INDYCAR Silly Season: Rosenqvist, Dixon, and More
The previous silly season left the NTT INDYCAR Series uprooted some veterans and this edition looks to disrupt the status quo even more.
Rosenqvist out at Meyer Shank Racing
The 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner will have a new home in 2027. Felix Rosenqvist will depart Meyer Shank Racing after three seasons together.
Rosenqvist, 34, is in his eight INDYCAR season and in the midst of arguably the best season of his career. A type of season that makes him a hot commodity this offseason and he knew that.
The Swedish driver has drawn heavy interest from a few teams since his announcement which includes the likes of Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Global.
But the leading favorite to acquire his talents are Arrow McLaren. He last spent three seasons with the outfit prior to joining his current MSR team.
If Rosenqvist returns to a second stint with the team, it would likely be the end of the road for either Nolan Seigel or Christian Lundgaard.
Below is the announcement made from MSR after losing their winning driver.
Dixon to leave Chip Ganassi after 25 years
Scott Dixon will do something he has never done before in the combined INDYCAR Series, leave Chip Ganassi Racing.
Dixon, 45, joined the championship winning team in 2002 and had since built a partnership that garnered six titles, 58 wins, and even victory at the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
The exclusivity clause in Dixon’s contract had expired two weeks ago prior to Road America. With no word from him during the previous race weekend about a potential renewal on the horizon with CGR, the red alert was sounded for his pending free agent status.
Arrow McLaren look to be heavy favorites for the veterans services. It is rumored that the Aussie will potentially link up with current team standout Pato O’Ward and a newly reacquired Felix Rosenqvist as the team’s driver lineup for 2027.
Before the latter can be confirmed, Dixon has the remaining eight races of the season to right the ship.
This weekend, he will return to the site of his last INDYCAR win at Mid-Ohio. Currently, Dixon has recorded at least one win in every season since 2005 and will try to continue the career defining consistent statistic once more.
The Domino Effect
The domino effect that is silly season could provide some more chaos. If the Arrow McLaren lineup would be set by the previous two drivers, that would leave Nolan Seigel and Christian Lundgaard without a seat in 2027.
Lundgaard would become the next biggest fish on the market. The Dane is also in the midst of a career season. His two wins and fourth-place in the overall standings are currently career bests.
Those stats are too overwhelming for any team to leave a driver of his caliber on the market for too long. But the best seat might not be reserved for him.
Marcus Armstrong looks fit to rejoin Chip Ganassi Racing after getting the boot after the INDYCAR charter system was enacted. Armstrong is having himself a good season at MSR alongside teammate Rosenqvist.
With Scott Dixon’s exit for CGR confirmed, the could look to a young and familiar face to replace him.
That could leave Lundgaard with a potential seat at Andretti Global. Marcus Ericsson is currently on an expiring contract and could see the door with the team.
Ericsson seems like the odd man out this silly season. He could join the revolving door of drivers such as Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger, Romain Grosjean, and more who could end up with a new team.
For now, the paddock will have to wait for the bigger dominos to officially fall into place before those moves can be made.
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Ryan Kemna View All
Ryan Kemna is a photojournalist for The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2025.
Currently residing in the Minneapolis, MN, area, Kemna brings his passion for motorsports, photography, and a good story to readers.