2022 IndyCar Silly Season update (3rd Update)
A reader writes,
Dear AutoRacing1.com, where do you think Kyle Kirkwood will take his $1.3 million when he wins the 2021 Indy Lights title? Joe Long
Dear Joe, Rumor has it that Michael Andretti will not let his soon-to-be Indy Lights champion take that money anywhere but under Andretti’s roof. We suspect the reason why Devlin DeFrancesco has not yet been announced to drive the #29 car next year, is to see if Kirkwood wins the title and the money. If he does, we suspect Kirkwood and DeFrancesco will share the #29 seat in 2021.
The other option for Andretti is to have their satellite team, Meyer Shank Racing, run a third car for Kirkwood, part-time or maybe even full-time, while DeFrancesco runs the #29 full-time. Mark C. Reporting
September 29, 2021
Simon Pagenaud was confirmed at Meyer Shank Racing yesterday, so here is our updated 2022 IndyCar Silly Season table:
Last Updated September 28, 2021
| 2022 IndyCar Silly Season Page |
||||||
| Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Primary Sponsor | Rating | Comments |
| AJ Foyt Racing |
Chevy |
4 | Dalton Kellett | K-Line | Strong | |
| 14 | Sebastien Bourdais | ROKIT | Strong | Indy 500 only. IMSA full-time in 2022 | ||
| 14 | Tatiana Calderon | ROKIT | Speculation | Could replace Bourdais | ||
| 11 | Charlie Kimball | Tresiba | Speculation | |||
Andretti Autosport |
Honda |
25 |
Stefan Wilson | Lohla Sport | Speculation | Indy 500 Only |
| 26 |
Colton Herta | Gainbridge | Fact | Signed | ||
| 27 | Alexander Rossi | NAPA and AutoNation | Fact | Signed | ||
| 28 | Romain Grosjean | TBA/Miami Breeze Car Care | Fact | Replaces RHR. | ||
| 29 | Devlin DeFrancesco and Kyle Kirkwood | PowerTap Hydrogen | Strong | Replace Hinch | ||
| Arrow McLaren SP | Chevy | 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow | Fact | Signed |
| 7 | Felix Rosenqvist | Arrow | Fact | Signed | ||
| 6 | Juan Montoya | TBD | Speculation | Indy 500 only | ||
| Carlin Racing | Chevy | 59 | Max Chilton | Gallagher Insurance | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| TBD | TBD | Speculation | Needs Ride Buyer Money | |||
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Huski Chocolate | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 9 | Scott Dixon | PNC Bank | Fact | Signed | ||
| 10 | Alex Palou | NTT Data | Fact | Signed | ||
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Carvana | Fact | May run full season | ||
| Dale Coyne Racing w/Rick Ware Racing | Honda | 18 | Ed Jones | Sealmaster | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 51 | Takuma Sato | Panasonic? | Strong | Replacing Romain Grosjean | ||
| 52 | Ryan Norman | Koinu Inu Cryptro | Speculation | |||
| 52 | Cody Ware | TBD | Speculation | |||
| Dreyer Reinbold | Chevy | 24 | Sage Karam | Wix | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| 67 | JR Hildebrand | Salesforce | Strong | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevy |
21 | Rinus Veekay | Sonax | Fact | Signed |
| 20 |
Ed Carpenter | US Space Force | Fact | Ovals Only | ||
| Nico Hulkenberg | TBD | Speculation | Road and Street Only | |||
| Conor Daly | US Air Force | Strong | Looking for $ | |||
| Juncos Hollinger Racing | Chevy | 77 | Callum Ilott | TBD | Fact | Signed full season |
| Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 60 | Simon Pagenaud | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Fact | Penske may cut him loose |
| Kyle Kirkwood | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Speculation | Would bring Lights Championship $1.3 million for part-time 3rd car | |||
| 06 | Helio Castroneves | TBD | Fact | Signed | ||
| Paretta Autosport | Chevy | 16 | Simona De Silvestro | TBD | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Honda | 15 | Graham Rahal | United Rentals | Fact | Signed |
| 30 |
Christian Lundgaard | TBD | Strong | Has given up on F1 dream | ||
| 45 | Jack Harvey | HyVee | Strong | Leaving MSR to fill team’s 3rd full-time car for 2022 | ||
| Santino Ferrucci | HyVee | Speculation | ||||
| Team Penske | Chevy | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Hitachi | Fact | Signed |
| 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Shell, PPG | Fact | Signed | ||
| 12 | Will Power | Verizon | Fact | Signed | ||
| 22 | Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Top Gun Racing | Chevy | RC Enerson | US Navy? | Fact | Indy 500 Only? | |
September 24, 2021
Romain Grosjean was confirmed at Andretti today.
