INDYCAR Silly Season Tracker: Josh Pierson Gets INDYCAR Approval

Some of the biggest names in INDYCAR - including a past champion and Indianapolis 500 winners - are on the move after the 2026 season. Six-time series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon and 2026 Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist are headed to the same place, Arrow McLaren. The team announced on July 6 their hirings - and the release of Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel - effective the end of the season. Lundgaard, who won twice this year, quickly became the favorite to replace Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing announced Sept. 29 that it had signed Lundgaard. Some teams will have the same lineup as this year, including Team Penske (which didn't have any drivers in a contract year), Andretti Global (which re-signed free agent Marcus Ericsson) and ECR (which re-signed free agent Christian Rasmussen) will have the same lineup for 2027 as it has for 2026. That can't be said for many teams, including Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which last month sold one of its charters to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and left Mick Schumacher looking for a ride. It is the first charter sale since the system was implemented in 2025 and it means one driver in the RLL stable won't return as the organization cuts from three to two cars. Schumacher has landed at Meyer Shank Racing. Another silly season move that people will be talking about the entire offseason will be the one of Dixon leaving his home at Ganassi. Ganassi, in his statement July 2, thanked Dixon for driving for the team since 2002: "Scott has meant so much to CGR over the past 24 years. Together we've shared championships, many victories, and countless moments that have helped define this organization. Because of everything we've accomplished together, and the legacy Scott has built here, we believed it was important to give him the opportunity to finish his career at Chip Ganassi Racing, and we made him a multi-year offer to do just that. We respect that he's chosen a different path." For Dixon, he told me and other reporters on July 3 that it was an emotional decision but time to move on to another team. In a statement on July 6, he said driving for McLaren would be special. "As a New Zealander, being part of Bruce McLaren's legacy will be special; his spirit and grit are still very much rooted in that team, and I'm excited to carry that on," he said. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown wants to win the triple crown of the Indianapolis 500, the Grand Prix of Monaco and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He hopes that having current driver Pato O'Ward plus for the Indy 500, former winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, along with Dixon and Rosenqvist gives him the best chance. "Our INDYCAR team has shown fantastic momentum, and this lineup of Pato, Scott, Felix and Ryan will strengthen every aspect of our program," Brown said in a July 6 statement. "We've got our eyes firmly set on the championship as well as winning the Indianapolis 500 to secure the triple crown in the Papaya era." One driver not on the move is Marcus Armstrong, who announced July 3 that he will remain at Michael Shank Racing, driving the MSR No. 60 instead of the No. 66. "I feel that Meyer Shank Racing gives me one of the strongest cars on the grid every weekend," Armstrong said in a July 3 news release. "Our goals are aligned, we want to win races and be consistently fighting at the front." Here's a look at where INDYCAR organizations stand for 2027: Chip Ganassi Racing Series points leader Alex Palou, who signed a contract extension earlier this year, isn't going anywhere and Kyffin Simpson's progress - he finished the 2026 season at 13th in the standings - let alone the funding he brings should allow him to remain for another season. But obviously the big news is Dixon leaving. Stars in all sports often leave their team, but to see Dixon (12th in the 2026 standings) leave Ganassi after 24-plus seasons is wild. Who will replace Dixon? Lundgaard, who was third in the standings. "He's already proven he can win races, and it isn't often a driver of his caliber becomes available," Chip Ganassi said in a statement. "Throughout our history, one of the things we've done best is identify young talent, help them maximize their potential, and develop them into championship contenders. We believe Christian has all the talent to be the next driver to do that." Team Penske Scott McLaughlin (sixth in the standings) signed a contract extension last year and David Malukas (fifth) in the first year of a multiyear deal, so both appear solid. Josef Newgarden finished eighth in the standings, and while there was a lot of buzz last year that he possibly wanted to leave no matter his contract status, he