IndyCar rides: Who's next in? Who's still out?

Question: So you expect Luca Filippi to be Ed Carpenter's cohort in the No. 20 car of CFH Racing? Where does that leave JR Hildebrand, and is there a chance Hildebrand drives for the team in May? (Rich, Dallas, Texas)

Answer: The announcement on Filippi occurred Friday morning. I don't know what to make of Hildebrand's chances for a ride. Certainly, he and Ed Carpenter, along with their peeps, have been thrashing day and night trying to put a deal together, and I know how highly Ed thinks of him. But I think ultimately the decision to go with Filippi was based on money, although anyone paying attention the past two seasons could see the talent he possesses. Last year with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Filippi qualified fourth in the first race in Houston and started sixth in the first race in Toronto. Both of those races ended in contact, but the 29-year-old Italian showed the same level of quickness in 2013 in four late-season races with Bryan Herta Autosport. So, it will be Filippi on the road courses and street circuits for CFH and Carpenter on the ovals. Both will team with Josef Newgarden in the car that last year ran under the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing banner. (Most people expect Newgarden to take a step up in class this year, maybe even winning a race.) I asked Carpenter this week about the number of cars the recently merged teams will field in the Indianapolis 500 – apparently IndyCar president Derrick Walker had just asked him the same question – and he said they're planning on three. I'd expect Hildebrand to be the strongest candidate for that third seat. Update: Mike Conway was finally confirmed to the Toyota ride in the World Endurance Championship, so he's off the board for IndyCar.

Question: IndyCar had its drivers meeting Wednesday. Any surprises among the attendees? (Jeff, Laguna Beach, Calif.)

Answer: I asked that question myself, and I scanned the photographs people posted on social media to see if I could pick put a newbie. Neither pursuit landed much of a surprise. Apparently it was all the regulars plus Conor Daly, who will test on Tuesday with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, along with Stefan Wilson, Pippa Mann and a few others, including Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves, who is expected to be introduced next week as Bryan Herta Autosport's new driver. Sage Karam was there, too, although he still hasn't been confirmed to Ganassi Racing's No. 8 car, though we all expect it. I was surprised to hear that Carlos Huertas, who won last year's first race in Houston, was present. I left last season with the impression that he wasn't interested in returning this year. Apparently absent was Ryan Briscoe, who does not have a strong lead on a full-time ride to my knowledge. There's still no word on the fourth seat at Andretti Autosport, but everyone expects Justin Wilson. As for the two seats at Dale Coyne Racing, well, we've joked that the cancellation of the Brazil race gives the deliberate team owner two more weeks to make selections and then announce them, which are two different things in Dale's world.