IndyCar announcement leaves one team with no drivers for 2025

As a die-hard IndyCar fan who has been following this sport for over two decades, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity as we approach the 2025 season. The recent confirmations of drivers joining various teams have left me on the edge of my seat, especially with the announcement of Sting Ray Robb joining Juncos Hollinger Racing.

By the day, the roster of drivers competing in the 2025 IndyCar season is taking shape, with a total of 23 drivers now officially confirmed for the entire 17-race schedule, thanks to the latest announcement from Juncos Hollinger Racing.

It was officially announced that Sting Ray Robb will be joining Juncos Hollinger Racing starting from the 2025 season. Previously, this team along with another were the only ones yet to finalize their driver lineups for the upcoming year.

It’s not decided yet which of the two Chevrolets – the No. 77 or the No. 78 – the previous driver of A.J. Foyt Enterprises will take control of, as they haven’t confirmed it yet.

JHR-Robb news leaves Coyne as only driver-less team

In the year 2024, Romain Grosjean piloted car number 77 with Chevrolet, and he’s rumored to be a contender for partnering with Robb. Meanwhile, Conor Daly stepped in to drive car number 78 after Agustin Canapino, and he too is mentioned as a prospective driver for the team.

However, while Prema Racing has affirmed Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman as their drivers, Juncos Hollinger Racing has also been confirmed to be Robb’s third team in three years, leaving Dale Coyne Racing as the sole full-time team for 2025 without any officially announced drivers.

In 2024, Dale Coyne Racing experienced its first season without any full-time drivers since 2015, and predictably, it was also their first season in half a decade without earning a spot on the podium. Remarkably, they failed to make it into the top 12 throughout the entire season.

Regarding potential drivers for the No. 18 and No. 51 Hondas in 2025, any individual aspiring for a position should not be underestimated, regardless of their past experience in IndyCar racing.

In terms of talent, it would be challenging not to consider Linus Lundqvist, especially since he faced an unfavorable situation when Chip Ganassi Racing reduced their number of cars from five to three after the 2024 season. Despite this setback, Lundqvist managed to secure two podium finishes during his Rookie of the Year season in 2024.

Rinus VeeKay deserves recognition too; previously a race champion, he has recently found himself without a seat at Ed Carpenter Racing following five seasons, even though he continually surpassed the capabilities of his vehicles. More recently, he had trials with Dale Coyne’s team.

Besides Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLR), it’s only RLR that hasn’t yet filled a driver seat for the 2025 season. Christian Lundgaard has moved on to Arrow McLaren, and there’s no confirmation if Pietro Fittipaldi will return alongside Graham Rahal. However, RLR recently welcomed Indy NXT champion Louis Foster onto their team.

The upcoming 2025 IndyCar season will kick off on March 2nd, Sunday, in the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Under a fresh broadcast agreement, Fox will air live all 17 races from the season schedule, which runs through August 31st, with another grand finale at Nashville Superspeedway – making it the second year in a row for the season-ending event there.

2024-11-23 16:02