Armstrong will drive the No. 60 MSR Indy car starting in 2027

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Silly Season Week continues.

From Meyer Shank Racing.

Pataskala, Ohio (July 3, 2026) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) announced today that Marcus Armstrong has signed a multi-year contract extension that will keep the New Zealander with the organization beginning in 2027. As part of the agreement, Armstrong will transition to the team’s No. 60 MSR Honda for the start of the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
Since joining Meyer Shank Racing in 2025, Armstrong has established himself as one of the series’ brightest young talents. In his first season with the team, he earned his second career NTT INDYCAR SERIES podium at Iowa Speedway while recording 11 top-10 finishes, showcasing the consistency and speed that have made him a championship contender.Armstrong has continued that upward trajectory throughout the 2026 campaign. With seven races still remaining on the schedule, the 25-year-old has already collected five top-10 finishes and delivered one of the standout drives of the season in the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. After charging through the field after starting 16th,
Armstrong battled for the lead in the closing laps before crossing the finish line in fifth place in one of the closest finishes in race history.
His pace has been evident throughout the season, including a heartbreaking near-victory at Road America where he was on his way to claim his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES win before mechanical issues ended his day with fewer than five laps remaining. Despite the setback, Armstrong has consistently demonstrated the speed, racecraft, and determination that have made him a cornerstone of MSR’s future.
“I’m proud to announce a multi-year partnership with MSR,” said Armstrong. “I want to thank Mike, Jim, Tim and Helio for this opportunity and for believing in me. I feel that Meyer Shank Racing gives me one of the strongest cars on the grid every weekend. Our goals are aligned, we want to win races and be consistently fighting at the front. I especially look forward to returning to the Indy 500 having unfinished business from this year. We still have eight races left this season and we have some strong momentum going. I’m ready more than ever to close out this season on a high note and start prepping for 2027.”
The contract extension reflects the confidence both Armstrong and Meyer Shank Racing have in continuing to build toward race wins and championship success together. As Armstrong prepares to take over the No. 60 Honda beginning in 2027, the team remains focused on finishing the 2026 season strong and turning its race-winning pace into victories.
“Since joining the team, Marcus has really shown that he is a top contender, something that is not easy to do in this field,” said Mike Shank. “His work ethic, feedback, and determination to improve every weekend make him exactly the kind of driver you want to build around. We’ve seen tremendous growth from him, and we’re excited to continue that journey together starting in 2027.”
Meyer Shank Racing continues to finalize plans for the No. 66 MSR Honda and expects to announce the driver for the team’s second full-time entry at a later date. 

The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid Fast Facts 

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar. My preview will not be up until tomorrow morning.

 Race weekend: Friday, July 3-Sunday, July 5
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid: 90 laps / 203.22 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 1: 35 laps / 79.03 miles / 55 minutes; INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 2: 30 laps / 67.74 miles / 50 minutes
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 310 kilojoules (kj) per lap
.Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. A carryover set from the Detroit event may be used during pre-qualifying practice session on Friday.
X: @Mid_Ohio, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #Honda200, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @officialmidohio, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #Honda200, #INDYCAR
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.midohio.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2025 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)INDY NXT by FirestoneDennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global)2025

NTT P1 Award winner:Alex Palou (No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) 1:05.0215, 125.027 mph2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:Dennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global), 1:09.7431, 116.553 mph
Qualifying lap record:NTT INDYCAR SERIESSimon Pagenaud, 1:03.8700, 127.271 mph, July 30, 2016INDY NXT by FirestoneDennis Hauger, 1:09.7431, 116.553 mph, July 5, 2025

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Practice 2, 10 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live);
Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live);
Warmup, 9 a.m. ET
Sunday, FS1 (live); Race, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. A Spanish-language telecast will be available on FOX Deportes.
| INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 9 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race 1, 1 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Race 2, 10 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey and guest analyst Conor Daly. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.

