19-year Formula One man Rubens Barrichello signed on at KV Racing for one season, as did ex-F1 driver Takuma Sato at Rahal Letterman Lanigan, but with both drivers controlling their own destiny via sponsorship or manufacturer alliances, the two would be welcomed back at their current teams or could sign for new teams in 2013.

Knowing Barrichello’s close bond with KV’s Tony Kanaan, it would be hard to fathom the Brazilian racing anywhere other than KV if he decides to return for a second go-round in IndyCar.

Sato, who continues to carry support from Honda Japan, has made great strides in his first season with RLL and would be limited to driving for Honda-powered teams. If he or the RLL team chose to part ways, becoming the second driver at BHA, SHM, A.J. Foyt Racing or the fourth driver at Ganassi would be the only obvious moves to consider.

Most—if not all—teams would be happy to have either driver.

Another driver, DCR’s James Jakes, also fits in a unique category of his own. Provided Jakes returns for his third season of IndyCar competition, Coyne’s team is likely his only option.

Currently 22nd in points—three points behind Ed Carpenter, the road racer has come nowhere near to matching the potential he displayed at the end of his rookie season, and knowing how reluctant Chevy and Honda were to allocate an engine for the 24-year-old Briton, his family-funded racing endeavors could have limited appeal for the rest of the paddock.

Outside of assets like Rahal, Briscoe, Bourdais, Servia and Wilson, a few drivers are seeking new contracts for 2013 and beyond.

Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay is in the midst of negotiations to stay with the team, which is likely, although at least one other distinguished team has expressed an interest in his services.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon is a lock to stay with the team once a new contract is done, and Helio Castroneves is in a similar position with Team Penske.

Alex Tagliani is in his first full season with BHA, and both parties expect to extend their relationship for at least 2013.

Mike Conway and the Foyt team haven’t garnered all of the results or consistency they’ve been after in their first year together, but the potential is certainly there. And with the team holding an option to retain the 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix race winner, there’s a strong chance they will continue building on the foundation they’ve established next season.

Many drivers either have multi-year contracts that run to or through 2013, and a few with one-year deals have already had their options picked up for next year.

Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti and Charlie Kimball, Penske’s Will Power, Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe, KV’s Tony Kanaan, SHM’s Simon Pagenaud, Panther Racing’s JR Hildebrand, Sarah Fisher Racing’s Josef Newgarden, HVM Racing’s Simona de Silvestro and Dragon Racing’s Katherine Legge are scheduled to return and drive for their current teams.

Finally, and for the sake of completing the future status of every fulltime IndyCar driver, Ed Carpenter has reportedly been retained by Ed Carpenter Racing and Marco Andretti has also been confirmed, in perpetuity, at Andretti Autosport.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.