I hand over. Once more. Up is down. Black is white. And IndyCar’s foolish season is altering quicker than I can sustain with every day.

Final week, there was little doubt about the place Alex Palou was headed on the finish of the season, with System 1, or McLaren Racing’s Arrow McLaren IndyCar group as one of many two surefire locations. And this week? Attempt staying with Chip Ganassi Racing and taking probably the most coveted IndyCar seat off the market.

We went by the identical Palou-is-staying routine in Might, however there have been assurances provided that it wasn’t actual. As I perceive the state of affairs in the present day –which may make a 180-degree flip tomorrow — he’s critically contemplating the third choice, which is to stay in Ganassi’s No. 10 Honda. If that’s true, it may imply his F1 alternatives have taken a success and remaining in IndyCar is the precedence.

Nonetheless, I’ve been anticipating Palou to disclose his alternative on the finish of the season with both the independently-sourced F1 seat or the transfer throughout to McLaren/Arrow McLaren in no matter capability. I’m now ready for the third choice of staying at Ganassi being the most recent instance of one thing that appeared inconceivable…and would possibly now be attainable.

You may also think about how the potential for Palou retaining the No. 10 automotive has upset the free agent market and people who simply wish to know if they need to preserve holding out hope. As if there weren’t sufficient twists on this story, I’ve been advised by various folks {that a} expensive buy-out clause would possibly exist which may preserve Palou on the trail to driving for McLaren.

Relying on who’s advised it, the sum is claimed to be between seven and eight figures to drive for somebody aside from McLaren subsequent yr. May one thing be negotiated that’s extra inexpensive? Would the identical legal professionals who had been extremely energetic in final yr’s back-and-forth between Palou, Ganassi, and McLaren be pressed into motion? Utilizing the messy 2022 situation between the three events as a information, something may occur.

And because it’s Palou, the grasp of surprises, I’ll additionally prepared myself to see him confirmed as Noah Gragson’s substitute within the No. 42 Legacy Motor Membership Cup automotive. That’s a joke, however with Palou, you simply by no means know.

And what about Marcus Ericsson, who we revealed simply days in the past as being on the receiving finish of a paid supply to remain at CGR? There’s no information to report there, however leaving Nashville, there positive had been lot of individuals satisfied the talks haven’t gone properly, who’ve mentioned he gained’t be accepting that deal, and that he’s headed out the door to drive for Michael Andretti. The Andretti half is what’s been anticipated, however like Palou, we’re being affected person and ready to see the place the Swede commits to drive.

As a remaining Ganassi word, if we return in 2024 with Ericsson within the No. 8 Honda, Dixon within the No. 9, Palou within the No. 10, and Marcus Armstrong again within the No. 11, I positive as hell hope the CW docu-series group behind “100 Days To Indy” has been capturing this 1 Yr To Palou circle **** for our amusement.

The Arrow McLaren and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing groups each have seats to settle. Brett Farmer/Motorsport Pictures

And what about one of many different well-liked locations? Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s third seat is one thing that continues to be talked about most incessantly with Felix Rosenqvist’s title hooked up to the automotive at the moment pushed by the outgoing Jack Harvey. However RLL isn’t his solely suitor on the grid, and Rosenqvist isn’t the one choice for RLL within the No. 30 Honda.

How about Arrow McLaren’s efforts to align with a satellite tv for pc group that was pointing in the direction of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to run a fourth automotive? That, too, has modified, or been modified, or one thing in between.

The place the objective was initially understood to be linking up with a non-full-time group to area a automotive for Arrow McLaren, I’ve heard a gathering happened final weekend with a full-time entrant and ongoing talks are within the works to see if that may be the way in which to go. The main target has additionally shifted from inserting a brand-new entry on the grid with a satellite tv for pc group to changing an current entry right into a fourth automotive. That entry would function McLaren’s sponsors, engineers and presumably an current driver who’s already at that group.

And there’s extra. Heaps extra. However I’ll save these bits for the subsequent installment. Which may very well be tomorrow. Or two weeks from now. Or yesterday. I’m so confused.