2015 IndyCar Driver Preview: Drivers! Start. Your. Engines.

24 drivers will answer that call to action this Sunday as the 2015 Verizon IndyCar season kicks off in St. Petersburg. Like every other year, there has been some team/driver shuffling over the off season. Some expected. Some unexpected. Maybe the biggest surprise of all is that we actually knew who would be driving for Dale Coyne this weekend, days before the first practice!

Here's a look at the Class of 2015 and how the team/driver combos breakdown:

( *on a new team, **new for 2015, ***returning post hiatus)

AJ Foyt: Takuma Sato, *Jack Hawksworth
Andretti: Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Munoz, ***Simona de Silvestro
BHA: **Gabby Chaves
CFH: Josef Newgarden, Ed Carpenter, *Luca Fillippe
Dale Coyne: Carlos Huertas. **Francisco Dracone
Ganassi: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball. *Sage Karam
KV: Sebastien Bourdais, **Stefano Coletti
Penske: Helio Castroneves, Will Power, Juan Pablo Montoya, *Simon Pagenaud,
RLL: Graham Rahal
Sam Schmidt: *James Hinchcliffe, ***James Jakes

The Champions
Juan Pablo Montoya (1999) (CART)
Scott Dixon (2003, 2008, 2013) (IRL/IndyCar)
Tony Kanaan (2004) (IRL)
Sebastien Bourdais (2004-7)(ChampCar)
Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012) (IndyCar)
Will Power (2014)(IndyCar)

This group has hoisted the big trophy at the end of the season, some multiple times. But just because they've tasted the hard fought victory of winning a championship, don't for a moment consider that they will rest on their laurels and coast through this season. Once you've had a taste you know what you're missing and you want it again… even more so.

What to expect in 2015:
They are all in rides capable of carrying them to the top of the heap. They all know what it takes to put together a winning season. They all want it bad. But they not only have to contend against each other, a daunting prospect in and of itself, they also have freight train of talent barreling down on them, all of whom would like nothing more than to unseat them, and join the ranks of this elite group. Look for the championship lead to change hands several times between them, with Pagenaud and Castroneves in the mix early on.

The Elder Statesmen
Helio Castroneves
Takuma Sato
Ed Carpenter

The stalwarts. They've been around the block, they've tasted the victories, they know the agony of defeat, and they keep coming back for more. Still out for their own gains, but also paying the role of teacher for the next generation of drivers making their way up through the ranks. Looking at the three names above, you can be sure of one thing. Every time they take to the track, they are in it to win it, and will put on an exciting show in the process.

What to expect in 2015:
In 2014, Castroneves came the closest he's come to finally capturing the championship which has eluded him for so long. Does he have it in him to mount another attack with the same dedication? Have you MET Helio? He'll battle it out till the bitter end yet again. Sato struggled in 2014, and many thought the writing was on the wall for him, but here he is, and this year he has a young, equally intense teammate to mentor and swap data with. Little of his attrition was self inflicted last year, so if he can stay out of trouble and drive with the same attack we're use to, he could put together a fantastic season and result for A.J Foyt racing. Carpenter will again only be competing on the Ovals this year, splitting seat time with Filippe and the timing stand. No doubt we will see this owner/driver in Victory circle before seasons end.

The Pedigrees
Marco Andretti (2 wins, 4 poles, 15 podiums, 151 starts)
Graham Rahal (1 win, 2 poles, 7 podiums, 93 starts)

The pressures are monumental for any of the drivers lucky enough to land a seat in the series, but when your name and bloodline is linked to generations of highly successful drivers, the expectations are doubled. Bottom line: both need to start producing results. Consistently. Asap.

What to expect in 2015:
Following seasons of having everything but the kitchen sink thrown at his program, and being bested by every teammate he's been paired with, Rahal Letterman Lanigan is a single car team this year, with all eyes, focus, and resources on Rahal. Expect a lot of bravado followed by a lot of excuses should his season begin to go south.

