The 2015 IndyCar season opens this weekend with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE). You already know about the upcoming year’s top storylines, now it’s time to take a closer examination at some of the series’ top drivers.
Here are five (well, more like eight) drivers to look out for this season.
James Hinchcliffe
After a disastrous 2014 season that saw the Oakville, Ont., native wade through frustrating mechanical problems, poor qualifying runs and even suffer a concussion from flying debris, James Hinchcliffe is back and looking for a fresh start.
This new beginning for Hinchcliffe all began when he left powerhouse team Andretti Autosport for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, who were in need of a new premiere driver after Simon Pagenaud left to join Penske.
Hinchcliffe spent his last three seasons with Andretti and even though he enjoyed some success (two eighth-place finishes in the drivers standings and three race victories in 2013, alone), he was never the signature driver, and was never really going to get a shot to be that guy with a star like Ryan Hunter-Reay already in Andretti’s stable.
As such, the switch to the smaller team of Schmidt Peterson will allow Hinchcliffe to star in more ways than on just social media. Even though his new team doesn’t have as many resources as Andretti does, more should be coming his way from his time at Andretti as there’s only one other driver signed to Schmidt Peterson – James Jakes.
Overall, even though he’s no longer on a powerhouse, this move should prove to be fruitful for Hinchcliffe and could get him back on that podium.
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Team Penske
This is admittedly a cop out for a “five drivers” list, but it’s impossible to put down Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Pagenaud, and defending IndyCar Series champ Will Power and still have room for other notable drivers.
Looking at the four men now, it’s pretty crazy to think that every driver on a single team has legitimate shot at winning the championship, but it’s true — last season, if not for Scott Dixon, this quartet would’ve made up the top-four in the drivers standings. Each driver is skilled and versatile enough to compete and it will be interesting to see just how exactly Team Penske plans out its strategy on a race-to-race basis.
Yes, the rich did in fact get richer when Penske managed to acquire Pagenaud, but it also created potential drama within the team (even more than the already heated rivalry between Castroneves and Power) and as a fan, a little bit of controversy and dilemma is always fun to watch.
Scott Dixon
If not for a sluggish start to his season, Dixon, the 2013 champ, very well could’ve repeated in 2014, coming away with top-five finishes in seven of his last eight races, including three podium jobs.
Dixon is a remarkable driver and always a threat to contend — his worst finish in the drivers standings in the last nine years was fourth on 2006 – and this season should be no different. If he can get out to a better start, don’t be surprised to see him win his fourth IndyCar title.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Last year’s Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 series champ, Hunter-Reay is big-time threat to win it all, made all the more dangerous as a result of Hinchcliffe’s departure from Andretti Autosport.
Similar to the attention Hinchcliffe will get as a No. 1 at Schmidt Peterson, Hunter-Reay can enjoy life as one of the premiere IndyCar team’s ace without much worry of another star hot on his tail.
Perhaps in the future, youngster Carlos Munoz can challenge Hunter-Reay for that No. 1 spot, but for now, all focus will be on him and that will make him tough to beat.
Tony Kanaan
For the past six years, Tony Kanaan has always finished in respectably, but hasn’t been able to re-capture some of the magic he had between 2003 and 2005. Can he correct that finally this season? He just might.
Now in his second year with Chip Ganassi Racing – replacing the forced-into-retirement legend Dario Franchitti – Kanaan should figure to be much more comfortable on the team. Last season, he appeared noticeably shaky at times and perhaps unsure of how to interact with his dominant new teammate Dixon.
This year should be different as that familiarity should be there, allowing the veteran Brazilian to just focus on racing.
Honourable mentions: Carlos Munoz, Jack Hawksworth, Marco Andretti
