INDIANAPOLIS — Chip Ganassi Racing made the shock decision on Monday to promote Kyffin Simpson to a fifth full-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES entry in 2024. The question now is, does this come from Honda’s already existing allocation or is this a new one?

See, there’s rumors that Andretti Autosport could downsize from 4 full-time cars to 3. If so, it makes sense to shift Honda’s resources from Andretti to Ganassi in this new effort. If Andretti remains a four-car team, then where does this come from or is Honda willing to expand past 15 full-time entries?

Right now, Honda has 11 of the 15 filled.

Chip Ganassi Racing (5): Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Marcus Armstrong, Linus Lundqvist R, Kyffin Simpson R

Andretti Autosport (3): Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson

Meyer Shank Racing (2): Felix Rosenqvist, Tom Blomqvist R

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (1): Christian Lundgaard

However, I don’t get the sense that Graham Rahal is going anywhere which would push this to 12. I also don’t foresee RLL downsizing either, especially since they’re in the leaders circle which makes 13 rides set, 12 of which with drivers. With how well Juri Vips did in his two-race stint at the end of the season, I have to think he’s the favorite to take the 30 ride full-time.

That leaves 2 engine packages left for Dale Coyne Racing who I don’t see them downsizing either. Right now, they have two seats open. Who gets them?

Then, what does Andretti do?

For the Chevrolet camp, Team Penske and Arrow McLaren Racing will each remain at three cars. Ed Carpenter Racing’s plans are still being made. I don’t see Rinus VeeKay leaving and I also don’t see Ed Carpenter stepping away from ovals. Does he run a second full-time car? I think it’s up to if BitNile comes back or if they leave and go with Conor Daly. Then, if BitNile does leave, who can bring funding?

I’ve heard Devlin DeFrancesco’s name mentioned at both here and Coyne. What he brought budget wise to Andretti could easily be taken at either team and they’d require significantly less too. However, if DeFrancesco brings enough, he could in theory fund two cars at either team leaving them flexibility to hire another driver to not bring funding.

ECR makes the most sense. BitNile funded two cars. DeFrancesco could step in and do the same. That could also affect Romain Grosjean too. If DeFrancesco does go to Coyne, they could afford Grosjean to make a comeback too.

AJ Foyt Racing will remain a two-car team and have an alliance with Penske. I don’t think either driver leaves. Santino Ferrucci and Foyt have hinted on social media last week that they’d be back together in 2024. Benjamin Pedersen has funding to stay too.

Which leaves the final piece to this puzzle being at Juncos Hollinger Racing. They have two cars in leaders circle and I don’t see anyway they let that go. Prior to the season finale weekend, Callum Ilott made mention that he would likely be returning to the team in 2024. But, after how the final race went and subsequentially handed after, maybe these two just split. I know they want to keep Agustin Canapino and Ilott may be furious with how JHR didn’t have his back after the race nor after threats were made on social media either. With how the Argentinean fans treated him in 2023, does he want to risk that occurring again in 2024? Even if Juncos wants Ilott back, he may just want to distance himself from them.

Another interesting thing here is if they get an alliance with McLaren done. McLaren needs more space and won’t get it until they move into the current Andretti building. However, Andretti isn’t moving from their already existing building until their new one is done. Until we reach that point, McLaren can only do so much with how much space that they’ve got. Juncos, another Indianapolis based team, makes sense to partner with. They could use the support and they have the space.

Plus, don’t discredit sponsors already signed in anticipation of Alex Palou coming over. NTT Data was likely one. They were on the 6 car in some races this season. Other deals were made and those deals expected Palou to be in the seat. Does some of that allocation get moved to Juncos to help?

There’s been no update yet on if this alliance even takes place or not because as hot as this rumor was for a while, it’s cooled some. But if this deal does take place, maybe McLaren has a say on who is in those seats too.

Which leaves only a handful of seats really even open.

Rides Open

• No. 15 RLL Honda (All signs points to Graham Rahal being back)
• No. 30 RLL Honda (Juri Vips has front row seat for this one).
• No. 18 DCR Honda
• No. 51 DCR Honda
• No. 29 Andretti Honda?
• No. 20 ECR Chevrolet
• No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet (I can’t see a scenario anymore that Santino Ferrucci isn’t in this ride)
• No. 55 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet (I don’t see Benjamin Pedersen not being back in 2024 now)
• No. 77 JHR Chevrolet
• No. 78 JHR Chevrolet (Could see Canapino back).