It was always known that Will Power's future being sorted would be the first domino to fall that triggered the rest of IndyCar's 2026 driver market moves.
The ultimate resolution - Power exiting Penske - will not be a surprise to many; it has long been rumoured that it was a matter of when not if he would go and David Malukas would replace him (though the second part of this has not yet been confirmed).
However, unlike so many of Penske's elder statesman of the past, Power seems to be getting better year by year - or at least not subject to the fall off you expect of drivers well into their 40s.
So his decision to leave of his own accord, as both driver and team stated, was the first ripple in the silly season - because we know he's not retiring, and therefore that would almost certainly mean an opportunity of equal prestige has opened up for Power.
He might have been there 17 years, but leaving for a lesser drive would be crazy when Penske is a win contender every year and a title contender most of the time too (this year aside).
Now we know the answer to that question...
Herta's opened up a seat
The suggestion that Herta could move to Formula 2 for 2026 was initially laughed off, but it's now almost inevitable it will happen.
Sources in the IndyCar paddock expect Herta to head for F2. On Wednesday, Cadillac announced an F1 test role for Herta that referenced a return to European racing ranks.
Shortly after that announcement, Andretti announced Power had joined the team for 2026 in place of Herta.
Power said: "This is a whole new chapter for me. I have to say that sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh start is very energizing. I can’t wait."
It means in recent years Andretti has signed drivers from both Ganassi (Marcus Ericsson) and Penske - which by the way is Chevrolet-powered. That's a massive asset for Honda-powered Andretti.
His only real weak point has been his recent performances at the Indianapolis 500, but that's why the team has Ericsson, while Kyle Kirkwood and Dennis Hauger - a driver we'll get to shortly - mean the future is bright for the team.
What about Power's replacement?
This is going to be Malukas. It is understood he signed a Penske contract last year when he joined its affiliate team, AJ Foyt Racing, which he competed for this year.
And an announcement is a matter of when, not if.
What about Malukas's replacement?
Eyebrows were raised when Rinus VeeKay said he had not signed a new deal at Dale Coyne last week in Nashville, and now he has confirmed he won't remain at the team.
Considering he took a Coyne squad that was flailing in 2024 and put it 14th in the championship this year, he would have been hot property in most silly seasons but, with not so much movement at the top teams, it looked like he would have to stay put.
I want to thank Dale Coyne Racing and in particular Dale and Gail for the opportunity they gave me to re-establish myself in 2025. This year was genuinely the most enjoyable year in my career as an IndyCar driver.
— Rinus VeeKay (@rinusveekay) September 2, 2025
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/xApaTIki0i
But now, Malukas leaving Foyt will give VeeKay the opportunity to follow the same path and join Santino Ferrucci, who is expected to stay on.
He can join Foyt with Penske-affiliated machinery - Foyt's average finish across its cars was better than Penske's this year, by the way - and then be in the perfect position to graduate to the next free seat.
That might be available in 2027 if rumours of Josef Newgarden looking for new opportunities for that year are true, and there would be a long queue in place for him with IndyCar's top teams Andretti, McLaren and Ganassi all capable of moving for him for 2027.
Those rumours might be rubbish but, even if they are, VeeKay should get the equipment and the opportunity to impress. And he'll be a reminder to Malukas that he needs to perform as soon as he gets through the door at Penske, or there's another option - a race-winning one at that - on the table.
Coyne is a lot of fun
Romain Grosjean! The ex-F1 driver is looking for a way back to IndyCar and a return to the Coyne team he excelled with in his rookie year could be on the cards.
But there are alternatives. Linus Lundqvist - who won his 2022 Indy NXT title with HMD while it was affiliated to Dale Coyne - was rookie of the year last year, but lost his drive for 2025, and is a longer-term option should Coyne want to consider that.
A big new partner announcement from Coyne last week should take some strain off the drivers needing to bring funding, so this would be a straightforward choice between two great options.
And even if Grosjean doesn't bring sponsors he'll bring a lot of eyes to the team, which might be the deciding factor.
F2 convert Hauger ran away with the Indy NXT title as a rookie for Andretti, and all bets point to Andretti keeping him for the long term and striking a deal with Coyne to run him for 2026 at least - as it did with Kyle Kirkwood at AJ Foyt in 2022 before promoting him the following year.
The incumbent in that second seat, Jacob Abel, is able to bring sponsorship, so it's entirely possible he remains on the IndyCar grid next year - maybe even with Coyne. The team's next steps are going to be governed by how it finances its seats, and that always makes for uncertain planning for the team and silly-season analysis for journalists.
The other seats to watch
Ganassi is set for next year and McLaren has declared it is as well, although recent paddock rumour has speculated that McLaren could move on from Nolan Siegel after his disappointing first full season. A change seems unlikely at this stage, though.
We've taken you through Andretti, Penske, Foyt and Coyne. Meyer Shank is sticking with Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist, and expect Ed Carpenter Racing to do the same: Alexander Rossi was announced on a multi-year deal, while IndyCar's newest race winner Christian Rasmussen is yet to be confirmed publicly but will stay on.
That leaves Juncos Hollinger, Prema and Rahal Letterman Lanigan.
Juncos is looking for additional funding next year. Conor Daly has impressed the team, while Sting Ray Robb brings budget and has improved year on year. This line-up will be decided late - so Lundqvist and drivers from Indy NXT and Europe could steal a march here.
RLL has Graham Rahal and Louis Foster again in 2026. The question mark is over Devlin DeFrancesco and whether he remains in the third seat. The team had been heavily linked to Power before the Andretti news came.
It also has Juri Vips and Toby Sowery as reserve drivers but neither brings significant budget.
And then there's Prema. It's clear that discussions about its financial struggles have permeated global racing series' paddocks. Callum Ilott is a target for World Endurance Championship teams, and Indy 500 polesitter Robert Shwartzman would be at home in any series.
Whether the team stays on for a second season in IndyCar is likely to depend on additional funding. If it pulls that together, expect both drivers to return as part of multi-year deals - but both will be hot properties on the market for anyone.
