# 2015 IndyCar Series

The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series was the 20th season of the IndyCar Series and the 104th season of American open wheel racing. Its premier event was the 99th Indianapolis 500, which was held on May 24. Will Power returned as the reigning champion, while Ryan Hunter-Reay was the defending Indy 500 champion. Chevrolet entered the season as the reigning Manufacturers' champion. Indianapolis 500 and the season finale counted for double points.
The season was overshadowed by the death of driver Justin Wilson at Pocono, after being struck on the head by debris from Sage Karam's car.
A week after Wilson's fatal accident, the finale was held at Sonoma Raceway, where Scott Dixon secured his fourth career title after a low-key season that saw him win on a tiebreak against Juan Pablo Montoya following his third win of the season after many consistent finishes leading up to the finale. Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 earlier in the season. It was a very competitive season with no standout performers and many different race winners and pacesetters. Except Dixon's three race wins, he finished on the podium only once, but due to their consistent finishing Dixon and Montoya had a significant margin to reigning champion Will Power in third.

## Rules changes

* Aerokit modifications became specific to Honda and Chevy.
* Double points were awarded for the Indianapolis 500 race and for the season finale at Sonoma only. Previously double points were awarded at the three 500 mile oval events.
* Each team would continue to have two weeks of testing. Unlike past seasons, Promoter Days/Open Tests would count towards the testing allocation.
* The medical exemption was eliminated from pit selections. Pit selections are no longer based on drivers but teams' performance in the last race. This change eliminates a disadvantage by one IndyCar team that used a "two-platoon" system, with driver based on the circuit.
* Qualifying groups for qualifying at road/street course events was determined by the final practice session held before qualifying instead of by the first session of the weekend.
* Standing starts have been eliminated for 2015. The series says more development is needed before re-introducing them to the series, especially after numerous aborted standing starts and a crash at Houston during the 2013 season, and a start-line pile-up at the Indianapolis road course race in 2014.
* Each phase of the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program saw see the speed requirements increased by 5 mph. Phase One consists of 10 laps at 205–210 mph, Phase Two of 15 laps at 210–215 mph and Phase Three of 15 laps at 215+ mph. The laps do not have to be consecutive. The phases and corresponding speeds may be adjusted based on track/weather conditions. The refresher program consisted of Phases Two and Three.

## Confirmed entries

The following teams, entries, and drivers have been announced to compete in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. All teams will use a spec Dallara DW12 chassis with manufacturer aero kits and Firestone tires.
| Team | Engine | No. | Driver(s) | Round(s) |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Honda | 14 | Takuma Sato | All |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Honda | 41 | Jack Hawksworth | All |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Honda | 48 | Alex Tagliani | 6 |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 25 | Simona de Silvestro | 1–2 |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 25 | Justin Wilson | 5–6, 12–15 |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 25 | Oriol Servià | 16 |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 26 | Carlos Muñoz | All |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 27 | Marco Andretti | All |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 28 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | All |
| Andretti Autosport | Honda | 29 | Simona de Silvestro | 6 |
| Bryan Herta Autosport | Honda | 98 | Gabby Chaves R | All |
| CFH Racing | Chevrolet | 6 | J. R. Hildebrand | 5–6 |
| CFH Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | Luca Filippi | 1–5, 7–8, 10, 14, 16 |
| CFH Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | Ed Carpenter | 6, 9, 11–13, 15 |
| CFH Racing | Chevrolet | 67 | Josef Newgarden | All |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | Sage Karam R | 1–2, 4, 6–9, 11–15 |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 8 | Sebastián Saavedra | 3, 5, 10, 16 |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 9 | Scott Dixon | All |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 10 | Tony Kanaan | All |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 17 | Sebastián Saavedra | 6 |
| Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 83 | Charlie Kimball | All |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Carlos Huertas | 1–2, 5–6 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Rocky Moran Jr. R | 3 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Conor Daly R | 3 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Rodolfo González R | 4, 7–8, 10, 14, 16 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Tristan Vautier | 6 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 18 | Pippa Mann | 9, 11–13, 15 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 19 | Francesco Dracone R | 1–5 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 19 | James Davison R | 6 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 19 | Tristan Vautier | 6–16 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Honda | 63 | Pippa Mann | 6 |
| Dreyer & Reinbold - Kingdom Racing | Chevrolet | 24 | Townsend Bell | 6 |
| KV Racing Technology | Chevrolet | 4 | Stefano Coletti R | All |
| KVSH Racing | Chevrolet | 11 | Sébastien Bourdais | All |
| KVSH Racing / Jonathan Byrd's Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | Bryan Clauson R | 6 |
| Lazier Partners Racing | Chevrolet | 91 | Buddy Lazier | 6 |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | 15 | Graham Rahal | All |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | 32 | Oriol Servià | 6 |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 5 | James Hinchcliffe | 1–6 |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 5 | Ryan Briscoe | 6, 9, 11–16 |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 5 | Conor Daly R | 7–8, 10 |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 7 | James Jakes | All |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 43 | Conor Daly R | 6 |
| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Honda | 77 | Mikhail Aleshin | 16 |
| Team Penske | Chevrolet | 1 | Will Power | All |
| Team Penske | Chevrolet | 2 | Juan Pablo Montoya | All |
| Team Penske | Chevrolet | 3 | Hélio Castroneves | All |
| Team Penske | Chevrolet | 22 | Simon Pagenaud | All |