Likely grid for merged series
INDY CAR TEAMS
A.J. Foyt Racing
Driver: Darren Manning
Prediction: Foyt has threatened to quit if Champ Car teams get $1.2M subsidy. He knows if the Champ Car teams come in he'll be right back at the backmarker end of the grid where he was before the split. George no longer needs this field-filler team if merger happens.
Andretti Green Racing
Drivers: Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan, Hideki Mutoh, Danica Patrick
Prediction: Will field 4 cars.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Driver: Buddy Rice
Prediction: Team may field only 1 car because Tony George's money will go towards helping Champ Car teams this year. George no longer needs this field-filler team if merger happens.
Ganassi Racing
Drivers: Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon
Prediction: Will field at least 2 cars
Panther Racing
Driver: Vitor Meira
Prediction: Will field 1 car, but will pretty much be a backmarker
Penske Racing
Drivers: Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves
Prediction: Team will field 2 cars
Rahal Letterman Racing
Driver: Ryan Hunter-Reay
Prediction: Team will field at least 1 car. A 2nd car might be added if ride-buyer found.
Roth Racing
Drivers: Jay Howard, Marty Roth
Prediction: New full-time team could field 2 cars, but George no longer needs this field-filler team if merger happens.
Vision Racing
Driver: Ed Carpenter
Prediction: Team will field 2 cars, maybe 2 for Indy
CHAMP CAR TEAMS
Conquest Racing
Driver: Franck Perera
Prediction: Team owner has said he will field 2 cars
Dale Coyne Racing
Drivers: Bruno Junqueira, Mario Moraes
Prediction: Dale always finds a way to compete. Will field one or two cars. Junqueira may not want to risk hurting his back again on the ovals.
Forsythe Pettit Racing
Drivers: Paul Tracy, Franck Montagny
Prediction: Rumors are that Forsythe is having second thoughts but we predict they will field 2 cars
Minardi Team USA
Driver: Ernesto Viso and maybe Robert Doornbos
Prediction: We expect team will field 1 car and maybe 2 cars if Doornbos sponsors still want to back him even if race in Assen is cancelled
Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
Drivers: Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson
Prediction: Team will field 2 cars
PKV Racing
Drivers: Oriol Servia, Alex Tagliani
Prediction: Team will field 2 cars
Rocketsports Racing
Driver: Enrique Bernoldi
Prediction: Team owners says he can't make numbers work in the IRL, so zero cars
Pacific Coast Motorsports
Drivers: Alex Figge, David Martinez
Prediction: Team prefers road racing, but might make the switch with both drivers. Could also go sportscar racing again, which they did in the Grand-Am a few years ago.
Walker Racing
Driver: Will Power
Prediction: Will field 1 or 2 cars