Next up is Canada’s Andretti Lights driver Devlin DeFrancesco is set to complete their 4-car IndyCar team next season in a multi-year deal, replacing the car currently piloted by James Hinchcliffe. We still have him as ‘strong’ below, but it will go to ‘fact’ before long.
Callum Ilott has also been confirmed for a full season in the #77 Juncos Hollinger Chevy.
Rumor has it that Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood, who is on the verge of winning the Indy Lights title, will be announced in a couple of weeks as an IndyCar driver for 2022 and our sources say it could be at Meyer Shank Racing – a satellite team to Andretti Autosport.
Last Updated September 24, 2021
| 2022 IndyCar Silly Season Page |
||||||
| Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Primary Sponsor | Rating | Comments |
| AJ Foyt Racing |
Chevy |
4 | Dalton Kellett | K-Line | Strong | |
| 14 | Sebastien Bourdais | ROKIT | Strong | Likely to re-sign | ||
| 14 | Tatiana Calderon | ROKIT | Speculation | Could replace Bourdais | ||
| 11 | Charlie Kimball | Tresiba | Speculation | |||
Andretti Autosport |
Honda |
25 |
Stefan Wilson | Lohla Sport | Speculation | Indy 500 Only |
| Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | |||
| 26 |
Colton Herta | Gainbridge | Fact | Signed | ||
| 27 | Alexander Rossi | NAPA and AutoNation | Fact | Signed | ||
| 28 | Romain Grosjean | TBA/Miami Breeze Car Care | Fact | Replaces RHR. | ||
| 29 | Devlin DeFrancesco | PowerTap Hydrogen | Strong | Replace Hinch | ||
| Arrow McLaren SP | Chevy | 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow | Fact | Signed |
| 7 | Felix Rosenqvist | Arrow | Speculation | Has to step up his game | ||
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Arrow | Speculation | Eying IndyCar | ||
| 6 | Juan Montoya | TBD | Speculation | Indy 500 only | ||
| Carlin Racing | Chevy | 59 | Max Chilton | Gallagher Insurance | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| TBD | TBD | Speculation | Needs Ride Buyer Money | |||
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Huski Chocolate | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 9 | Scott Dixon | PNC Bank | Fact | Signed | ||
| 10 | Alex Palou | NTT Data | Fact | Signed | ||
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Carvana | Fact | May run full season | ||
| Dale Coyne Racing w/Rick Ware Racing | Honda | 18 | Ed Jones | Sealmaster | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 51 | Takuma Sato | Panasonic? | Strong | Replacing Romain Grosjean | ||
| Honda | 52 | Ryan Norman | Koinu Inu Cryptro | Speculation | ||
| 52 | Cody Ware | TBD | Speculation | |||
| Dreyer Reinbold | Chevy | 24 | Sage Karam | Wix | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| 67 | JR Hildebrand | Salesforce | Strong | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevy |
21 | Rinus Veekay | Sonax | Fact | Signed |
| Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | |||
| 20 |
Ed Carpenter | US Space Force | Fact | Ovals Only | ||
| Nico Hulkenberg | TBD | Speculation | Road and Street Only | |||
| Conor Daly | US Air Force | Strong | Looking for $ | |||
| Juncos Hollinger Racing | Chevy | 77 | Callum Ilott | TBD | Fact | Signed full season |
| Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 60 | Simon Pagenaud | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Strong | Penske may cut him loose |
| 60 | Kyle Kirkwood | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Speculation | Would bring Lights $1 million | ||
| 06 | Helio Castroneves | TBD | Fact | Signed | ||
| Paretta Autosport | Chevy | 16 | Simona De Silvestro | TBD | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Honda | 15 | Graham Rahal | United Rentals | Fact | Signed |
| 30 |
Christian Lundgaard | TBD | Strong | Has given up on F1 dream | ||
| 45 | Antonio Felix da Costa |
TBD | False | Will not happen | ||
| Jack Harvey | HyVee | Strong | Leaving MSR to fill team’s 3rd full-time car for 2022 | |||
| Santino Ferrucci | HyVee | Speculation | ||||
| Team Penske | Chevy | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Hitachi | Fact | Signed |
| 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Shell, PPG | Strong | Penske may send him to IMSA unless he steps up his game | ||
| 12 | Will Power | Verizon | Fact | Signed | ||
| 22 | Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Top Gun Racing | Chevy | RC Enerson | US Navy? | Fact | Indy 500 Only? | |
September 16, 2021
Autosport is rumoring that Takuma Sato is close to signing a deal with the Dale Coyne Racing IndyCar team for 2022, to replace Romain Grosjean who is rumored headed to Andretti Autosport.
