Ranking The Starting 2025 IndyCar Lineups*
A caveat * to this is that I will not be including the PREMA team in this analysis. I think it's difficult to rank a team that hasn't debuted yet. Although the tests at Thermal Club on 1/28/25 are promising, we have no clue what programs any of the three teams there were running. We don't know their working style, their car, or how Ilot and Schwartzman will get along. So PREMA remains off the list.
So ranking the ten teams returning to IndyCar based on the strength of their lineup.
To me, the number one spot is easy. As is two, three, and four.
But, starting from the top.
- Team Penske
Team Penske is far and away the most well rounded team in IndyCar. Two IndyCar champions who are also two Indy 500 winners, as well as a third driver who is shaping up to be just as impactful.
Penske's three also offers three different personalities - from the definition of Penske Perfect in Josef Newgarden, to the fiery personality and long rooted history of Will Power, to the laid back curiosity of Scott McLaughlin - that can appeal to a variety of fans. All three drivers have a superb commitment to IndyCar, and that propels Penske up to the top.
- Chip Ganassi Racing
CGR is placed second simply because they have the current champion on their team, along with the sixth place finisher. CGR also has a track record of consistency, with four of out five IndyCar titles in the past five years, with both title winners still drive for CGR.
Their more experienced driver, Scott Dixon, is a six time title winner and a 500 winner. Palou has three titles, but still has the 500 to go. Their third driver is somewhat of a wild card; the Caymanian Kyffin Simpson is in his second year in IndyCar at CGR, with a 21st place finish in his rookie year.
- Andretti Global
Andretti Global - a name now very familiar to modern F1 fans as they are on track to join F1 as Cadillac in 2026 - is on the verge of something.
Like the previous two teams, their lineup hasn't changed. Unlike the previous two teams, however, they have no Champion. In 2024 their drivers placed second, seventh and fifteenth. The second place finisher, Colton Herta, is one point away from being granted his Super License, and is (in my biased opinion) the best option of their lineup to jump to IndyCar. Kyle Kirkwood, their seventh place finisher, is a strong teammate with possibilities aplenty and a strong upward trend, and Ericsson's fifteenth place isn't indicative of his previous performances. However, Ericsson did win the 500 in 2022.
But it's the first time any of the three has been in the top three of IndyCar, with a lot on the line for this year. A lot of eyes as well - a lot of new fans either following Will Buxton over from F1 or just curious about who will be getting in Cadillac's seats for 2026. This is time for not only the three in seats to succeed, but also for the brand and team to impress, to give the negging-loving F1 crowd something to be politely optimistic about.
I personally don't think the Thermal test has any real bearing on Andretti's possible performance, but we'll circle back in six months and see if I eat my words.
- Arrow McLaren
While last season's question of Pato, Who? has been answered, the Arrow McLaren lineup is still a little shaky. The rockstar of IndyCar does not a team make.
With the inception of the charter, we probably will not witness another full season of musical seats in the cars at Arrow McLaren due to the possibility of enforcing the "Dale Coyne Rule", limiting how many drivers can be in a seat. Although it's named for another team in IndyCar, Zak Brown is equally as infamous for this. With Gavin Ward's departure though, it's a lot more likely we'll see musical seats on the other side of the track.
If you're reading this with minimal knowledge, you may think O'Ward has the advantage for the Cadillac seat. Full Super License points, a fanbase that has insane reach and growth, the backing of not just American fans but Mexican as well, a way for Mexican F1 fans to replace Checo, it's unlikely.
One, because O'Ward is contracted to Arrow McLaren until 2027. If you haven't followed Palou's wonderful contract issues with Arrow McLaren, just know that Zak Brown and the McLaren team probably have Pato under lock and key.
Two, because O'Ward has not won the 500. Though this may sound ridiculous, as the charter system hasn't forced all entries to be permanent IndyCar drivers, it isn't when you know Pato. Go onto YouTube and watch last year's last five laps of the 500. Knowing Pato, he will try his best to win this year and this point will be moot. If not, he'll be staying until he wins.
Not the title, though he'd like it. Just the 500. That would be enough.