appears more happy this year with two victories. Andretti Global Marcus Ericsson (seventh in the standings) was the one driver who was on the hot seat at this organization. But he has performed well enough this year that Andretti Global rewarded him with a contract for 2027. Kyle Kirkwood (second) isn't going anywhere. Will Power certainly hasn't had the results he wanted at 11th in the standings but also led in more than half the races this year. So he wouldn't be expected to get pushed out. Ericsson started the season likely looking over his shoulder at Dennis Hauger (22nd in the standings), an Andretti-signed driver on loan to Dale Coyne Racing. But Hauger is off to A.J. Foyt Racing (more on that below). "One of our priorities has been building consistency across our INDYCAR program, and bringing Marcus back is an important part of that," Andretti Global President Jill Gregory said in a news release. "He's shown exactly what he's capable of this season through the speed and results he's delivered. Keeping our driver lineup together next season allows us to build on the chemistry and performance we've established as a team." Arrow McLaren Christian Lundgaard (third in the standings) and Nolan Siegel (20th) are both out. Pato O'Ward (fourth) is signed through next season but has been vocal when cars haven't been up to standards. It turned out that it was pretty much a Lundgaard-Dixon swap for McLaren and Ganassi. Siegel, with his funding, is a likely candidate for rides at Foyt, JHR and Dale Coyne Racing next season but also could find himself on the outside looking in. Meyer Shank Racing Rosenqvist, ninth in the standings, went from possibly being on the hot seat to having teams interested in him after winning the Indianapolis 500 and now is on the move. But Marcus Armstrong (14th in the standings) is staying, and the team announced on Sept. 4 that Mick Schumacher would come from Rahal. MSR co-owner Michael Shank on Schumacher: "He really impressed us in his first season of INDYCAR. It is not an easy series to come into, and the competition is incredibly tight, but when you look at what he's accomplished and the progress he's made throughout the year, we see a lot of potential in him." Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing With the announcement that RLL will scale back from three to two cas, rookie Mick Schumacher (23rd in the standings) found himself as the odd driver out. Graham Rahal (16th) and Louis Foster (18th) have contracts for 2027. Juncos Hollinger Racing Rinus VeeKay (10th in the standings) most likely will return, but he certainly got some looks from other teams. Sting Ray Robb (25th) is on the hot seat. This could be the landing spot for Siegel, especially if the organization resumes having an alliance with McLaren. Callum Ilott, who spent last year on the PREMA payroll even though the team didn't field a car, and Caio Collet also would be candidates, as well as possibly Indy NXT runnerup Enzo Fittipaldi. ECR Alexander Rossi (15th) and Christian Rasmussen (21st) will be back. Rasmussen announced a contract extension earlier this year and Rossi appears to be the veteran anchor the team needed after Ed Carpenter retired from full-time racing. A.J. Foyt Racing Santino Ferrucci (17th) and rookie Caio Collet (24th) both had potential to run better an it appears neither will return (at least full time). A.J. Foyt Racing announced on Sept. 16th that it had signed 2026 Rookie of the Year Dennis Hauger to a multi-year agreement beginning in 2027. He'll take over the No. 14 Chevrolet, which is currently driven by Ferrucci, leaving his plans for next season unclear. Collet was impressive despite his finishes, but he also struggled late in the year. It appears he won't return as the organization tested Indy NXT driver Josh Pierson on Oct. 13, and INDYCAR approved Pierson to compete in INDYCAR after that test, paving the way for the team to sign Pierson, who brings funding. Dale Coyne Racing Dennis Hauger (22nd) appeared set to move to Andretti Global at some point, but that didn't come to fruition and he has signed with Foyt. Romain Grosjean (19th) has had some respectable runs for the organization, an organization that often doesn't determine drivers until well into the offseason. This could be a potential landing spot for defending Indy NXT champion Nikita Johnson. If the organization opts to move on from Grosjean, the candidates likely would be the same as they are for the other open seats - Collet, Siegel, Ilott and Fittipaldi. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dreyer & Reinbold has purchased a charter for a full-time car next year, and announced Sept. 5 that Conor Daly will drive its No. 24 car. It will be a Honda and the team will have an alliance with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Daly, who signed a multiyear deal, drove for the team in the Indianapolis 500 this past season.