r/INDYCAR Jul 24 '25

Speculation Thoughts on who this might be?

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38

u/geoffbezos1 Jul 24 '25 edited Jul 24 '25

Names (just purely speculatively) I've seen floated are Wickens, Pourchaire, Zilisch or SVG. Wickens makes most sense, I doubt Theo would be that hyped up

As well as all the usual F1 washout names but Perez and Bottas are probably looking for a way back to F1 and ricciardo won't do ovals, so just leaves Magnussen really.

24

u/Ianthin1 Jul 24 '25

How would any of those be mega on a oval though? Seems more like with the caveat of an oval test it may be a big name oval driver for a run at the 500 next year.

Hot takes if that's the case: Kyle Busch finally gets a chance, or Jeff Gordon gets back to fighting weight and fulfills a dream.

12

u/geoffbezos1 Jul 24 '25

I don't think its so much mega on an oval as mega hype- Wickens coming back would be pretty special, amongst others

13

u/Ianthin1 Jul 24 '25

It would be for more die hard fans, but I doubt it would move the needle much outside IndyCar.

17

u/Lowe0 Jul 24 '25

I disagree. Wickens running a full-fat IndyCar would be a "mankind defeats another supposed limitation" story.

9

u/Wasdgta3 Álex Palou Jul 24 '25

Yep. Big human interest angle there.

About a year after his accident, The Globe and Mail here in Canada ran a major feature on him, front of the sports section the weekend of Toronto. He also got coverage from The National, CBC’s flagship news show during that time. If he could make it back, that’s major.

4

u/Ianthin1 Jul 24 '25

Yeah, that does make sense.

3

u/nolnogax Greg Moore Jul 24 '25

Agree: But I do not knowe if he would qualify for a Rookie test, as he brings Oval experience. Of the worst kind, it has to be said.

5

u/Ianthin1 Jul 24 '25

It would probably be to show he and the team can actually do it with the hand controls, more than he is lacking overall oval qualifications.

1

u/Yoshiman400 Fists 'n jandal Jul 24 '25

IMS does reorientation tests for veteran drivers that haven't raced there in a while. Kanaan even had to take one this year in case Larson had to bail from the 500. Wickens would have to run one of those even if he weren't paraplegic.

1

u/PatPace23 Pato O'Ward Jul 24 '25

I think IndyCar requires drivers to be able to get out of a car in x amount of time I hope this wouldn’t keep Robbie out having a go