It was also confirmed this week that Ryan Hunter-Reay would not be returning to Andretti Autosport.
Our 2022 Silly Season page is updated accordingly.
Last Updated September 16, 2021
| 2022 IndyCar Silly Season Page |
||||||
| Team | Engine | No. | Driver | Primary Sponsor | Rating | Comments |
| AJ Foyt Racing |
Chevy |
4 | Dalton Kellett | K-Line | Strong | |
| 14 | Sebastien Bourdais | ROKIT | Strong | Likely to re-sign | ||
| 14 | Tatiana Calderon | ROKIT | Speculation | Could replace Bourdais | ||
| 11 | Charlie Kimball | Tresiba | Speculation | |||
Andretti Autosport |
Honda |
25 |
Stefan Wilson | Lohla Sport | Speculation | Indy 500 Only |
| Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | |||
| 26 |
Colton Herta | Gainbridge | Fact | Signed | ||
| 27 | Alexander Rossi | NAPA and AutoNation | Fact | Signed, but Penske beckons | ||
| 28 | Romain Grosjean | TBA/Miami Breeze Car Care | Fact | Replaces RHR. | ||
| 29 | Devlin DeFrancesco | PowerTap Hydrogen | Strong | Replace Hinch | ||
| Arrow McLaren SP | Chevy | 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow | Fact | Signed |
| 7 | Felix Rosenqvist | Arrow | Speculation | Has to step up his game | ||
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Arrow | Speculation | Eying IndyCar | ||
| 6 | Juan Montoya | TBD | Speculation | Indy 500 only | ||
| Carlin Racing | Chevy | 59 | Max Chilton | Gallagher Insurance | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| TBD | TBD | Speculation | Needs Ride Buyer Money | |||
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Huski Chocolate | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 9 | Scott Dixon | PNC Bank | Fact | Signed | ||
| 10 | Alex Palou | NTT Data | Fact | Signed | ||
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Carvana | Fact | May run full season | ||
| Dale Coyne Racing w/Rick Ware Racing | Honda | 18 | Ed Jones | Sealmaster | Strong | Likely to re-sign |
| 51 | Takuma Sato | Panasonic? | Strong | Replacing Romain Grosjean | ||
| Honda | 52 | Ryan Norman | Koinu Inu Cryptro | Speculation | ||
| 52 | Cody Ware | TBD | Speculation | |||
| Dreyer Reinbold | Chevy | 24 | Sage Karam | Wix | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| 67 | JR Hildebrand | Salesforce | Strong | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevy |
21 | Rinus Veekay | Sonax | Fact | Signed |
| Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | |||
| 20 |
Ed Carpenter | US Space Force | Fact | Ovals Only | ||
| Nico Hulkenberg | TBD | Speculation | Road and Street Only | |||
| Conor Daly | US Air Force | Strong | Looking for $ | |||
| Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 60 | Simon Pagenaud | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Strong | Penske may cut him loose |
| 60 | Kyle Kirkwood | AutoNation and SiriusXM | Speculation | Would bring Lights $1 million | ||
| 06 | Helio Castroneves | TBD | Fact | Signed | ||
| Paretta Autosport | Chevy | 16 | Simona De Silvestro | TBD | Strong | Indy 500 Only |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Honda | 15 | Graham Rahal | United Rentals | Fact | Signed |
| 30 |
Christian Lundgaard | TBD | Strong | Has given up on F1 dream | ||
| 45 | Antonio Felix da Costa |
TBD | False | Will not happen | ||
| Jack Harvey | HyVee | Strong | Leaving MSR to fill team’s 3rd full-time car for 2022 | |||
| Santino Ferrucci | HyVee | Speculation | ||||
| Team Penske | Chevy | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Hitachi | Fact | Signed |
| 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Shell, PPG | Strong | Penske may send him to IMSA unless he steps up his game | ||
| 12 | Will Power | Verizon | Fact | Signed | ||
| 22 | Kyle Larson | HendrickCars.com | Speculation | Indy 500 Only | ||
| Top Gun Racing | Chevy | RC Enerson | US Navy? | Fact | Indy 500 Only? | |