Team: Barracuda Racing
Driver: Alex Tagliani
Car No.: 98
Engine: Honda
Chief Mechanic: Mark Shambarger
Engineer: Todd Malloy
2012 Driver’s Championship Finish: 17th

Pruett Says: Cut the time spent with Lotus from their 2012 season, and the Bryan Herta- and Steve Newey-owned team would have been much farther up in the standings than 17th. The move to a better engine—Honda, in this case--benefitted Barracuda Racing more than any of the teams that ditched Lotus, and the single-car outfit is feeling bullish about starting the year with a fighting chance.

At 40, Alex Tagliani is at the upper end of the age range in the series, but questioning his heart, fire or pace is a waste of time. Is he past his prime? I don't believe so. He continues to grow calmer as he gets older, which is a good thing. The less hyper the Tag, the more effective he is.

He’s surrounded by possibly the most tight-knit team in the paddock, and as a group, they are incredibly hungry to follow up Dan Wheldon’s win at the 2011 Indy 500 with one in the car named in his honor.

Like a few I’ve mentioned so far and more I’ll mention later, a win for Tag wouldn’t surprise me, but it feels like the team needs a solid season with the same car/driver/engine combo under its belt to reach its full potential. Adding a second car, which could happen at a few rounds, would only help their growth, and moving to two fulltime cars would expedite Barracuda Racing’s march up the standings.

They should be a regular nuisance inside the top 8.

Miller Says: Once Bryan Herta dumped the Lotus boat anchor for Honda, Tag was reborn and qualified in the Fast 6 five times while leading Indy, Texas and Edmonton. He's got a team that believes in him and that's key for Alex's psyche. Sometimes good things happen to those who wait and he's long overdue.

Team: Dale Coyne Racing
Drivers: Ana Beatriz, Stefan Wilson, TBD
Car No.: 18
Engine: Honda
Chief Mechanic: Erik Estrada
Engineer: John Dick
2012 Driver’s Championship Finish: N/A

Pruett Says: Bia is talented, but the second Coyne car has rarely been a place where careers blossom. I’m glad she’s going to be in the car for St. Pete, Brazil and Indy, but she deserves something better than token appearances in an entry that won’t advance her career.

Stef Wilson, brother of DCR lead driver Justin Wilson, is meant to pilot the No. 18 at Barber and Long Beach (at present), and if the skilled Indy Lights grad can keep the car in one piece while showing he can mix it up with the bottom third of the grid, it will be Mission Accomplished.

Like Bia, the kid deserves better, but having something to show potential sponsors—that he made the most of the opportunity and avoided silly mistakes—would be a marvelous result.

Who occupies the No. 18 after Indy is still TBD.

Miller Says: Bia has shown flashes of talent in her limited time but it's uphill driving part-time for the B team of a C team. Stefan showed he could win in Lights but can't sit out another season.

Driver: Justin Wilson
Car No.: 19
Engine: Honda
Chief Mechanic: Todd Phillips
Engineer: Bill Pappas
2012 Driver’s Championship Finish: 15th, 1 win

Pruett Says: Other than a change of numbers, Justin Wilson’s program is an exact mirror of what he had in 2012. While that consistency could be received as a blessing, it doesn’t take into account the progress made by most other teams. I reckon it will be harder for JWill and Co. to win this year; their victory at Texas was impressive, but it was the only time a DCR car looked menacing when it mattered.

Coyne should be commended for funding the team almost entirely out of his own pocket—it’s a rarity these days, but it’s also a point of frustration when a combo like Wilson and engineer Bill Pappas could be vying for a title with a top team.

I’m thankful for Coyne’s continued presence in the series, and respect that he employs a number of people as a result of sticking with IndyCar racing, but hate to see a talent like Wilson squandered.

Miller Says: The best driver in the worst situation isn't totally fair because JWill has some damn good people on his team but Dale Coyne just doesn't seem that committed to winning. They stole one at Texas thanks to the fact it turned into a driver's track but it was an otherwise forgettable season. Justin deserves a better chance but he'll make the most of the only opportunity he's got.

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.

Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.