Kimball draws interest as CGR talks 'long way apart'

Last weekend in the penultimate IndyCar race of 2017, only 10 of the 21 starters had confirmed rides for 2018. Charlie Kimball is looking, but he still has his longtime sponsor and a future.

"I'm excited and pleased that Novo Nordisk wants to continue and support me significantly in the IndyCar series," said Kimball, who has combatted his Type 1 diabetes at speed thanks to Novo's medicines. "They've been with me seven years in IndyCar and two in Lights and it's been a great relationship.

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"But not just on the track. We've impacted a lot of people throughout the years and I'll never be able to say enough about what they've done for myself and diabetics everywhere."

The 32-year-old veteran revealed to RACER a few weeks ago that although his sponsorship would be reduced in 2018, it's still plenty enough to draw interest.

"I've been in contact with multiple teams in the paddock and we're just weighing our options," he said. "I'm not sure it's going to be done by Sonoma but we should have something to talk about soon."

It's been a forgone conclusion his association with Chip Ganassi is over, but he says there's still an outside chance.

"Chip and I are still a long way apart but that doesn't mean something couldn't come together," said Kimball, who won his first IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio for Ganassi in 2013 and finished tied for eighth with Juan Pablo Montoya in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings last year.

Kimball's 2017 campaign has been solid with a few highlights, including a track record-setting pole position in Texas and a Firestone Fast 6 qualifying performance last week at Watkins Glen. But his mechanical problems at the Indy GP, Texas and Indianapolis 500 (where he was running second when he broke) have cost him dearly in the standings.

The hottest rumor is that Max Chilton may be going to Trevor Carlin and starting a new team with Kimball coming along.

"I enjoy Max as a teammate, I like his wife and his dad and I had a great time with Carlin in 2005 and 2007," said Kimball. "But we'll just have to see how things play out. I love the Honda family too but I'm not open to just one manufacturer.

"I've just got to figure out what makes the most sense for Novo and for me."