Today’s question: Christian Lundgaard was named Sept. 29 to drive the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in a multiyear deal, one of the most coveted of the open seats for next season. Which remaining open seat for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season or driver in contention for those seats interests you the most?

Rinus VeeKay

Curt Cavin: I think it’s a sure thing, but we still need to have Rinus VeeKay confirmed at Juncos Hollinger Racing. That pairing was one of the best of the 2026 season, earning a third-place finish at the Milwaukee Mile and netting three fourth-place finishes and a sixth-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge en route to a 10th-place standings finish. The best guess here is the announcement will come once team ownership details are finalized, but VeeKay (photo, above) will be back in the seat, and the sport will be better for it.

Josh Pierson

Eric Smith: I’m intrigued by the second seat at AJ Foyt Racing. It’s no secret Josh Pierson has the inside line (no pun intended) for the ride, but that’s also predicated on a looming evaluation test. What if it doesn’t go well? Santino Ferrucci lacks the budget, or he’d likely be in one of the cars. So, who ends up in this seat if it’s not Pierson (photo, above)? The Foyt cars have shown promise lately, particularly at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team is also going to garner plenty of attention next May, with it being the 60th anniversary of A.J. Foyt’s third Indy 500 victory and the 50th anniversary of his becoming the first driver to win the “500” four times. This open seat has my eyes and what the eventual driver can bring since the other seat is vacated by this past season’s Rookie of the Year, Dennis Hauger. There’s a potential that neither Foyt driver brings much NTT INDYCAR SERIES experience to 2027.

Arni Sribhen: The open NTT INDYCAR SERIES seat that intrigues me the most is the one that may go to an 18-year-old kid. I’m talking about reigning INDY NXT by Firestone champion Nikita Johnson (photo, top), who lit up the developmental series in 2026 and is probably sitting on his boat in the Gulf of Mexico, ignoring his phone as it blows up. AJ Foyt Racing, Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing have all knocked on the door trying to lock down this Floridian phenom for a full-time seat. Here’s the open secret in the paddock right now: Johnson already knows exactly which fire suit he wants to wear next season, but the newcomer may not get to pick his place when budget comes into play. Still, whichever team gets the youngster will get a talented rookie with a veteran’s racing IQ. He knows how to keep his nose clean and squeeze every drop of potential out of his car. He could be the next big thing in INDYCAR, and the teams that don’t get him now may regret it later.

Romain Grosjean

Paul Kelly: I’m wondering if this is the end of the line for Romain Grosjean in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He arrived in the series in 2021 at the peak of his fame after cheating death in a fiery crash in the last drive of his Formula One career in 2020 at Bahrain. Most assumed he might be a title contender and would win races, especially when driving for Andretti Global in 2022 and 2023, but that didn’t happen. Grosjean (photo, above) endured an uninspiring season in 2026 with his return to the series with Dale Coyne Racing after a one-year hiatus. The big highlight was an impressive second at Markham, but that was one of just three top-10 finishes. Team owner Coyne may want to keep a veteran to mentor a rookie, perhaps INDY NXT by Firestone champion Nikita Johnson, after the unexpected departure of Dennis Hauger to AJ Foyt Racing for 2027. But Callum Ilott and Nolan Siegel also are on the market, too, and almost certainly would require a smaller pay packet than Grosjean. And maybe Grosjean has had enough of running mid-pack or deeper in the INDYCAR SERIES and wants to head back to sports cars. Interesting times ahead, but we may have seen the last of “The Phoenix” in INDYCAR.