INDYCAR Radio Powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wollf, Ryan Myrehn and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio doubleheader (12:55 p.m. Saturday and 9:55 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA

.At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, JULY 32-2:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, FS2 (live
)3:05-4:25 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1, FS2 (live)

SATURDAY, JULY 49-9:30 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 10 minutes each), FS1 (live)
0:05-11:25 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 , FS1 (live)
1:01 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 1 command to start engines1:08 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
2:35-4 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)

SUNDAY, JULY 5
9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1 (live)
10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 2 command to start engines10:08 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Race 2 (30 laps/50 minutes), FS1 (live
1:57 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
12:30 p.m. – FOX on air
12:45 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid command to start engines
12:52 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid (90 laps/203.22 miles), FOX (live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid is the 11th race of the 2026 season. There have been five winners in the first 10 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season. Alex Palou (Streets of St. Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, Streets of Long Beach and Streets of Detroit), Josef Newgarden (Phoenix Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway), Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Arlington), Christian Lundgaard (Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and Road America) and Felix Rosenqvist (Indianapolis 500).The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid will be the 43rd INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. 
Scott Dixon won the race in 2025. Johnny Rutherford won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio in 1980.Scott Dixon is the winningest INDYCAR SERIES driver at Mid-Ohio with seven victories (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2025). Emerson Fittipaldi won at Mid-Ohio three times, while Michael Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Teo Fabi, Josef Newgarden, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr. and Alex Zanardi all won at Mid-Ohio twice. Past winners Dixon, Newgarden (2017 and 2021), Graham Rahal (2015), Alexander Rossi (2018), Will Power (2020-Race-1), Colton Herta (2020-Race 2), Scott McLaughlin (2022), Alex Palou (2023) and Pato O’Ward (2024) are entered this year.
Twenty-two drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at Mid-Ohio. Scott Dixon (22) has made the most starts at Mid-Ohio among the entered drivers. Twelve drivers have led laps at the track (Dixon 276, Will Power 206, Alex Palou 176, Josef Newgarden 162, Alexander Rossi 71, Pato O’Ward 52, Scott McLaughlin 48, Graham Rahal 30, Felix Rosenqvist 15, Marcus Ericsson 3 and Kyffin Simpson 1)
.Chip Ganassi Racing has won 13 times at Mid-Ohio, including 10 of the 20 races sanctioned by INDYCAR. Ganassi’s winning drivers are Alex Zanardi (1996, 1997), Juan Pablo Montoya (1999), Scott Dixon (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2025), Dario Franchitti (2010), Charlie Kimball (2013) and Alex Palou (2023).
Team Penske also has 12 wins at the track with Emerson Fittipaldi (1992, 1993), Al Unser Jr. (1994, 1995), Helio Castroneves (2000, 2001), Ryan Briscoe (2008), Simon Pagenaud (2016), Josef Newgarden (2017, 2021), Will Power (2020-Race 1) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).Scott Dixon has finished in the top five in 15 of his 22 starts at Mid-Ohio, including seven wins between 2007 and 2025 … Will Power has finished in the top five in 11 of his 18 starts at Mid-Ohio … Kyle Kirkwood won eight of nine development series starts from 2018-21.Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time this weekend. Both Hauger and Collet won INDY NXT by Firestone races at the track. Collet won in 2024, while Hauger won in 2025.Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 367th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 267th consecutive start…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 230th consecutive start…Dixon will extend his record to 430 with a start Sunday…Will Power will attempt to make his 330th INDYCAR SERIES start, passing Al Unser Jr. for sixth on the all-time list

.INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season continues with a doubleheader visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s Nikita Johnson leads the point standings by just six points over HMD Motorsports’ Tymek Kucharczyk with HMD’s Enzo Fittipaldi 27 points back. The 2026 season has seen eight winners in 10 races.The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio doubleheader will be the series’ 38th and 39th races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, dating to the American Racing Series race in 1986. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Mid-Ohio include Paul Tracy, Bryan Herta, Townsend Bell, Raphael Matos, Jack Harvey, Pato O’Ward, Kyle Kirkwood, Linus Lundqvist, Louis Foster, Caio Collet and Dennis Hauger.Group qualifying will decide the starting grid for both races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 10 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded Race 1 pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). A driver’s second best lap will be determine the pole position for Race 2. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group for each race. 
 