Moving on. Like I said earlier, the rockstar of the sport does not a team make. The reason that Arrow McLaren is fourth is their team itself - no 500 winners, no champions, their main driver O'Ward only finished fifth last year. His returning teammate, Nolan Siegel, finished 23rd, and was the third person in the #6 Arrow McLaren last year.
Well, fourth if you count Malukas.
A rookie last year, thrown in fully at Laguna Seca, 2025 will be his first full year with the team. Therefore, we will see if he improves from 23rd on the leaderboard.
Joining the team in the #7 car, for his fifth IndyCar season, is Christian Lundgaard. Replacing the outgoing Alexander Rossi, Lundgaard is another slight question mark in this team. No one is quite sure how he'll perform in comparison to his teammates, if he will gel with the culture, if Arrow McLaren fans will accept him as a replacement for the beloved, grouchy Rossi.
Now we get into more personal feeling rankings.
- AJ Foyt Racing
This, to me, is the strangest lineup in IndyCar. Last year's comeback kid, social media oddball and a personal favorite, driving the #4, David Malukas, for his first year at Foyt is partnered with (rightfully so) the most divisive driver in IndyCar.
Well, now that Canapino is gone.
Driving the #14 car is Santino Ferrucci. Previously banned from F2 for insidious behavior, and essentially shadow banned from racing in European series, he's the returning racer for Foyt. Although I wish I never had to watch him race ever again, he had a few decent performances last year, including a pole. I see why Foyt retained him, and I have to respect him a little for sticking with a driver that is giving him results.
I respect him a lot more for the acquisition of Malukas. Dropped by Arrow McLaren before getting to race due to a clause in his contract after working his way back from a major wrist injury, Malukas didn't flag. Instead he subbed in mid-season, the same race Siegel did, for Meyer Shank and pulled the car into 24th.
So, despite my misgivings about Ferrucci, and there only being two seats, AJ Foyt is firmly in fifth.
- Meyer Shank Racing
Another two seater team, MSR is this high because both of their drivers are solid performers.
Do I wish that Malukas had stayed with Rosenqvist so I could have a team of drivers I really liked? Absolutely. But I do like Armstrong as well, and I think they'll maintain a solid midfield team.
If somehow they manage to replicate Rosenqvist's 12th here, and somehow manage to replicate Armstrong's 14th place finish that he had last year with CGR, maybe MSR will top Foyt.
Another comment to circle back to.
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan
RLL has this spot simply because of Louis Foster. Last year's IndyNXT winner, he had an incredible season and will bring vitality, youth, and the $1 million dollar scholarship awarded to the IndyNXT winner to RLL.
An injection of cash like that could be handy in the first full year of the new engines.
- Ed Carpenter Racing
Two reasons why ECR is beneath RLL.
One, this year they do not have the $1 million cash injection for Rasmussen like they did last year.
Two, I do not know what Christian Rasmussen will look like for a whole season.
Assuming Ed lets him run the whole season, that is, and doesn't stick himself in the cars for ovals like Iowa and Gateway.
The lack of confidence in Rasmussen is interesting, or maybe last year was Ed just truly hanging it up. It seems that he really enjoys ovals, but maybe just the 500 this year will be enough for him.
Rossi, however? I have total faith in. The grouch is voluntarily smiling about being on this team! I have to love that.
Who knows, maybe a fresh year with a fresh team and we'll see a repeat of 2016 with Rossi drinking the milk at Indianapolis.
- Juncos Hollinger Racing
This is where personal bias comes in. Though I do not think Sting Ray Robb is incapable of a repeat of 20th place, I'm just not sure about it happening again.
Conor, on the other hand, if he can make it a whole season pulling out performances like last year's Milwaukee, Nashville, even Gateway, maybe the needle will move.
- Dale Coyne Racing
Look, running a rookie on top of not having the second seat confirmed roughly a month before the season starts is ... bizarre.
Therefore, unable to judge more than a rookie, which is kind of comparable to PREMA's situation, DCR sits in tenth.
Of course, these are all of my opinions. Perhaps we'll revisit it on June 16th, midway through the season, to really see if I was totally off with what 2025 is shaping up to be!