By Andrew Cutler
February 24 2010

As the start of another IndyCar season draws near (March 14th, in Sao Paulo, Brazil), it is worth noting that the Firestone Indy Lights season will kick off two weeks later, on March 28 in St. Petersburg FL. Here are drivers who have landed seats for 2010 in what have traditionally been the top squads in the series.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports:

Britian's Pippa Mann (3 top 10 finishes in '09) has moved over from the now-defunct Panther Racing FIL squad. She will be joined by a couple of rookies; Phillip Major (Canada) & Jean Karl "JK" Vernay (France), a former F3 Red Bull Junior Team standout.

AFS Racing (formerly AFS-Andretti/Green):

American Charlie Kimball (2 top 5 finishes in '09 for PBIR) will join Brit Martin Plowman (2 top 5 finishes for Panther).

Team Moore Racing: 

Holland's Junior Strous WAS signed for 2010, but the deal somehow fell apart. Canada's James Hincliffe (6 top 10 finishes for Sam Schmidt) will join Spanish rookie Adrian Campos Jr., son of the (former?) co-owner of Campos Meta F1.

Bryan Herta Autosport:

Britian's Stefan Wilson (1 top 5 finish in just 6 starts in '09), kid brother to IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, will join Columbia's Sebastian Saavedra (2 wins and six other top 5s for AFS-AGR in '09).

Where are they now?...

There are some notable names from the '09 season missing from this list.

J.R. Hildebrand, the 2009 sereis champion, is reportedly trying to close a deal to move up to the IndyCar ranks, possibly with Dale Coyne Racing. Mario Romancini has already snagged a seat with Conquest Racing. Ana Beatriz is said to be working on funding for an IndyCar seat for the season opener at Sao Paulo, and hopefully a few other select events - team yet to be announced.

And then there are others who either won or showed real potential last year, such as; James Davidson (1 win), Daniel Herrington (1 win),Richard Philippe, Andrew Prendeville, Junior Strous (2 wins),  Jonathon Summerton and Gustavo Yacaman: I have seen nothing regarding their plans for 2010.