutomotive profession in 2021.

Toby Sowery, who impressed in three appearances for the team last season, is prone to return in some capability. The Briton also recently tested DCR at The Thermal Club earlier this month. After seven starts last yr with Coyne, Katherine Legge is the following to return for select rounds.

We're intrigued by what could materialize by keeping the Fittipaldi name online. Pietro, who has a superb relationship with Coyne, drove for the team part-time in 2018 and 2021. In addition, his brother Enzo tested with Coyne in October 2023 and is nearing the top of his third full-time Formula 2 season.

Another name that would potentially be within the cockpit in some role is Hunter McElrea, who began with Coyne in Toronto last season. There is little mention of 2022 Indy NXT Champion Linus Lundqvist, who finished on the rostrum twice during his rookie campaign before being released by Chip Ganassi Racing. However, the largest obstacle for the Swede, as for a lot of, is funding.

Jacob Abel, the 2024 Indy NXT title runner-up, is known to be making a powerful push for Coyne's full-time spot next season. He tested with the team at Sebring a couple of yr ago and in addition tested CGR machines at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month.

Jack Harvey and Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Photo: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images

Although Jack Harvey played a major role in DCR last yr (14 starts), thoughts about his continued role have modified after recently signing a contract with Dreyer & Reinbold for a one-off appearance in next yr's Indianapolis 500.

Among other candidates unlikely to search out a starting spot next yr, no less than regularly, is former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant, who tested an Indy automobile with Meyer Shank Racing at The Thermal Club earlier this month. He and three-time W Series champion and Indy NXT winner Jamie Chadwick recently signed on to the European Le Mans Series programs, which include multiple scheduling conflicts with IndyAutomotive in 2025.