Focused training in the off season saw Andretti on an upswing in 2013, but bad luck seemed to get the best of him during the second part of the season. 2014 saw more of the same down swing. leaving him frustrated. Pre-season testing thus far has seen the young hot shoe struggling to find his comfort zone with the new aero package. Time will tell if he can settle in an start to get the results that have eluded him.

The Future Leaders
Simon Pagenaud
Josef Newgarden
Charlie Kimball
James Hinchcliffe

These are the sophomores. Graduates of the "Young Guns" category, not yet "Elder Statesmen", these are the eventual headliners of the series. All but one have their first win under their belt. (this year Josef, this year) They have "mad skillz" on track, but just as important, they have the big, funny, charming personalities that make them just as much in demand off track. The total package.

What to expect in 2015:
Expect podiums. Expect 1st wins (we're looking at you Josef) Expect growth. Expect potential reached. Expect a run for the championship (Pagenaud)

The Young Guns
Jack Hawksworth
Carlos Munoz
Carlos Huertas

Hot off their mostly successful rookie seasons, the expectations are still muted and forgiving for sophomores, giving these kids ample room for growth as they continue to mature both on and off track.

What to expect in 2015:
Both Jack and Carlos showed an incredible fearlessness in their rookie year. It didn't always work out for them, but the "fire in their belly" attack on track made people sit up and take notice, allowing for Munoz to retain one of the coveted Andretti rides, and Hawksworth to catch the eye of A.J. Foyt. Look for more of the same from both in 2015. Huertas, in his rookie season, managed by sheer luck to get the "1st win" monkey off his back. Not many expected that, nor did they expect to see the quiet but consistent Colombian back this season. But here he is, and as the team's #1 driver.

The Back in the Saddlers
Simona de Silvestro
James Jakes
Luca Fillippe

Piece meal seasons, multiple teams, long hiatus', and general uncertainty saw 2 of these bright lights on the sideline, only Filippe getting a couple of rides in 2014. Both de Silvestro and Jakes have a strong fan following, and when conditions are right, produce strong results on track.

What to expect in 2015:
While Jakes and Filippe both have full season rides, (Filippe Road/Street course only) Simona's situation is a little more precarious (read: part time) All three have podium potential, and will be looking to prove themselves worthy of their rides.

The New Kids on the Block
Gabby Chaves
Sage Karam
Stefano Coletti
Francesco Dracone

The rookie class of 2015. 2 Ladder series champions, a GP2 standout who's no stranger to the top step of the podium, and Francesco Dracone.

What to expect in 2015:
Chaves, the reigning Indy Lights Champion, is probably at the biggest disadvantage, coming into his IndyCar debut season on a single car team. His Lights graduate predecessors, Newgarden and Hawksworth dealt with a similar situation, struggling with the learning curve solo in their rookie seasons as well. Gabby is scrappy though, with a good head on his shoulders. Karem, in the fourth car at Ganassi, isn't yet confirmed for the full season, so his goal is to run fast and clean during the events he is slated for, in hopes that will lead to more seat time. Coletti, who's announced hiring left a lot of people scratching their heads, has been a refreshing surprise. Fast out of the gate, he could give some of the more seasoned drivers in the series a run for their money. Speaking of head scratching… Dracone had a mostly embarrassing 2 race debut with IndyCar in 2010, so to see him back 4 years later, while so many more talented drivers sit rideless is perplexing to say the least. Whether or not this is a full season stint or a limited run remains to be seen.

The Bullpen:
Justin Wilson
Stef Wilson
Ryan Briscoe
Oriol Servia
Connor Daly
J.R. Hildebrand
Sebastian Saavedra
Pippa Mann
Alex Tagliani

What to expect in 2015:
Well, we can expect to see most, if not all, fighting for one of the 33 grid spots in May, but beyond that... who knows. Shared rides? Partial seasons? One offs? Sadly in this day and age it's not about your resume, your talent, your body of work, or your desire. It's about your sheer determination behind the scenes to hustle to make yourself known and seen to sponsors and subsequently teams, and whether or not the cheque clears. If a pot of gold can be found at the end of a rainbow somewhere, then we're almost positive a seat would miraculously open up at one of the current teams.

