One of IndyCar’s worst kept secrets was confirmed last week as one of the sport’s giants announced their third driver for 2025.
Chip Ganassi Racing have retained Kyffin Simpson alongside defending champion Alex Palou and Scott Dixon for next season as the team’s line-up cuts down from five cars to three under the new charter system.
Palou secured his third IndyCar title in four seasons in 2024. The Spaniard grabbed two wins and six podiums – not including the win in the non-championship $1 Million Challenge race at Thermal – to beat Colton Herta by 31 points.
Dixon finished the year in sixth with two wins at Long Beach and Detroit. Meanwhile, their three other teammate – Simpson, Linus Lundqvist and Marcus Armstrong – struggled for regular results, with Armstrong finishing the highest of the three in 14th.
With the Kiwi driver heading to Meyer Shank Racing next year alongside Felix Rosenqvist, it was between Simpson and Lundqvist for the remaining seat at CGR, with the former getting the nod in the end.
Conor Daly says Chip Ganassi picked Kyffin Simpson over Linus Lundqvist due to his financial backing
CGR’s decision to retain Simpson has come under some scrutiny, given that he finished the lowest of their five drivers in 2024.
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Meanwhile, in his first full season, Lundqvist grabbed his maiden pole position at Road America and achieved two podiums, with third place at Barber Motorsports Park and Gateway.
Despite these results showing promising signs of the Swedish driver’s talent, CGR opted for Simpson, and speaking on his Speed Street Podcast, Conor Daly believes that the team’s decision come down to the Caymanian’s huge funding behind him.
“Kyffin Simpson, we all knew this was going to happen. But I think, you know a lot of people are like ‘wait, why Kyffin, who finished at the back all the time, over Linus Lundqvist who is on the podium, was on the pole, pretty talented young rookie?” he said.
“Guys, it’s a financial sport. I’m sorry. Kyffin is a nice fella, I will say, I’ve never had any problems with him and honestly he’s never gotten in the way on the track, so I completely respect that.
“To make this sport work, there are financial elements, eight? To strengthen Chip Ganassi Racing, to strengthen the cars of both Scott Dixon and Alex Palou. To maybe pay Alex Palou’s salary and Scott Dixon’s large salary, there has to be a driver in place like Kyffin Simpson who comes with a lot of funding.
“That wasn’t an excommunicating Linus because of a talent issue. It’s purely financial, that’s where we’re at in this game.”
The 2025 IndyCar grid is slowly starting to fill
Simpson is one of the latest drivers to confirm his spot on the grid for the 2025 season as the number of seats still available begin to shorter.
PREMA have completed their first IndyCar line-up with Robert Shwartzman leaving the WEC to join Callum Ilott for next season.
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Five seats remain for the 2025 IndyCar campaign, with Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing yet to confirm either of their drivers, while Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have a third seat available next to Graham Rahal and Louis Foster.
Lundqvist is searching for his next opportunity and will prove an exciting option for either of these teams next year. But he will face competition for more experienced drivers to land a seat.
Race winner Rinus VeeKay and former F1 driver Romain Grosjean are on the market, while Sting Ray Robb is also available and, like Simpson, comes with heavy backing behind him.