With Jimmie Johnson signing on with Chip Ganassi Racing to race on road/street course races for the next two seasons, it has raised questions as to where Silly Season sits for the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021. We got a lot of new info over the last 48 hours on this front.

CGR is hoping to have Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson all back for next year. They’ll add a fourth car for Johnson. 

Speaking of adding cars, Meyer Shank Racing is in the market of adding a second car too. 

“We are thinking about a small expansion, only if it’s the right timing, yes,” said Mike Shank on Thursday. “We’re a team that eventually will be a two-car team. I don’t know when that will be, but I can guarantee you this, it won’t be until we’re ready. I made that promise to Jack a long time ago, to Jim Meyer, my wife, that are part of this ownership group. Someday, too, whenever that someday can be, it will be when everything aligns.

“If it happens at any time, we thought through all the pros and cons, ultimately does it help Jack, does it benefit the 60 car at all.”

As to what would hold them back, Shank says the easy answer is money. The more complicated one is who they can bring in to add to the program overall, whether it’s the team and engineering or with Jack as driving.

“Who do we think is going to add to this group, with our set of personalities, the people we have here, which are very handpicked,” Shank continued. “Everyone says that, but I promise you I’ve spent 26 years building a business relying on people. I’ve got many people that have worked for me for 20 years, and Jack knows a lot of them.

“If we can afford it, yes. What does it do to the whole program, help or hurt. Does it give a greater potential for the whole group. Does the tide rise.”

That likely means that Jack Harvey is back with them in 2021. What about their alliance with Andretti Autosport? That is still in the air but I can’t see that necessarily ending either. 

Andretti is working out their driver lineup themselves but all signs are pointing to them remaining a five car operation. Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta aren’t going anywhere. Marco Andretti is part owner on his car, so I don’t think he’ll fire himself. That leaves Zach Veach and Ryan Hunter-Reay. Both contracts are up. 

Hunter-Reay is working on a deal to return while Veach is the main one in question. Michael Andretti said that he would love to have James Hinchcliffe back full time for them but it all comes down to money. Hinchcliffe sliding in would be a great fit. 

The three Team Penske drivers seem to be set. Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud are definitely back as depending on whom you talk to, Will Power is either under contract or doesn’t hold the option for 2021 with the team. Scott McLaughlin is likely coming over in some form? Tim Cindric doesn’t like a four car stable, so does Power move out and McLaughlin in or does with the closure of the IMSA program allow Penske to move back to a four car full time IndyCar effort with the three coming back and an addition to McLaughlin?

Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing will surely bring Graham Rahal back but Takuma Sato is a free agent. 

“I think the best thing I can tell you is that both Takuma and us, we want to work together again next year,” said Bobby Rahal. “Takuma is, what, 43. I was racing when I was 45 and competitive. There’s no reason he can’t be either. He already is. We’ve had a number of good years with Takuma. We’d be silly not to want to continue with that. Nothing is formally done, but certainly we both would like to stay together.”

Dale Coyne Racing is working out their driver lineup. Santino Ferrucci is more than likely working on a year to year deal with them while Alex Palou confirmed on Thursday he’s on a one-year deal. He’d like to return in 2021 but knows that these next five races to round out the season are important to him coming back. 

Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya should be in play for rides as both are more than capable of coming back in and competing for wins. Ed Carpenter said that he’s interested in Castroneves but either could also join Ganassi and share the part time seat with Johnson. Montoya makes the most sense where Castroneves can shift to ECR in some capacity. 

Carlin would be wise to hire Conor Daly full time while ECR would be wise to allow Rinus VeeKay to come back. 

Arrow McLaren SP will likely return both Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew. They’d be foolish not to. 

AJ Foyt Racing is up in the air for their drivers. I don’t see them moving away from a two car outfit. Castroneves and Montoya would be in play here too.