My 2018 Silly Season Predictions

Hey y'all!

Welcome back to my blog!

I thought that with the IndyCar season wrapping up on Sunday that I would give my silly season predictions.

As most of you probably know, silly season basically started about a month ago with the news that Andretti might be switching to Chevy, which put everyone in a tizzy about the possibilities of what silly season could hold.

Now, we know that Andretti is staying with Honda so there are not as many moving parts as there were potentially a month ago.

However, there are still a lot of changes that are possible.

So before more things are confirmed I decided I better get going and make my predictions for what is going to happen in the remainder of silly season.

So lets get to it.

AJ Foyt Racing

The future of AJ Foyt Racing is uncertain that’s one thing that’s for sure. Neither of their drivers is confirmed yet for next year, which leaves a lot up in the air.

I personally think that they should keep both drivers on for another year. The team went through a lot of transitions, which I think led to a lot of their struggles this season. Just look at the teams results at the end of the season compared to the beginning: things have finally started to click.

If one of the drivers was going to stay with Foyt my money is on Daly. I cant quite explain why I think so, but I just do.

On the other hand, if one of the drivers were to be leaving I think it would be Munoz. I know that Munoz is a good driver, but he really hasn’t impressed me this season. But I know he has talent.

That being said, if her were to leave Foyt I could see him joining Schmidt Peterson or RLL if they add a third car like there have been rumors. I’ll discuss these predictions later in more detail.

If one of the drivers at Foty was to leave I like the possibility of Tony Kannan joining the team.

Robin Miller and Marshall Pruett made a good point that Kannan might be exactly what Foyt needs- a driver with experience that can lead the team.

I’m just going to say: I think Daly and TK would make great teammates.

However, TK’s season has been less than stellar and I’ve said it before, I think he should retire while he’s still on top before he starts spinning out on parade laps regularly..

But you know, I do think TK to Foyt would be a smart business move on Foty’s part so.. either way I guess we’ll see.

Andretti Autosports/Herta

The big domino to fall this silly season was going to be whether Andretti would switch to Chevy, which would have really switched up their driver roster. However, its been confirmed now that they are staying with Honda, so there will not be as much movement in the team.

Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter Reay were going to stay either way.

Alexander Rossi resigned after it was confirmed they would stay with Honda, which was honestly kind of disappointing.

I would have loved to see Rossi join Ganassi or SPM. Oh well.

The big shocker in the team was Takuma Sato leaving for RLL, which leaves an open seat in the Andretti camp.

There have been rumors that Andretti would add a 5th car, but I think that’s unlikely.

I think that if they can’t find a driver that they want to fill the 4th spot that they will just go down to three cars.

However, I think that they should fill their 4th spot with a driver from Indy Lights.

Zach Veach? Kyle Kieser? Zacahary Claman De Melo? Maybe even Sage Karam.

I’d love to see a rookie put in that seat. I think a rookie could really thrive in the environment that Andretti could offer with their seasoned veterans.

Or maybe they will just go down to three cars and wait a couple of years and then put Colton Herta in a 4th car.

Just staying, its possible.

Chip Ganassi Racing

The line up at Ganassi has been pretty stable over the years.

So for the first time in a while we will see things shaken up quite a bit.

The only driver that we can expect to see back next year driving for Ganassi is Scott Dixon.

It’s been clear for a while that Max Chilton and Tony Kannan were going to be gone.

And it’s not looking so good for Charlie Kimball either, but I really have no idea where he would end up though.

I honestly don’t think that Ganassi will be back with 4 cars next year.

Maybe three if they keep Kimball, but I’m banking on two.

I think that there is a slight chance that James Hinchcliffe could join the team. But only a slight chance.

I think that Ganassi should bring on a rookie.

I mean what rookie wouldn’t love to learn from Scott Dixon?

There are drivers lined up trying to get into the series that would love that seat, including all of the drivers I mentioned previously that Andretti could potentially take on.

Dale Coyne Racing

I don’t think there will be any movement at Coyne.

I know Sebastian Bourdais will be back for sure and I think that we will see Ed Jones back too.

