A wishlist for the 2026 IndyCar season

Completely happy New Yr, everybody!

There are 58 days till the inexperienced flag waves for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to formally begin the 2026 season for the IndyCar Collection.

With the anticipation constructing with each ticking day till that time, it made me assume over the totally different storylines that may merely be hellaciously enjoyable. So, as a substitute of predictions and making an attempt to be a failed fortune teller, I made a decision on arising with a wishlist because the clock struck midnight. 

Right here we go.

Starting with the No. 26 in 2026

The ‘New Yr, New Me’ slogan has in all probability by no means felt extra correct for any driver prefer it does for Will Energy, who takes over Andretti International’s No. 26 Honda entry from F1 dream chaser Colton Herta.

The 44-year-old Energy has an IndyCar report 71 poles, however none on the Indianapolis 500. It truly is the one factor left to perform in his legendary profession. To go a step additional, it might be fairly outstanding if he achieved that feat by outdueling former Staff Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, alongside together with his substitute, David Malukas, too.

Whereas we’re with regards to Energy, we should always lastly get that long-awaited and forever-anticipated head-to-head battle with Scott Dixon. There is no such thing as a mistaking they’re two titans of the game, however by some means they’ve by no means actually been in a correct battle for a win. Merely put, we’d like it.

A Correct Chase for No. 7

Talking of Dixon, who’s now formally racing royalty, actually, after being knighted by his dwelling nation of New Zealand “for companies to motorsport,” an actual likelihood to be within the battle for a record-tying seventh championship (to attract stage with A.J. Foyt) could be enjoyable.

It’s actually not for a scarcity of making an attempt, however ever since Alex Palou came visiting to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 and has gained 4 of the final 5 titles, Dixon has ended up fourth (2021), third (2022), second (2023), sixth (2024) and third (2025). For no matter motive, whether or not a pit miscue, making up an excessive amount of floor after a poor qualifying outing, mechanical woes, or just being on the fallacious finish of technique, Dixon hasn’t loved the identical run of fine fortune as his Spanish teammate.

I wish to see the 45-year-old Dixon be within the championship battle and actually apply strain on Palou. It might be intriguing to see how the staff dynamic would evolve with each passing race.

If nothing else, it might be an ideal reminder to everybody amid this Palou dynasty simply how good Dixon and that No. 9 Honda have been in a profession that’s about to hit the quarter century mark.

A Flock of Siegels

Earlier this week, Arrow McLaren Staff Principal Tony Kanaan told Motorsport.com that 21-year-old Nolan Siegel, who is entering the last year of a multi-year contract, “needs to finish in the top 10 in the championship and if not, I don’t think I can keep him.”

In a sport that’s exceptionally tight, let’s say Siegel’s growth takes that subsequent step and he hits that efficiency stage and even grabs a podium or two, perhaps even a win. It might be an attention-grabbing scenario as the motive force market is anticipated to have some large names out there, like Newgarden. If the efficiency stage raises for Siegel, in some ways, he would have pulled issues in his favor to have extra choices for 2027 and add to the drama of what has already been created.

Siegel, a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner within the LMP2 class in 2024, has the highlight – and strain – firmly on him. Seeing him rise to the event, now that may shut lots of people up.

First Timers and Drought Breakers

There was one first-time winner over the previous two seasons, which was Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen’s stirring late cost final yr at Milwaukee to beat Palou.

The stout rookies coming into North America’s premier open-wheel championship, akin to Caio Collet and reigning Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger, would convey an unimaginable second if both or each attain Victory Lane, particularly additionally for the groups they drive for in AJ Foyt Racing and Dale Coyne Racing, respectively. And don’t overlook about Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formulation 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher who made 43 begins himself in F1, at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). Think about the scenes if Mick waxed the sector on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course, a spot his father gained 5 occasions.

Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Picture by: Penske Leisure

However then there’s additionally a number of drivers which were shut however not but in a position to knock the door down for that elusive first win and discover themselves in an ideal scenario to, like Kyffin Simpon at Chip Ganassi Racing, or Malukas at Staff Penske, and Santino Ferrucci has been flashing the power to drag an upset with AJ Foyt Racing for a number of seasons now. RLL’s Louis Foster additionally confirmed flashes of tempo together with his pole at Highway America a yr in the past, and charging means in quite a lot of races. Add Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong to this record, too, after his high eight championship end in 2025.

And on the facet of former winners that haven’t tasted the champagne on the highest step of the rostrum (or milk, at one explicit race), it’s led by Graham Rahal, who final gained in 2017 (Detroit). Alexander Rossi can be on the record, having not gained since 2022 (IMS street course). Felix Rosenqvist has been shut on a number of events however has but to match his lone win from 2020 (Highway America). Lastly, Marcus Ericsson is one other that involves thoughts, together with his final win being the season-opening spherical in 2023 at St. Petersburg.

With a calendar that’s 17 races lengthy, it might be good to have a number of drivers bag maiden victories, but additionally see a pair finish their respective droughts.

The Golden Goose

The discuss of a 3rd producer has gone on for properly over a decade and is on the level the golden goose has been burnt to a crisp within the oven.

However for the sake of this being a wishlist, let’s assume the main overhaul IndyCar has deliberate for 2028, particularly a brand new chassis with a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, really resurrects the golden goose from the ashes and we get a 3rd OEM. And with that serving to not stretch assets to an absurd stage, Honda decides to remain within the sport.

I’ll allow you to entertain who could be essentially the most pleasant producer to rival Chevrolet and Honda, however actually there could be a number of.

Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing

Picture by: Penske Leisure

Beer Me

It was one thing majestic to see the Miller Excessive Life colours on an Indy automobile final yr courtesy of Jacob Abel and Dale Coyne Racing.

We’d like extra of it.

Truthfully, how cool wouldn’t it be if Rahal was supported by Miller Lite? Even when it occurred for one or a number of races in the identical livery his father ran throughout his closing seasons as a driver again in 1997-98. Hell, go break that drought, Graham, and let Miller Lite fall from the heavens like rain within the Amazon.

Degree Up

There is no such thing as a denying how large FOX Sports activities has been to IndyCar, particularly now having partial possession of the sequence.

All 17 races had been on community tv and noticed a median of 1,362,000 viewers, in accordance with Nielsen Media Analysis, making it the most-watched season in 17 years. It was large development in comparison with 2024 when races had been seen on quite a lot of NBC’s household of networks.

And this yr, with the spherical at Nashville following the ultimate of the FIFA World Cup on July 19, there’s an opportunity to seize hundreds of thousands of people that go away their televisions on FOX after the sport.

It might be extraordinary on so many ranges if this easy scheduling catapults curiosity for the remainder of the yr, particularly if there’s a detailed title battle within the works, too. The chances could possibly be limitless if viewership rises, not solely in sponsorship curiosity, however perhaps even bolstering the schedule for the longer term. Oh, and it actually couldn’t harm the possibilities of that elusive third OEM.

Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren

Picture by: Penske Leisure

Mexico

Whereas a race in Mexico for this yr gained’t occur, one for the longer term may nonetheless be finalized. I’m undecided anybody needed to commerce Markham for Toronto when going to Canada, however at the very least IndyCar’s management discovered a option to maintain the game in The Land of Maple.

By now, everybody is aware of Pato O’Ward, a local of Mexico, is – by a large margin – IndyCar’s hottest driver. And the fanbase is salivating over an opportunity to have extra races past the borders of the US. The fixed talks of being on the precipice of getting a race in Argentina, Brazil or some other place is as tiring because the third OEM search.

So, my final want is that IndyCar – and FOX – lastly make it occur and work by the politics and monetary logistics with the promoters to take the sequence again to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

We would like your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Staff