Here's what the drivers had to say about the upcoming season and race weekend:

Will Power (No. 1 Verizon Chevrolet, defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race winner): "I'm really excited to get the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series started and represent the sport as the champion throughout the year. Even though I was able to break through last year and win my first title, I am preparing to go into this season just as hungry as I was before I became a champion. The drive to win multiple championships is just as strong as the drive to win one. To do that, it's important to get off to a good start at St. Pete. Winning there last year in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet was critical to the championship push. Now that I'm in the No. 1 Verizon Chevy for 2015, we need to put the new number in Victory Lane as well." (About debut of aero kit competition): "As we are starting to understand the new Chevrolet aero kits, it's clear that they have done a proper job in the design and development of them. The kits produce massive downforce, low drag and the cars are absolutely glued to the track. Obviously, as we go along in the year we are going to learn more and more about what we need to push for wins. That is where having a new, fourth car with Simon Pagenaud will be key. His ability to communicate what a car is doing and what it needs is really impressive. He's going to add a lot to Team Penske and I look forward to racing as his teammate for quite a while."

Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 2 Verizon Chevrolet): "The 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season was one of a lot of adjustments for me getting re-introduced to these cars again after 13 seasons away from the series. The race at St. Pete was a bit of a struggle for me last year, especially since I had never been on the 'red' Firestone tires until the race started, and it took some adjusting. Toward the end of the year, though, we were really competitive, leading laps and running at the front of the field. With that year under my belt I really think we can get the season started strong at St. Pete. The No. 2 Verizon Chevy has been solid in our preseason testing and with a couple more days on track before we get to St. Pete we should be able to dial it in even more."

Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Hitachi Chevrolet): "While we would all have loved to race in Brazil this year, there is something cool about keeping the tradition of opening the Verizon IndyCar Series season in St. Pete. This is a track that has been very good to Team Penske, and to me personally. Even though we are introducing new aero kits to the series this year, I think you will see Team Penske and Chevrolet at the front of the field when the laps are winding down in the race. I have been encouraged with the speed in the No. 3 Hitachi Chevy during our testing over the last couple of weeks. Team Penske is always strong in qualifying at St. Pete as well. If we can get a good starting spot I believe we can keep the car up front all day and challenge for the win. A fourth win at St. Pete would be awesome. And then, who knows, maybe a fourth win in another race later on in the season at Indianapolis."

Stefano Coletti (No. 4 KV Racing Technology Chevrolet): "I am really excited to start the championship and the challenge of learning all the new tracks. I have done a few tests now with KV Racing Technology and gathered some valuable data, which I'm looking forward to being able to use this weekend at St. Petersburg. I have been able to watch some past races, so I have an idea of what the track will be like and especially what to expect in Turn 1, which looks extremely tight. Having such an experienced teammate as (Sebastien) Bourdais has been really helpful and we work well together, so I am looking forward to having a great first season to my Indy car career."

James Hinchcliffe (No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda): "St. Pete is like the first day of school, providing that you like school, that is. I love going there. The race is awesome, the track is fun and it's a place that I've always run well at. It's been nice getting back in the cars to go testing but I think the whole Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team just wants to get back to racing and see what we can do in the Arrow car. It can't come soon enough."

James Jakes (No. 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda): "I'm very excited about starting the season in St. Pete this weekend, and really looking forward to driving the No. 7 MediaTech SPM Honda around there. We've had a busy few weeks leading up to the race and hopefully everything we've learned will benefit us for the Verizon IndyCar Series season opener. We're looking to start the season strong so that we have a good baseline for 2015."

