Viso also looks after a number of young drivers with the Team Viso Venezuela program, making Andretti’s full complement of Mazda Road To Indy cars a natural fit to place them.

James Jakes once looked like he was on his way to Rahal Letterman Lanigan, but has also talked with a number of teams, including Andretti and HVM.

News on his final plans could be coming in the next few days, and with Jakes’ father looking to take an ownership stake in the team his son drivers for, HVM owner Keith Wiggins could be especially receptive to that proposition.

Sebastian Saavedra is also angling to return to Andretti, but at the moment, is believed to have a budget that would only allow for a part-time return to the series.

Justin Wilson should be working out a new contract with Dale Coyne Racing. DCR is also reportedly close to inking a second driver.

My colleague Robin Miller will have news out shortly on what’s been described as "A.J Foyt seriously looking at a second car with a driver who could surprise people.”

Indy Lights veteran Gustavo Yacaman was intent on joining Ganassi Racing, but has now shifted his attention to racing at the Indy 500 in the midst of a full-time GRAND-AM Daytona Prototype campaign—possibly with another recent Lights graduate as his co-driver.

The clock is said to be ticking on the fourth Ganassi car, with the team looking at an early February deadline to sign a funded driver. Rahal Letterman Lanigan has also ramped up to run a second car, but it might only be seen on a limited basis.

While there could be a few surprises as the March 24th season opener approaches, at the moment, most of the known and expected entries add up to a car count of 22. If some of the possible entries come together, the number creeps closer to the 26-car grid that launched the 2012 season.

Confirmed: A.J. Foyt+1, Andretti Autosport+3, Chip Ganassi Racing+3, Dragon Racing+1, Ed Carpenter Racing+1, KV Racing+2, Panther DRR+1, Panther Racing+1, Rahal Letterman Lanigan+1, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports+1, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing+1, Team Penske+2 (18).

Expected: Dale Coyne Racing+2, Dragon Racing+1, Team Barracuda+1 (4).

Possible: A.J. Foyt+1, Andretti Autosport+1, HVM Racing+1, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports+1 (4).

MISC

• Andretti Autosport’s Lou Schollum, whom I worked with in Indy Lights in the 1990s, is set to retire and head back to his native New Zealand. The quiet and immensely skilled all-rounder worked with the Andretti operation for more than 15 years as a mechanic, team manager and anything else that was needed from IndyCar to F2000. His wry smile and dry wit will be missed.

• John Cummiskey, who built a sterling reputation as a chief mechanic at Team Penske (among other leading entrants), was recently released from his post as team manager at Ganassi Racing as the G2 operation continues to downsize. The Indy resident hopes to remain in the series in a similar capacity with a new team.

• Former IndyCar driver Rafa Matos has followed the path taken by Rubens Barrichello and will compete in his first full season of Brazilian Stock Cars.

• John Cardinale, Sonoma Raceway’s inspirational vice president of media and community relations, recently led the 2nd annual ‘John's March Against Stomach Cancer’ fundraiser which generated almost $14,000 as 425 supporters marched around the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in his honor.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.