2014 Verizon IndyCar Series: Our predictions

Can Scott Dixon successfully defend his title, or will the Verizon IndyCar Series see a new champion in 2014? We tackle these questions and many more as we make our pre-season predictions. Take a look at our questions and responses below, and please add your picks to the discussion in the comments section below!

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Who will get a handle on the new engine package first: Ganassi or Andretti?

Paul Dalbey: It’s truly a toss-up. I don’t expect either of them to struggle, but I give the very slightest edge to Ganassi. The last time they upped the anti with a more powerful engine after spending a year or two with a boat anchor (and Honda was certainly not a boat anchor in 2013!), they were nearly unstoppable. I don’t expect them to stumble out of the gate again with a conservative engine, and their aggressive chassis setups from 2012 and 2013 should really help them out.

Steph Wallcraft:  I’ll tag Ganassi for this one. The transition curve will be a little steeper for Andretti going to Honda than it will be for Ganassi going to Chevrolet. The changes to the Honda powerplant are more significant, and the sudden departure of Roger Griffiths as HPD technical director may keep things unstable for longer than would otherwise be the case. Add in the experience of Tony Kanaan with the Chevrolet engines as he joins Ganassi from two years of working with the Bowtie at KV Racing Technology, and suddenly concerns that Andretti may start the year playing catch-up seem somewhat justified.

John Lingle: I’ll give the nod to Ganassi in this one but solely on the basis of Chevy having the same basic package this year as last. I think that will help Chip’s crew get on the ball first. Andretti will be on top of what’s available to them, but Honda has some issues to troubleshoot this year going from one turbo to two that could slow them up for the first couple of events.

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Will we see a new first-time winner this year?

PD: This one is tough but I’m going to say no. I think we’ll see a lot of different winners this year but there just aren’t many drivers who haven’t won yet, and I don’t think any of those who have yet to claim victory are quite ready to do so yet.

SW: Well, the pool to select from is a little smaller this year, isn’t it? With Takuma Sato, James Hinchcliffe, Simon Pagenaud, and Charlie Kimball all having posted first-ever wins last year, there aren’t a lot of drivers left who find themselves in a strong enough position to be afforded a similar opportunity. My vote is no.

JL: Yes. I think Carlos Muñoz showed a ton of potential last season, and I think he cashes that potential in for a trip to victory lane this year. My guess is at Pocono, where Andretti was really strong setup wise in 2013.

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There’s a three-way battle for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors this season: Carlos Muñoz, Jack Hawksworth, and Mikhail Aleshin. Who will take it?

PD: I don’t see anyone beating Carlos Muñoz. He’s the only one with experience in these cars, and Andretti Autosport is just too strong for Aleshin and Hawksworth to keep up with.

SW: It’s awfully hard to bet against the guy who started his first Indianapolis 500 on the front row and finished it in second. The rest of his performances were maybe not as standout, but I don’t care. Hawksworth is a strong driver but may be in too much of an underdog position with Bryan Herta Autosport, and Aleshin will likely have too much of a learning curve to undertake as he learns every single track on the schedule for the first time this year. Muñoz for the win.

JL: Based on my first-time winner prediction, I think it goes without saying that Muñoz is set up for success at Andretti, and I think he will cruise to the Rookie of the Year title. I think Aleshin and Hawksworth will show steady improvement throughout the year, but I think Muñoz will be on the pace right off the bat.

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Which non-juggernaut team will overachieve this season?

PD: I’m not sure that Ed Carpenter Racing finishing in the top three or four in the final entrant points would be overachieving for that team or not. However, with the combo of Conway and Carpenter, they should be a threat each and every weekend.

SW: It feels almost like cheating to call Schmidt Peterson Motorsports a non-juggernaut team — perhaps the mere fact that they have less than three cars is what qualifies them. They’ve been incredibly strong with Simon Pagenaud at the wheel, and the chemistry in that outfit from top to bottom works to keep the entire team continually exceeding expectations. Pagenaud went into last season hoping to finish top-five in the points, but by the end of the year he was barely satisfied with third. Expect him and this team to be in the thick of the title fight.

JL: I’m fairly confident that my pick will be echoed by many. I think that Ed Carpenter’s selfless choice to insert Mike Conway for road and street circuits will elevate the one-car team to contender status. I’m also intrigued to see JR Hildebrand in a second entry at Indy in May.

NEXT PAGE: The biggest disappointment, the Indianapolis 500 winner, and the Verizon IndyCar Series champion