The Indy Shuffle
WHILE TEAM PENSKE'S Simon Pagenaud (right) savors his first IndyCar Series championship, five other drivers could find themselves on the move this winter.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA 41 // Colombia
Top 3s: 3
Wins: 1 (St. Pete)
He's off to ... Since crashing in May at Indy, where he has won twice, he has been the odd man out at Penske, likely leaving him with one option: Ganassi, where his Indy career began.
Deciding factor: JPM doesn't bring much sponsorship money to the table, but he does win.
TONY KANAAN 41 // Brazil
Top 3s: 2
Wins: 0
He's off to ... KVSH, Foyt and Dale Coyne Racing are possible landing spots—though any would be a step down from his current perch.
Deciding factor: His consistency and conviviality make him a long-term player even at his age; he arrives with sponsorship money in tow.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN 25 // USA
Top 3s: 4
Wins: 1 (Iowa)
He's off to ... There isn't a team on the grid that wouldn't love to hitch their wagon to this talented, telegenic Tennessean, but Team Penske's vast resources give it the inside track.
Deciding factor: He just settled into a front-running groove at ECR. Leaving would mean starting over.
CONOR DALY 24 // USA
Top 3s: 1
Wins: 0
He's off to ...Foyt Racing, which has struggled to win and raise money with its international roster. Daly, a Hoosier-born son of F1 ace Derek Daly, would give the team a boost.
Deciding factor: Teammates. If Coyne reels in Bourdais, Daly could measure himself against a four-time Indy champ.
SÉBASTIEN BOURDAIS 37 // France
Top 3s: 1
Wins: 1 (Belle Isle)
He's off to ... His move to Coyne Racing is all but a done deal. That pairing would be one of the best between driver and owner. Dale Coyne is one of the sharpest minds on the grid.
Deciding factor: Money and personality seem like the only potential roadblocks.