Rosenqvist to join Ganassi IndyCar team for 2019? (3rd Update)

Felix Rosenqvist

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' with today's announcement. Our 2019 IndyCar Silly Season page has also been updated.

09/17/18 Felix Rosenqvist could contest a twin campaign between the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2019.

A complex deal is believed to have been in discussion for a number of weeks to work out how the three-time Formula E race-winner could appear in both series.

The 27-year-old has been widely reported to have signed an IndyCar contract and AR1.com originally thought that confirmation of his deal was set to be made public shortly. However, over the weekend we learned that Ed Jones was back in play at Ganassi in 2019, and it was rumored that was because Rosenqvist had backed away from IndyCar after learning of Robert Wickens' injuries.

Hence, we do not know for certain whether Rosenqvist has decided to stick with the safer Formula E series that runs the safer Halo device, or whether IndyCar is still in play for him

If IndyCar is still his priority, the discussions between Mahindra Racing and his new IndyCar team are believed to center around the Swede competing in the opening three Formula E races of the 2018-19 season before he begins his IndyCar career.

He would then appear at non-clashing events through the rest of the Formula E season.

Conflicts between the two series’ schedules could see him missing the Formula E races in Hong Kong, Rome, Berlin, Switzerland and the New York City finale.

Formula E drivers will be protected by the Halo Device with the new car. IndyCar is working on a windscreen but it offers no where near the protection the Halo Device offers when the car gets up into the lethal catch-fences

08/30/18 When asked about his situation with Mahindra in Formula E, Rosenqvist told Autosport: "It's complicated, I don't really want to disclose any details about my contract.

"It looks like I will continue with them [Mahindra]. I'm also looking at some other things. It's not set, it's quite open.

"In some way, I will continue with Mahindra, definitely. I'm always looking to do other things as well.

"Obviously Formula 1 is not on the poster for me at this point – that would always be the target. Apart from that, I think it's IndyCar or Formula E.

"I think DTM [in which he competed in 2016] is not really in the same place as it was a few years ago. Now it's Formula E or go to the States.

"Those two are top of the list, I would say."

08/27/18 Formula E driver Felix Rosenqvist has signed to drive for front-running IndyCar team Ganassi in 2019, RaceFans rumors (very strong). We await the announcement.

Ganassi tested Rosenqvist in 2016 and 2017, and described his last outing for them as “flawless". However the team cut its entry from four cars last year to two for this season, leaving no room for the 22-year-old in their line-up at the time.

Four-time IndyCar champion and current points leader Scott Dixon signed a new multi-year deal with the team earlier this season. Ganassi does not intend to expand beyond two cars next year, meaning Ed Jones is set to lose his drive to Rosenqvist at the end of his first season at the team.

Rosenqvist is considered one of the top talents of recent seasons to have been overlooked by Formula 1. He won the 2015 European Formula Three championship for Prema and is a two-time winner of the Macau Grand Prix.

He has already had a brief spell of racing in America, where he won three Indy Lights races with Belardi, including his second start for the team at St Petersburg. He then moved on to Formula E with Mahindra, finishing third in the 2017-17 championship. RaceFans

We have updated our 2019 IndyCar Silly Season page accordingly