Andretti has vacancies in its IndyCar line-up for 2024 – so could its newly-crowned Formula E champion Jake Dennis, who has already tested with Andretti’s IndyCar squad, be tempted to make the switch?
Dennis, 28, wrapped up his and Andretti’s first Formula E title in London last weekend having taken two wins and nine podiums on his way to the championship in a beautifully-managed campaign just three years on from Dennis landing in the series.
After testing an IndyCar last October, and with Andretti potentially releasing at least Devlin DeFrancesco and possibly Romain Grosjean too, Dennis has been talked about by IndyCar fans as a potential option.
However, Dennis is under contract in Formula E with Andretti until the end of 2024 and will defend his championship there.
He isn’t particularly interested in a switch to IndyCar currently and a move to the series would complicate his Red Bull Formula 1 simulator duties too as F1 and IndyCar have a host of clashes plus travel time would be a factor.
There’s also the significant change in lifestyle and the factor of oval racing to consider, too.
Asked by The Race’s Formula E correspondent Sam Smith if IndyCar was of interest to him, Dennis replied: “It’s actually not to be honest.
He added: “Maybe Michael [Andretti, team owner] will give me the opportunity if I really pushed him.
“He knows I’m relatively talented and would be open to the idea I would imagine.
“But after my test, I wasn’t that much of a fan of the car. It was cool, had a lot of downforce and stuff like this, but I think just living in America, the American tracks the ovals, it’s just a few things which don’t align for me right now.
“So I was happy to continue to Formula E and be their number one and keep performing for them and it paid off well, we’ve just become world champion.”
Ericsson’s Ganassi exclusivity ends
August 1 is a big day in the IndyCar series as a number of exclusivity clauses in driver contracts end, with the highest profile one being Marcus Ericsson who is far more likely than Dennis to end up in an Andretti seat.
The 2022 Indy 500 winner wants a deal that reflects his new status as a winner of that race and a title contender, but Ganassi has yet to meet his demands and now Ericsson is free to talk to other teams as of Tuesday.
It’s possible Ericsson and Ganassi could reach an agreement, but in recent weeks it’s become more and more likely that he will head for Andretti.
Michael Andretti told the IndyStar last week “I’m surprised Chip didn’t nail him down, I think he’s done a really good job.”
In that same interview, Andretti criticised current driver Romain Grosjean, and while the driver and team appeared close to a contract extension in May, the French driver could also leave the team after a tough run of results.
Dale Coyne’s David Malukas has been rumoured to have a deal with the Andretti team for some time, and could join the team alongside Ericsson.
Keyword: Why Andretti’s new champion doesn’t fancy its vacant IndyCar seat