From Friday Indy Star pit-pass:

1. Rahal still has no contract offer from NHL. Still might end up there, but obviously Rahal brings no sponsor and his car now has no sponsor, so....

2. deFerren wants Rahal. Is half-way there with funding to get him. But half-way is still a LONG way away and he doesn't seem to have many team members left. Ganassi still in the mix too, but with Chip's disdain for American drivers, its probably a long-shot.

3. Wilson rumored to be going to D&R. Sounds like a lateral step. Maybe D&R offered to actually pay him something.

4. Coyne likely to run 2 cars. As usual, its anyone's guess who will drive them.

5. Bachelart had Junquiera and Van Heylen at the Driver's Meetings as they try and put something together.

6. Simona the Swiss Miss needs some Lights races and a IRL oval test to get OK'd to race in Indy Cars. I'd say we see her early in the season in Lights and she makes her IRL debut at Kansas (to get her ready for the Indy 500). Maybe she does the rest of the season after Indy if all goes well?


Seems to be a ton of uncertainity with most teams. Cavin reported tonight that he thought Luzco-Dragon was closer to becoming a "selected races" 1 car team this year then possibly being full-time. If Jay Penske can't find money, that's not a good sign. There are pretty strong rumors Vision will only run the ovals (at the very most) this year. Hunter-Reay still only has a half-season deal. KV has gone VERY silent, with rumors of Moraes's family fortune drying up and Tracy still trying to scrape together enough money to do 3 or 4 races.

There certainly are some good signs. FAZZT seems to be the real deal (although being aligned with Freudenburg is scary) and they look good for 2 cars at a few races this year. There are several "Indy-only" teams forming or trying to form (the one week schedule and cheaper engine deals are helping this cause). Most if not all of the teams that raced at Indy last year, should be back in some form.

But there are still a TON of pieces of the puzzle left to be filled. And some big pieces, at that. Good thing the first race isn't until mid March.