Sage Karam (No. 8 GE LED Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "I can't tell you how excited I am to get the season started. When I signed as a development driver with the team last year, I was able to get in and help out the IMSA team, but now it's time to get the INDYCAR season started. St. Pete is a track I've had success on before in the ladder series and I'm ready to go. We've been testing a lot the past few months and I've really been trying hard to absorb everything I've learned from my teammates and our driver coach Dario Franchitti. I can't wait to get the GE LED car out for practice and start working on the car with my team and my engineer Eric Cowdin. It's a dream come true to be racing for Chip and this team and I'm going to be ready to go."

Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "St. Petersburg is one of the best places to kick off the season. It's around spring break time, they do a fantastic job of getting the community in and obviously the party atmosphere there too with different things going on during the day. All the different classes of cars that race there and all the variety of things to do in St. Pete make it pretty fantastic for a lot of people. I live in Indianapolis and we finally get to have some sun and get hang out in some warm weather. The track itself is always fantastic racing with big braking zones going into Turn 1. It's also very wide, great for starts, restarts and overtaking throughout the race. I think it's definitely been some great racing over the years and this year I expect the same. I haven't won there either, so I need to work on that one. I've had three or four podiums but have never won."

Tony Kanaan (No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "It's been a lot of fun getting to know the new Chevy aero kits over the last month, but I think it's safe to say that I'm ready to get back on track for the season opener in St. Petersburg this weekend. I'm loving my new colors representing NTT DATA this season and it's been a seamless transition working with my new lead engineer Todd Malloy. I think everyone at NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing is just excited to get out there to start the new season and really see what these new cars can do."

Sebastien Bourdais (No. 11 Team Hydroxycut-KVSH Chevrolet): "I am looking forward to the start of the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. We have had a long time off and it will be good to be back racing in the No. 11 Hydroxycut - KVSH Racing Chevrolet car. We have had some good tests during the offseason and collected some valuable data, but you never know how you stack up until you are on the track when it counts. I wish we would have had more time with the new aero kits, but it is the same for everyone." (About racing in his adopted hometown of St. Petersburg): "St. Petersburg is my home race, but unfortunately, other than a pole in my first race (2003), I haven't really had the success I would have liked. We had a good race going last year and I think we were in a position to finish in the top four or five, but things just didn't go our way. I don't feel any additional pressure to do well in St. Petersburg...but it's nice to be able to sleep in my own bed and have friends and family at the track."

Takuma Sato (No. 14 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda): "I just naturally feel good about St. Pete. In 2013, the tire's characteristic was quite different from the previous year but we were able to find a good balance very quickly and that was why we were quick. Last year, it was a tricky condition from damp track to drying for every segment of qualifying but I was able to commit every timed lap, so it was a quite special moment when we got the pole. Hopefully we can repeat another front-row start."

Graham Rahal (No. 15 Mi-Jack Honda): "I'm excited to race again in St. Petersburg. For me, St. Pete has always been one of the best tracks, one of the best places we go all year, a place that I just love. Because of the fact that I got my first win and my first pole there, it has always had a sweet spot in my heart. The town has always embraced the racing and I've enjoyed that. More than anything, I'm ready to just get this season going. It's such a long offseason that I feel like we're kind of behind. The team has been doing such a great job and I'm just thrilled to get this thing going. I think it's going to be a great year. I'm excited and ready to go. St. Pete is going to be interesting because it will be our first hard run with the new aero kits. The car seems to be handling everything pretty well. Durability seems to be pretty good. At the end of the day, I think everybody is ready to get to St. Pete. Honda is ready to perform and I think we can lead the charge for them and hopefully do a great job. It's going to be tough, tricky to see how this all plays out. We're going to have to be very cautious of contact and make sure that we are staying clean and sharp. All in all, I'm really excited to get going."

Luca Filippi (No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka CFH Racing Chevrolet): "We are all very excited for St. Pete. It will be my first race with CFH Racing and I really can't wait to get there. Obviously, it's been a long winter for everyone, but it's good that we had an opportunity to test the car with the old package and the new aero kit. I think Chevy has done a great job and we are really looking forward to seeing where we are. I think we are going to be competitive and the entire team is really excited about it."

Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet): "To say that I'm ready to get to St. Pete would be a huge understatement. I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve ready to go with my new No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Chevy team. Making the move to Team Penske has been everything I thought it would be. The resources available to us are second to none, but I also feel that both (engineer) Ben (Bretzman) and I can contribute a lot to the team as well. We've already been quite busy with testing over the last few weeks, trying to really hone in on the new Chevrolet aero kit. Chevy did an amazing job with it and we will continue to improve as the season goes along. I have to say, though, that it is really an honor to have Team Penske start a fourth team for me, something that has never been done in team history. That gives me a lot of confidence to go out and do my job, which is to win races and compete for the Verizon IndyCar Series championship."

Simona de Silvestro (No. 25 Andretti Autosport Honda): "I'm really looking forward to St. Pete. It's a place I've always done pretty well, and I really enjoy the track, the atmosphere. It's the first race of the season, so it's always really exciting, and especially for me, I'm going there after a year away from INDYCAR... It's going to be great; especially with Andretti Autosport - it's going to be a new challenge but I can't wait to start the season with them. Hopefully we'll get a good result, and I think we'll do that."

Carlos Muñoz (No. 26 AndrettiTV/Cinsay Honda): "These three days of testing (at Sebring International Raceway) are only going to help us going into St. Petersburg. We have a little more work to do, but I think we are going to be right there when we arrive to St. Pete. I'm really looking forward to this weekend; this is the start of my second Verizon IndyCar Series season and I like the St. Pete track a lot. I have been fast in the past there, and last year I did quite a good job qualifying (seventh). There are a lot of cars running today in Sebring, so we are going to have a good reference for the race weekend ahead."

Marco Andretti (No. 27 Snapple Honda): "I can't wait to be back in race conditions this weekend. As always, St. Pete will be a great setting to start the season and I'm excited to see where things ultimately shake out with the new aero kits."

Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 28 DHL Honda): "It's a new era in INDYCAR with the introduction of the aero kits and I'm really looking forward to the season opener on the streets of St. Pete. We're still developing the new package and will be for quite some time, but the DHL team is focused on the challenge ahead. We've been on the St. Pete podium too many times in the past without a win, now we have our sights set on a victory and starting the 2015 season the best way possible."

Jack Hawksworth (No. 41 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda): "The (St. Pete) track is a lot of fun and pretty technical, especially the middle sector. It's a track I have won at twice in Pro Mazda and in Indy Lights so it has always been good to me. Couple that with the great weather and it's certainly one of my favorite events. I also lived in St. Pete during my first year in the States, so I know the city quite well and really enjoy going back there. It's a great place to kick off the season."

Josef Newgarden (No. 67 Hartman Oil CFH Racing Chevrolet): "I am really excited to get to St. Pete with the whole team. We've had a great winter getting to know one another. It's been a really good marriage between two fantastic groups (Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing). Chevy seems to have brought us a great package with their new aero kit. It's been fun developing that and working with Luca (Filippi) to try to figure out what we need to win races. I feel that CFH Racing is as prepared as we can be rolling into the first round of the season. We're obviously looking to start it off right and score good points. I think starting off on a high note and taking care of the equipment is the priority. Hopefully that will snowball into more success throughout the entire year."

Charlie Kimball (No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "After a long offseason and some productive test days these past few weeks, I think we're all more than ready to take the green flag on Sunday. The entire Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has been working really hard over the winter in preparation of the new Team Chevy aero kits. Now that we've had on-track time, it's about soaking up as much as we can to make small gains here and there that add up to big results. We'll be looking to have the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car on the podium this weekend to get the momentum going. I can't wait to see how things shake out once we're in a real race setting at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg; I think the fans are in for a treat this season."

Gabby Chaves (No. 98 Bowers & Wilkins/Curb Honda): "We have been making progress every time we get on track and I expect nothing less heading into the race weekend. It is an incredible opportunity that I have here and I will do all I can to get the results we want and deserve. It will be a steep learning curve for me as a rookie but I have a great team around me that will help me with that process. I have complete confidence in them to get us to our true potential."