As the 2026 season approaches, the IndyCar driver lineup is close to being finalised. Only one seat remaining open at Dale Coyne Racing. This was what we know about each team and its drivers in the run up to the 2026 season.
Andretti Global
Andretti made sure to retain Kyle Kirkwood after the 2025 season, following a strong year in which he finished inside the top four in the championship. Kirkwood secured three wins, one pole, five top five finishes, and ten top ten finishes. Andretti also decided to keep Marcus Ericsson despite a difficult season, as he finished 20th, the lowest of the three Andretti drivers.
Andretti’s third driver, Colton Herta, left the team to become a Reserve and Test Driver for the Cadillac F1 Team. Andretti replaced him with Will Power, who departed Team Penske after his multi-year deal ended following the 2025 season.
Arrow McLaren
Arrow McLaren retained all three drivers from the previous season: Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, and Nolan Siegel. O’Ward delivered the strongest performance of the trio, finishing second in the drivers’ standings. He recorded two wins, two poles, ten top five finishes, and 12 top ten finishes.
Lundgaard finished fifth in the championship, earning one pole, six top five finishes, and 11 top ten finishes. Siegel struggled throughout the 2025 season and finished 22nd overall, managing only two top-ten finishes. His season proved rocky, and unconfirmed rumours suggested that if Siegel failed to finish inside the top ten in the 2026 standings, team principal Tony Kanaan would look for a new third driver for 2027.
A.J. Foyt Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing secured Santino Ferrucci for the 2026 season by retaining him after a solid 2025 campaign. Ferrucci earned four top five finishes and six top ten finishes. After David Malukas left the team during the offseason, Foyt signed Caio Collet for 2026 following his runner-up finish to Dennis Hauger in Indy NXT.
Chip Ganassi Racing
After winning both the Constructors’ Championship and the drivers’ title with Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing retained all three drivers from the 2025 season. Palou enjoyed an outstanding year, winning the Indianapolis 500 along with seven additional races. He also secured six poles, 14 top five finishes, and 15 top ten finishes.
Scott Dixon finished third in the drivers’ standings, collecting one win, six top five finishes, and 12 top ten finishes. Kyffin Simpson experienced a more modest season, earning three top five finishes and six top ten finishes in 2025.
Dale Coyne Racing
During the offseason, Dale Coyne Racing announced that 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger would join the team for the 2026 season. The team parted ways with Rinus VeeKay after one season, while Jacob Abel failed to show enough consistency during 2025 to secure his seat for the following year.
Ed Carpenter Racing
Ed Carpenter Racing retained Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen for the 2026 season. Both drivers finished inside the top 15 in the championship, with Rasmussen in 13th and Rossi in 15th. Rasmussen enjoyed a breakthrough year, claiming his first IndyCar win at the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250. He also recorded two top five finishes and six top ten finishes. Rossi earned two top five finishes and seven top ten finishes during the season.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
Juncos Hollinger Racing signed Rinus VeeKay after his departure from Dale Coyne Racing at the end of the season. VeeKay recorded two top five finishes and seven top ten finishes in 2025. The team also renewed Sting Ray Robb’s contract for another year. Robb struggled throughout the season and managed only one top ten finish.
Meyer Shank Racing
Meyer Shank Racing welcomed back Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist. Rosenqvist finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, while Armstrong placed eighth. Rosenqvist recorded four top five finishes and ten top ten finishes, while Armstrong earned two top five finishes and eleven top ten finishes during the season.
Prema Racing
Prema Racing neither confirmed nor denied a return to the championship for 2026. However, if the team returned, it planned to retain the same drivers from its debut season: Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman.
Shwartzman’s rookie season featured several top ten finishes and a pole position at the Indianapolis 500, demonstrating consistency. Ilott consistently ran inside the top 15 and maintained that level through the end of the season.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan retained veteran Graham Rahal and reigning Rookie of the Year Louis Foster. Rahal recorded one top five finish and three top ten finishes during the season. Foster delivered a respectable rookie campaign, earning a pole position and scoring points with finishes ranging between 11th and 27th.
During the offseason, RLL signed former Formula One and World Endurance Championship driver Mick Schumacher. Schumacher struggled in Formula One and finished 16th in the WEC Hypercar standings, where he achieved three podium finishes.
Team Penske
Team Penske retained Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin for 2026. Both drivers consistently secured top five and top ten finishes throughout the season, while combining for two pole positions. Newgarden also claimed one race victory. Penske selected David Malukas as Will Power’s replacement after Power left the team to join Andretti Global.
Indianapolis 500 Drivers
Several drivers confirmed entries for the Indianapolis 500 during the offseason, while others remained unconfirmed. Jack Harvey confirmed his return with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for another Indy 500 run and finished 19th. Ryan Hunter-Reay drove for Arrow McLaren after previously racing with Dreyer & Reinbold and finished 21st.
Drivers whose entries remained unconfirmed included Ed Carpenter, Takuma Sato, and Katherine Legge. Carpenter had competed in every Indianapolis 500 since his rookie season, Sato continued to appear with multiple teams over the years, and Legge had also driven the 500 with several teams.
Ellie Roddy
Featured image credit: IndyCar
Edited by Alexandra.
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