IndyCar: Two Ganassi drivers risk losing their rides, but not who you’d expect

As a seasoned IndyCar enthusiast with decades of racing passion under my belt, I must say that the proposed charter system has me intrigued, yet a tad concerned. The idea of capping field sizes and awarding charters based on entrant standings is not new to motorsports, but it’s always a delicate balance between competition and exclusivity.

Next year might see IndyCar implementing a new points-based charter system. Under this system, 25 spots will be allocated according to the rankings of entrants in the 2023 season, and no more than three charters can be awarded to any single team.

In this racing series, the maximum number of vehicles per event will be limited to 27, with all 25 charter entries guaranteed participation in every contest except for the Indy 500. For that iconic race, the field will continue to consist of the “Fastest 33” cars.

After Andretti Global reduces its fleet from four vehicles to three starting in 2024, Chip Ganassi Racing remains as the team with the most full-time entries, having increased from four to five cars for the same year.

2023 saw my No. 11 Honda team ending up in 14th position among all entrants, a spot that might warrant us a charter for 2025, if IndyCar chooses to follow that path. Interestingly, it was our fourth best finish out of all our entries for the season. The proposed charter system seems to be modeled after the Leaders’ Circle payouts, with a maximum of three per team and covering the top 22 competitors.

In the recent race, Alex Palou’s car numbered 10 and Scott Dixon’s car numbered 9, both Hondas, took the first and second positions respectively. Marcus Ericsson’s car, also a Honda with the number 8, came in sixth place. As a result, the cars 10, 9, and 8 will be the three granted charters for the year 2025. It’s worth noting that rookie Linus Lundqvist is now behind the wheel of the No. 8 Honda.

According to the latest updates, neither Marcus Armstrong in Ganassi’s No. 11 Honda nor Kyffin Simpson in the newly added No. 4 Honda will compete.

Next year, Prema Racing is poised to join IndyCar as a full-time team with a total of two vehicles. This addition will increase the number of full-time entries to 29. The new setup will result in regular competition between Ganassi’s two cars and Prema’s two cars, determining which drivers get to race and which ones have to sit out each week.

Considering the benefits that come with having one of the 25 charters compared to running a car without one, it wouldn’t be logical for Ganassi to persist in managing two non-chartered vehicles, especially when they are likely to outperform the new Italian teams on many weekends.

Could they theoretically put Palou and Dixon in the two non-charter cars?

From everything we know about the charter proposal thus far, it doesn’t seem like there would be a strict rule against it.

As a gamer stepping into the world of IndyCar racing for the first time, taking down drivers boasting an impressive eight (or nine) IndyCar titles wouldn’t just make the competition tougher; it would also jeopardize Ganassi’s top two championship contenders. If they don’t race every single weekend, it could significantly impact their chances of success throughout the season.

The current level of competition in IndyCar demonstrates that such an approach wouldn’t benefit Ganassi well; after all, even a faulty clock gets the time correct on occasion.

As a fervent follower, I can’t help but express my concern based on what Marshall Pruett of RACER.com suggests – this whole endeavor might lead to complications for Armstrong and Lundqvist.

In their initial seasons as permanent racers, both drivers managed to clinch top-three positions on the podium. Interestingly, Lundqvist went further by earning a spot for the pole position. However, it’s Simpson who provides the larger financial backing in comparison.

As a devoted fan, I’d say it seems like Scott Dixon, with the No. 8 Honda, might relinquish his third charter entry moving forward, given that Colton Simpson could be preferred due to the substantial financial backing he offers from his father David’s connections to our major sponsor, Ridgeline Lubricants.

In his debut IndyCar season, Simpson hasn’t managed to secure a position higher than twelfth place. Consequently, he currently ranks 20th overall after a series of eight races where he finished within the top 20 on just two occasions.

In the current standings, Armstrong is seated in 14th position, and Lundqvist follows closely behind in 18th place. Neither of them has had an extraordinary year so far in 2024. However, it’s worth noting that both have demonstrated a consistent edge over their younger teammate, who seems to have a secure future with Chip Ganassi Racing, despite speculation about a potential 40% reduction in the team’s car count.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m buzzing about the 2025 racing season! Andretti Global, Arrow McLaren, and Team Penske have already secured their three-car lineups. That leaves eight other teams scrambling to fill their seats and answer some pressing questions. The team that’s won three out of the last four championships is one to watch. Will Armstrong and Lundqvist find a spot there, or will they factor in elsewhere? Exciting times ahead!

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2024-08-05 16:02