At least I hope that after such an impressive rookie season that Dale would be smart enough to have him back.

If not I could see Ed Jones going to Ganassi, Andretti or SMP.

If Coyne does decided to let go of Jones I could see the seat being filled by Tony Kannan or Charlie Kimball (Kimball has the sponsorship needed).

And if Coyne adds a third car I think it would be filled by Esteban Gutierrez.

Ed Carpenter Racing

As Ed confirmed to Robin Miller at Watkins Glen, he will be driving next year. Ha

That being said, I hope that he has enough sense to run two full time drivers: JR Hildebrand and Spencer Pigot.

I, like everyone else, have been disappointed in JR’s comeback season.

And everyone knows how badly I wanted to see him back in a car and how happy I was when he return was announced.

That being said, I still have faith in JR and his driving and I think Ed does too.

So I am fairly confident that we will see JR back next year.

As for Spencer Pigot I really really hope that Ed comes to him senses and makes him full time.

He’s a legend in the making and I think that if Ed doesn’t sign him full time Spencer will find a ride somewhere else, like SPM.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Graham Rahal’s name is in the team so it’s no surprise that he will be back with the team next year.

However, the surprise addition of a second car with Takuma Sato was an interesting development that I was not expecting.

I am curious to see how that relationship will pan out. I say this because I think Rahal is a bit egocentric..

So really there isn’t anything to report for the team, but there has been rumors that they will add a third car. I think it’s unlikely so I won’t address it.

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Whether or not James Hinchcliffe will return with the team for 2018 has been the question of the season.

I think Hinch is going to stay.

Why wouldn’t he stay with a team where he’s the leader and he’s been successful?

I think that if they are able to find a good teammate for him (Pigot???) he will stay.

I think that if Ed Carpenter doesn’t sign Pigot full time he will go to SPM.

He’s a young driver that can learn from Hinch, he knows how to drive, and he doesn’t crash all of the time.

Team Penske

Last but not least.

We all know that we will see Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden back with Penske next year.

And if the rumors are true that will be it, just those three cars and Helio Castroneves will be no more and driving sports cars.

As much as I hope that its isn’t true I’m pretty sure that’s what will be happening.

The captain is a smart man so I just have to trust him and that this is the right decision..

To cheer myself up ill just think about the fact that last silly season Montoya was pushed aside and replaced by my favorite driver (Josef Newgarden), that is a fact that will always make me smile. Ha

Who's left?

There has been lots of talk about a couple of new teams forming in the 2018 season: Harding Racing and Juncos Racing,

I think that Carlin Racing starting with Max Chilton as their lead driver is highly possible.

Will they add a second driver? That I don't know.

As for Juncos Racing I think them starting a team and brining up their Indy Lights champion Kyle Kaiser is a likely possibility.

And maybe they would bring on Spencer Pigot who's driven for them before.

And then theres the possibility of Harding racing with Gabby Chavez becoming a full time team. Will they add a second driver?

Who knows. Its hard to predict who I think might be on a team when I don't know for sure if the team is actually going to be a team next year..

As for other potential drivers entering the series, lets take a look at who we have.

I think its highly likely that we will see Zach Veach in a car somewhere.

There has been talk of Robert Wickens joining the series, I think its unlikely. He's has very little experience in an IndyCar and there are other drivers that would be picked over him.

I think after filling in for Bourdais, Esteban Gutierrez would be a likely choice for someone who's looking for a driver.

Since Kyle Kaiser won the lights championship we know we will see him around for part of the year at least, but for the entirety of the season, I don't know.

I think we will only see Gabby Chavez if Harding Racing becomes a thing.

Jack Harvey and Jay Howard could be likely choices for a team. I'd expect to see them both back at Indy at least.

And then theres Sage Karam, people say they want him back in a full time ride, I'd prefer that he stays out of the cockpit.

I'm sure if he had more time to develop maybe he'd be a good driver, but I will just always think of him as the guy who crashes all the time. I can't help it.

I won't say any more.

But, no matter what I say, only time will tell who will be where at the start of the 2018 season.

I guess we will just wait and see.

xxkaitlyn

#racing #indycar #sillyseason