There are many other factors that need to be considered that are all influenced by team owner Michael Andretti’s manufacturer decision for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. According to another Honda team owner who spoke with Autoweek, he believes Takuma Sato is close to a deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for next season. That was based on what Sato’s agent, Steve Fusek, told him last week.

A possible Sato signing with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was also addressed by Racer late Saturday evening.

However, Sato’s agent told Autoweek Saturday night on pit lane at Gateway Motorsports Park that no deal has been signed with any team for next season.

“There is no ink on any paper on any contract, definitively 100 percent,” Steve Fusek, Sato’s agent, told Autoweek. “We have three options right now we are all considering and they have to be Honda.

“I would say it’s not that far yet. There are a lot of decisions yet to be made. It’s all speculation until you say it’s done. I would be the second person to know. Takuma would be the first because he has to sign the contract. But it’s all contingent on what Michael Andretti does.”

If Andretti stays with Honda, does Sato stay with Andretti?

“We don’t know that yet,” Fusek said.

Autoweek was told by another IndyCar Series team owner Sato and his agent were convinced several weeks ago that Andretti Autosport would switch from Honda to Chevrolet at the end of the season so they began searching for another Honda opportunity for 2018 for the driver from Japan that has very strong Honda ties.

Alexander Rossi, who Autoweek learned has an escape clause in his contract allowing him to leave Andretti Autosport if the team leaves Honda, is also in a unique position because his sponsor is NAPA Auto Parts.

According to sources, Andretti Autosport is seriously pursuing NAPA as a full-time sponsor for Rossi for the 2018 season.

NAPA has been on Rossi’s car for a partial schedule and was on board when the driver won the 100th Indianapolis 500 as a rookie in 2016. NAPA was also on board for this year’s Indy 500 as well as a number of other races on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule.

If NAPA agrees to a full-time sponsorship deal with Andretti Autosport, would the driver not exercise his Honda escape clause if Andretti is a Chevrolet IndyCar team? That might be enough to keep Rossi with Andretti, whether or not the team is with Honda.

These are the finer details of negotiations that are ongoing in the Verizon IndyCar paddock for next season’s driver/team lineup.

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