 

Chip Ganassi Confirms Scott Dixon’s Departure After This Season

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar. I go out of the country five days and come b ack to this? More on this later this weekend as I am catching up on stuff.

facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
email sharing button

The once unthinkable is now official: Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing are parting ways after the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

One of the longest-running, continuous pairings in North American motorsports history will come to a close as Dixon will leave CGR after 24 full-time seasons, six series championships and 58 of Dixon’s 59 career victories.

“Scott Dixon recently informed the team that he will not be returning in 2027,” team owner Chip Ganassi said in a statement posted on social media. “Scott has meant so much to CGR over the past 24 years. Together, we’ve shared championships, many victories and countless moments that have helped define this organization. Because of everything we’ve accomplished together and the legacy Scott has built here, we believed it was important to give him the opportunity to finish his career at Chip Ganassi Racing, and we made him a multiyear offer to do just that.

“We respect that he’s chosen a different path and wish him nothing but continued success. Scott will always be a special part of this team’s history, and we’re grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together.

“Our focus is now on finishing this season strong with the No. 9 PNC team while also preparing for the future at Chip Ganassi Racing.”

Dixon is 10th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings heading into the next event, The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid on Sunday, July 5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. His best finish this season is third at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach as he tries to win a race for a 22nd consecutive season, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record.

A media report this week indicated Dixon will sign with Arrow McLaren to begin driving with the team in 2027.

Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi

New Zealand Dixon, 45, joined CGR midway through the 2002 season after PWR Championship Racing (formerly PacWest) disbanded for CGR’s last season in Champ Car. The team switched to the INDYCAR SERIES in 2003, and Dixon responded immediately by winning the season championship, the first of his six with the organization (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020). He also won the 2008 Indianapolis 500 with CGR (photo, above).

Among recent drivers, only Helio Castroneves’ 21 consecutive seasons with Team Penske comes close to rivaling Dixon’s tenure with CGR. Castroneves drove full time for Penske for 18 consecutive seasons from 2000-17, with part-time drives from 2018-20.

Dixon’s longevity with CGR is extraordinary in the annals of North American sports.

Richard Petty drove all 35 of his NASCAR seasons for his family Petty Enterprises team, while Jeff Gordon was behind the wheel in NASCAR with Hendrick Motorsports for 24 seasons.

Gordie Howe played 25 consecutive seasons for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. In baseball, Brooks Robinson and Carl Yastrzemski each played 23 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, respectively. Dirk Nowitzki played 21 consecutive seasons for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA, and Darrell Green played all 20 of his NFL seasons with Washington.

facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
email sharing button

MSR Confirms Felix Rosenqvist’s Departure After Season

thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar:

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly

INDYCAR Staff Writer

2 HOURS AGO

Share:

facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
email sharing button

The first domino of the 2026 Silly Season has toppled, as Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian co-owner Michael Shank confirmed driver Felix Rosenqvist is leaving the team after this season.

Rosenqvist is enjoying a career revival with MSR, which he joined in 2024 after three seasons with Arrow McLaren (2021-23) and two seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing (2019-20). He is sixth in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings this season, boosted by the biggest victory of his career in the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

“It’s unfortunate that Felix has decided to move on from MSR at the end of the season, particularly given everything we’ve accomplished together, including this year’s Indy 500 victory,” Shank said in a statement provided to INDYCAR.com. “Over the past several years, Felix has played an important role in helping build this program into what it is today, and we’re grateful for his contributions both on and off the track.

“There are still eight races left on the schedule, and everyone at MSR remains fully committed to achieving the strongest results possible in the championship and delivering for our partners.”

