Jim Ayello | IndyStar

Matthew Glenesk / IndyStar

Kelly Wilkinson/The Star

INDIANAPOLIS -- Expansion was top of mind for Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles when discussing the future of the Verizon IndyCar Series on Monday.

Miles told IndyStar on that it is “highly likely” three new teams will join the series full time next year and is optimistic about the possibility of fielding at least a 22-car grid.

After wrapping up his fifth season running the American open-wheel series, Miles said he anticipates the ascension of Indy Lights teams Juncos Racing and Carlin Racing, as well as the full-time addition of Harding Racing.

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He also appeared to confirm Team Penske’s much-anticipated transition to a three-car program.

“The addition of new owners is exciting,” Miles told IndyStar. “So Roger (Penske) looks like he’s down a car and Chip (Ganassi Racing) is down two, but with Carlin and Harding and Juncos, we think we at least make up for those changes in the two biggest teams and perhaps even add a car for the IndyCar series.”

He did not specify which, if any, of these news teams he thinks might run a multi-car program. However between their anticipated arrival and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's transition to a two-car team and no others teams reportedly trimming down -- that adds up to at least a 22-car field. The series had 21 full-time cars last year. The last time the series ran more than 21 was 2014.

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Miles was careful to note that “nothing is done until it’s done” regarding the infusion of new blood into the series but did not back down from his optimism about transforming IndyCar from what was an eight-team series into an 11-team series.

Harding Racing appears to be the closest to locking down a spot in the series, as team owner Mike Harding has repeatedly stated he is confident Gabby Chaves will be driving the No. 88 car for the fledgling team next year.

Harding made its IndyCar debut at this past May’s Indianapolis 500, where Chaves finished ninth, before registering a fifth-place finish at Texas and 15th at Pocono. Harding has hinted at the possibility of adding a second car, but has made no commitment.

Juncos Racing enjoyed a tremendous 2017 season, winning two IndyCar ladder series championships -- Indy Lights (Kyle Kaiser) and Pro Mazda (Victor Franzoni) -- and making its IndyCar debut at the 500, where Sebastien Saavedra finished 15th and Spencer Pigot 18th.

Team owner Ricardo Juncos, who recently opened a 41,000-square foot shop in Speedway, has made it clear he wants to join the IndyCar Series full-time as soon as it’s feasible but has yet to make an announcement.

Finally, there is Trevor Carlin’s team, which joined the Indy Lights Series in 2015 and won the 2016 championship with Ed Jones. Carlin has a long history of success in junior motor sports across the globe and is considering an IndyCar entry.

He recently told IndyCar.com, “I’m not going to stand here now and say it’s a done deal, but I would say that the odds on us being on the grid next year are the highest they’ve ever been. It’s just a case of putting the package together now.”

Not only was Miles pleased with the continued growth within the sport, but he was enthusiastic about continuing to bring diversity to the series in the form an Argentinian owner (Juncos), British owner (Carlin) and another American in Harding.

“As much as we love Penske Racing and CGR, it’s a little less concentration in ownership, which is probably healthy for the series,” Miles said. “It’s just more competition, more stories, more narratives for fans. ... That’s more entities in the marketplace selling our sports, and broader investment is better.”

2018 Verizon IndyCar Series car count

A brief look at what the field would be with the inclusion of three new teams:

4: Andretti Autosport (Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Marco Andretti, Zach Veach)

3: Team Penske (Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power)

2: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato)

2: Chip Ganassi Racing (Scott Dixon, TBD)

2: Dale Coyne Racing (Sebastien Bourdais, TBD)

2: Ed Carpenter Racing (Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter/TBD)

2: A.J. Foyt Racing (TBD, TBD)

2: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (TBD, TBD)

1: Harding Racing (Gabby Chaves)

1: Juncos Racing: (TBD)

1: Carlin Racing (TBD)