After nearly six months, it’s finally race week for the NTT IndyCar Series. As drivers and teams migrate south to the often-sunny streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, there are many storylines to follow.
NBC Sports analyst and former IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe is keeping an eye on how drivers will fare in new rides.
“I think this year, what I’m excited about with IndyCar is all the new driver combinations,” Hinchcliffe told SPEED SPORT. “We’ve had quite a bit of movement.
“I feel like silly season started so early that they all sort of spread out over a long time. But when you really look at the field, there are so many different drivers that have moved teams.
“It’s gonna be interesting, because there’s some really exciting combinations.”
The offseason featured plenty of movement within the paddock. Among the notable names sporting a new number and team this year are:
• 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson left the formidable Chip Ganassi Racing to compete for Andretti Global
• David Malukas joined Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team after spending two seasons with Dale Coyne Racing. Malukas will miss the season opener, however, due to a dislocated wrist he suffered in February.
• 2022 Indy NXT champion Linus Lundqvist takes over Ericsson’s seat at CGR after competing on a part-time basis last season with Meyer Shank Racing.
• Former Arrow McLaren driver Felix Rosenqvist left the three-car organization for MSR.
“All the big teams have had some sort of significant driver change, and I think it’s gonna be fun to see,” Hinchcliffe said.
With the movement brings questions of who’s going to step up and challenge reigning champion Alex Palou.
Outside the obvious choices of Team Penske’s three-driver brigade of Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin, along with Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon, Hinchcliffe believes Lundqvist may be a sleeper in the title fight.
“I think Linus is definitely one that people are going to keep an eye on,” Hinchcliffe said. “Just after his performances last year with very little experience, jumping into, I think we can all agree over the last couple of years has been the strongest team with some very strong teammates that have collectively taken a couple of championships over the last few seasons.
It’s definitely one to watch.”
In three starts with Meyer Shank Racing last season, Lundqvist had a best finish of 12th at the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Swede also ran within the top 10 during the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., before a crash derailed his performance.
Larson’s Indianapolis 500 Debut
Finally, the big storyline that will only grow as the month of May nears, is 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson’s maiden Indianapolis 500 bid.
Larson is set to attempt the famed Memorial Day “double,” as he’ll look to complete the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in the same day.
Hinchcliffe believes some of Larson’s experience of competing in longer races will play a big part in his adaptation for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
“Well, it’s funny, when the Cup guys come over and do the 500, they’re rookies to the 500 but they’ve done more 500-mile races,” Hinchcliffe said.
“Kyle’s a fairly young guy and he’s done more 500-mile races probably than Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan combined just because of the way the NASCAR schedule works. So, they’re already coming into it with a big leg up on any sort of true rookie.”
While endurance may be in Larson’s wheelhouse already, that’s where the comfort stops.
“But, it’s a completely different car, completely different style of racing,” Hinchcliffe said. “The procedures, the processes, all the things that you’re able to tune and work with on an IndyCar. The data side of it is a lot more intense. So for him, there’s a lot to get used to.
“But, what’s so great about the 500 for these guys doing the one-off is you have a full week of practice to get up to speed. He’ll have some time in the simulator, he’ll have a bunch of teammates to rely on.
“Last time we saw someone do this, it was Kurt (Busch) back in 2014. He did a hell of a job and I think everyone expects the same or more out of Kyle.”
Busch’s Indy 500 bid was strong as he finished sixth aboard an Andretti Global entry.
With Larson’s extensive experience and success in various racing disciplines, expectations are already high aboard an Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.