By Andrew Cutler
February 24 2010

There have been a couple more driver signings as the Indycar Series gets ready for it's first 'official' pre-season test, which starts today at Barber Motorsports Park. Hideki Mutoh has moved over from Andretti Autosport to Newman-Haas-Lanigan, and EJ Viso left HVM for KVRT. Both drivers have two years in the series.

We also have our first rookie signed, as former F3, World Series by Renault and Indy Lights driver Mario Romancini (Brazil) has joined Conquest Racing.

There are still some open seats - at least as far as the public knows at the moment, most notably at Dale Coyne Racing, HVM and Team 3G. The 'rumor mill' says that Coyne offered a seat to Graham Rahal (with NHL for the past two years), but he turned it down because the contract was 'too binding'. Now Coyne is reportedly in discussions with 2009 Indy Lights champ J.R. Hildebrand.

Other drivers who are still shopping for rides include Robert Doornbos, Mario Moraes, Tomas Scheckter, and Milka Duno. There are reports that long-time IndyCar veteran Davey Hamilton has a limited schedule deal to run a second car at Luczo Dragon, and that Indy Lights veteran Ana Beatriz has a ride for the season opener at Sao Paulo, with possibly other select events to follow.