The Swede also finished sixth last season in points with MSR, matching his career best set as a rookie with CGR in 2019. Rosenqvist, 34, has four top-10 finishes in 10 starts this season in the team’s No. 60 Honda alongside teammate Marcus Armstrong in the No. 66 Honda.

No announcement has been made about Rosenqvist’s future destination or his replacement at MSR.

“While we wish Felix nothing but success in the next chapter of his career, our focus at MSR is on the future and ensuring we have the right driver in place for the 2027 season,” Shank said. “As a team, we’ve made tremendous progress over the last few years, and maintaining that momentum is a top priority. We’re actively evaluating our options and hope to have an announcement to make in the coming months, so stay tuned.”

Road America Wrap Up- Resiliency, Heartbreak, Frustration

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Some thoughts on an amazing race yesterday at Road America:

We may never see a road course that good again, but I hope the XPEL Grand Prix 2026 edition becomes the gold standard for road racing in IndyCar. Typical races here are rather pedestrian with cars strung out over the four plus mile circuit. Sunday saw passes for the lead, a variety of pit strategies, game changing cautions, and frustrated drivers. A race fan can’t ask for more than they received this Father’s Day.

Yesterday’s event is a candidate for the best race of the year, along with the three oval races to date.

The breakdown-

A Resilient Drive from Lundgaard

I thought Christian Lundgaard’s day was over by turn three. Punted by Scott Dixon, the McLaren driver needed to pit to replace the front wing and take on a new set of tires. Lundgaard fortunately stayed on the lead lap, ahead of leader Alex Palou.

He said in the post-race press availability that his car seemed faster after the repairs. Lundgaard passed David Malukas for second place and went after leader Marcus Armstrong. He was catching Armstrong, but it appeared his chase would end just short. Armstrong’s engine let go with just two laps to go, and Lundgaard claimed his second win of the season.

Lundgaard has quietly become the team leader at McLaren. He is fourth in the standings, just 17 points out of second place.

Heartbreak for Armstrong

It’s late in the race. Marcus Armstrong leads David Malukas as both drivers seek their first career win in IndyCar. Armstrong’s margin over Malukas is healthy one, but then Malukas gets passed by Lundgaard, who is mounting a charge. Will he snatch victory from Armstrong?

We will never know if he would have, as Armstrong began slowing om lap 52. His Honda engine expired the next lap, leaving the Meyer Shank driver stopped on the side of the road, his first victory gone up in smoke.

It was clear all weeke3nd that Armstrong had the strongest car, and he backed it up for all but the final couple of laps, when it counted the most.

What we are seeing is the Meter Shank Racing team becoming a force to deal with in the series. While they are still not in the top tier conversation, the team has made significant headway this season. Felix Rosenqvist won the Indianapolis 500, while Armstrong led tthe penultimate lap.

Rosenqvist and Armstrong combined to lead 32 of the 55 laps on Sunday.

Is There a Caution Rule That Satisfies Everyone?

The short answer is no. Last year when cautions were held for pit stops or not thrown for cars or debris “off the racing line,” there wer some unhappy teams and drivers complaining about thye advantage the policy gave the leaders.

In 2026, cautions have abounded, for the most part, I think they were necessary. Participants are still confused, wondering if or when the yellow will wave. We have seen several teams caught out by yellows. Rosenqvist’s team owner Mike Shank was quite upset after the race by the yellow that may have cost the 500 winner a chance at the win.

No matter what the rule or enforcement policy is, as long as it is consistent, I’m fine with it. I’ was not a fan of the old rule, and I like what is going on this season with it.

No matter which way the series goes, people will be unhappy if a particular instance hurts them. Well, that’s racing. There is an element of luck involved. The same rule may be to your advantage in the next race. It will all balance out.

Notes

I saw Will Power’s onboard of the last lap incident with Graham Rahal. It appeared Rahal moved over in front of Power, and Will could not avoid contact. This one is on Graham.

