Today’s question: A handful of drivers who don’t compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES or INDY NXT by Firestone are testing for teams this fall, including Felipe Nasr, Kakunoshin Ohta and Mick Schumacher. What driver from a North American series other than the NTT INDYCAR SERIES or INDY NXT by Firestone would you like to see get a test with an INDYCAR team?

Curt Cavin: Several drivers are on my wish list, but I’m choosing one with the connections to actually make it happen: Connor Zilisch (photo, top). The 19-year-old phenom with an extensive karting background has dominated this year’s NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, winning 10 of the 28 races for JR Motorsports. He is also the hottest new name in North American motorsports, backed by Chevrolet, which obviously has a large commitment to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500. (Interestingly, three of Connor’s Xfinity wins have come at tracks where the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.) Connor has stated his interest in one day competing in the “500,” and he could get here either with JR Motorsports, which has Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick as co-owners, or Trackhouse Racing, which will employ him in Cup for the next several seasons. Hendrick enjoyed backing Kyle Larson in two Indy attempts, and Dale Jr. would love to be involved, too, after experiencing May as an NBC broadcaster. But Trackhouse owner Justin Marks is also keen to compete in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” so that seems like Connor’s most likely Indy scenario. I won’t be surprised to see them on the IMS grid in 2027.

Chase Elliott

Eric Smith: I’d love to see Chase Elliott (photo, above) get behind the wheel of one of our cars. While stock car racing has been his primary focus, he’s recently branched out into other disciplines -- most notably competing in the 2021 BC39 USAC Midget dirt race. So why not give the NTT INDYCAR SERIES a shot? A test from Elliott would be a huge boost for the sport of racing overall. He’s the seven-time reigning Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his crossover appeal could bring fresh eyes to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Plus, he’s shown speed across all types of NASCAR tracks, especially road courses, so I don’t think it would take him long to get up to speed.

Rico Abreu

Arni Sribhen: The path from the Midwest short tracks to the INDYCAR SERIES isn’t as smooth or direct as it once was. But I remember how excited the short-track fans were to see Bryan Clauson and Kyle Larson come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500. So, let’s recapture that magic by putting Rico Abreu (photo, above) in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car. The High Limit sprint car star is one of the short-track world’s most popular drivers, and he said he once contacted Chip Ganassi Racing about racing in the Indianapolis 500. Abreu just signed with Tony Stewart Racing to race his winged sprint car for “Smoke” in High Limit, and we know the former INDYCAR and NASCAR champion still follows the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Of course, Abreu’s size (he’s 4 feet, 4 inches tall) could keep it from happening, but Abreu made it work in when he raced in the NASCAR Truck Series, and technology exists to allow Alex Zanardi to drive an INDYCAR SERIES car after his crash. Why not Rico?

Shane Van Gisbergen

Paul Kelly: Shane Van Gisbergen (photo, above), mainly to see if lightning can strike twice in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Very few North American race fans knew of Scott McLaughlin when he first tested for Team Penske in January 2020 at Sebring on the heels of three consecutive Australia Supercars championships, and look where that ended up. SVG, like Scotty Mac, also is a Kiwi who won three Supercars season titles, including one in 2016 when McLaughlin was a rival in the series. But unlike Scotty Mac, North American fans know SVG because of his domination of NASCAR Cup Series road course races this season, winning five of the six races with left and right turns, including the last five straight. SVG drives for Trackhouse Racing, which Curt noted above has aspirations to race in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and could field cars for Van Gisbergen and hotshot Connor Zilisch. This may sound like heresy, but I would rather see SVG in his primary playground – road courses – in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car, which would be the best barometer of how he stacks up. He’s fast, he’s colorful – give SVG a shot!