Will Buxton shares major detail about IndyCar silly season's next move

IndyCar play-by-play commentator Will Buxton has shared a crucial detail about the 2026 driver market. There are two confirmed seats left to be filled for next season - one each at Dale Coyne Racing and AJ Foyt Racing.

2025 Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet is rumored to be the next occupant of the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet that David Malukas vacated to join Team Penske. As for the second Dale Coyne Racing seat alongside 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger, Romain Grosjean was rumored to be the favorite.

The former F1 driver is eyeing a return to IndyCar after a year on the sidelines serving as PREMA Racing's reserve driver. Moreover, he is reportedly the favorite driver of Todd Ault, the owner of Ault Blockchain, which will sponsor both DCR entries in 2026.

Will Buxton recently shared that he met Romain Grosjean at the F1 United States GP weekend in Austin, Texas. The duo shortly conversed about the Frenchman's potential 2026 IndyCar return with Dale Coyne Racing, which Buxton revealed on the Divebomb podcast, saying [1:00:34 onwards]:

"I saw Romain Grosjean in Austin, and I said, 'So Coyne next year?' And he said to me, 'Everybody thinks that, but it's not done.' I was like, 'Oh, okay.' He said, 'If Dale sends me a contract, I'll sign it.'"

Dale Coyne declared in September that DCR would announce both its drivers for the 2026 season by Halloween, October 31. While Hauger has locked in one seat, the other remains open, with only one day to go for that deadline. However, there could be a delay in the decision, with an active F1 driver rumored to join the race for that seat.

Yuki Tsunoda rumored to be in contention for second IndyCar seat at Dale Coyne Racing

Yuki Tsunoda at the F1 Mexico Grand Prix - Source: Getty

IndyCar reporter Tony Donohue recently shared that he'd heard rumors about F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda being in contention to join Dale Coyne Racing in 2026. The Japanese driver is having an underwhelming run at Red Bull as Max Verstappen's teammate.

He is reportedly set to lose his seat to Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar next year. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies revealed ahead of the Mexico GP that the team will make the driver decision before the season finale at Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Tony Donohue spoke about the Yuki Tsunoda to IndyCar rumors in a recent episode of the Unverified podcast on YouTube.

"There has been rumors of Yuki Tsunoda possibly being inside of that No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing with Honda backing, obviously, for the 2026 season," Donohue said. "I think we'll find out next week if I'm not mistaken, and I don't believe he'll be back in his F1 seat. But that is certainly a rumor." "I had heard it and more so kind of, it was brought back up to me yesterday by somebody, who I feel like if it came across their desk, it would be something that has been discussed," he added. "Obviously, nothing is official, but I think Yuki Tsunoda is certainly in the fold to land the second seat at Dale Coyne Racing.

Yuki Tsunoda tested an Indy car in 2024 with Chip Ganassi Racing when he was in the US for F1's Las Vegas GP. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon mentored him through the test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Edited by Yash Kotak