A massive crowd saw a great race. We may see even more fans at road America in 2027.

How big was the crowd all weekend? This is the first year I had trouble finding a spot to park my golf cart anywhere (First World problems, i know).

Turn 5 lower grandstand prior to morning warmup Sunday.

Grandstands that are normally half empty, even on race day, were full for the morning warmup yesterday and for morning practice on Saturday.

Thanks for following along this past weekend. The Pit Window will be on hiatus until July2, as I take a little journey to Ireland. There will be some Mid-Ohio coverage remotely when u get back. I’ve not heard of any racing over there during my visit.

Lundgaard Rises Above the Chaos

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Just some very quick thoughts on the best race I have seen at Road America before I hit the road. A more detailed story will follow either tonight or tomorrow.

The XPEL Grand Prix at Road America signals a true changing of the guard. At one point the top three were Marcus Armstrong. David Malukas, and Christian Lundgaard

I’m not sure if I’m more heartbroken for Marcus Armstrong or Graham Rahal. Both deserved a better ending than they had.

Another small crack in the Palou armor showed today. i can see some more issues ahead. I think Palou wins two more races at most the rest of the season.

Malukas and Armstrong will win a race this year.

Lundgaard’s charge to the win overshadowed great drives by Alexandr vRossi and Kyffin Zsimpson. Rossi started 25th and finished sixth. Simpson went from 19th to fourth.

Thanks for following along this weekend. I will have more later, but I need to begin the trip home.

Road America Tire Selections and Warmup Results

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Photos from this morning’;s warmup, taken from the inside of the lead up to mthe Corvette bridga at turn 6.

Tire selections:

Interesting near 50/50 split on strategy. A mid tire stint caution would be most welcome to make this race interesting.

Warmup Results

Marcus Armstrong, Caio Collet, and Nolan Siegel continue their consistent strong weekends.

Road America Race Day

thepitwindowLeave a comment

Good morning from what is for now a fairly quiet Road America. The USF 2000 race has just started, and a full morning of on track action will culminate with the IndyCar XPEL Grand Prix.

Today is a picture perfect day for racing with high temperature of 71 degrees under sunny skies. The temperature is predicted to drop during the race.

Today’s schedule: Central times

Anyone in the top five starting spots has a chance today. We could see another Alex Palou beatdown of the field, or we could see a career first time IndyCar vwinner, either David Malukas or Marcus Armstrong.

Malukas has improved on road courses this season. He said in the post qualifying press conference that he worked hard over the winter on sims and video study to get better on non ovals. The work seems to be paying off.

Armstrong has been close to securing his first win.He wa strong if Friday’s practice, and with a couple of breaks, he could get Meyer Shank’s second win of the year.

Pato O’Ward has been pretty upbeat this weekend, which usually means he thinks he has something. It is going to be difficult to move forward from ninth, however.

Is this the weekend Nolan Siegel breaks through with a top 10 result? The McLaren driver has had one of his best weekends in his career so far. he has been near the top in every session and starts seventh today.

Marcus Ericsson has been having a much better season than he did in 2025, and I look for him to earn a podium today.

Make or Break for Kirkwood?

Kyle Kirkwood starts 18th today. He came into the weekend trailing Palou by 49 points. He has already lost another point to the points leader, and will probably lose one more should Palou lead a lap. Kirkwood needs to move up to as high as possible min the top 10, or any remote hope of catching Palou may evaporate.

Kirkwood is also in a tight battle for second place with Malukas, who could move into the runner-up spot after today. I hope we don’t see another second half fade from him as we saw last season.

Strategy

Tire strategy will be key today. The cooler temperatures may lessen tire falloff, and if the race is caution free, pit stop timing could determine the final outcome.

While Palou is heavily favored, keep in mind that he has won just once from the pole in this five pole streak. I look for David Malukas to get his first win at the neendd of the day.

I’ll be back with warm up results and starting tire selections around 11:30. Enjoy the race.