IndyCar: Ganassi completes budget for three cars

The GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma featured a four-car assault from Chip Ganassi Racing that ultimately led to Scott Dixon being crowned championship in the No. 9 Target Chevy. Based on rumors circulating throughout the paddock last weekend, it could be trimmed to three cars in 2016.

Mentions of CGR consolidating its efforts to three full-time cars with Dixon, Tony Kanaan in the No. 10 Chevy, and Charlie Kimball in the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chevy made the rounds, and if that's the case, if leaves the use of the No. 8 shared by Sage Karam and Sebastian Saavedra in question.

"It's a work in progress for us," Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull told RACER. "We have sponsorship in place for three cars next year, which is no different than last year at this stage. We have a planning meeting in two weeks to address the fourth entry."

Kanaan, who is in a contract year, is expected to return, and Dixon and Kimball have contracts extending into 2016 or beyond, leaving the funding of the No. 8 as the only question mark for the new series champions to consider.

With Saavedra taking four races in the car this season – including a starring performance at Sonoma (RIGHT) where he led the race – and Karam at the controls for 12 races, earning his first IndyCar podium with third at Iowa, their respective sponsors covered portions of the season. The big question right now is whether the fluctuating driver rotation in the car is something the team would want to carry forward into 2016.

If CGR opts to stay with three full-time cars, it would lead to speculation where Karam would drive next year, and where Saavedra and his longtime backer Gary Peterson might look for solutions. Given Karam's youth and need to continue his learning curve, Ganassi's Ford GT endurance racing program could be an outlet for the 2013 Indy Lights champion to grow in a team-based environment where finishing races is the first priority.

Ganassi's multi-car Ford GT sports car effort and expansion into the Red Bull Global Rallycross series would also serve as logical programs to place crew members from the No. 8, if neccessary.