INDYCAR Expands Global Broadcast Presence for 2026  

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  International Expansion Continues to Drive Global Visibility 
of North America’s Premier Open-Wheel Series

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026) – INDYCAR is intensifying its efforts in 2026 to reach global audiences during the 18-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. A strong network of international partners, including new media and broadcast relationships, will bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ star drivers and signature events to audiences in more than 200 countries and territories.
INDYCAR LIVE acts as INDYCAR’s global direct to consumer streaming service, supporting the broadcast partners in their markets and elsewhere, bringing fans full and uninterrupted coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone – every race, every practice and qualifying session as well as in-car camera feeds, highlights, shorts and vodcasts.

“INDYCAR’s growth trajectory is the best in sports and that includes significant expansion of our global availability and new interest from international audiences,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “This season, 14 nations and territories will be represented in our full-time lineup, and, with that, it is crucial that platforms are available to showcase the intense, wheel-to-wheel action of INDYCAR to their countries and our international fanbase. We are delighted to announce this list of new and renewed partners, who will intensely follow what we believe will be a thrilling 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.”

Partnerships for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season include:
New in 2026 to Brazil is Band Sport (Bandierantes) after an eight-year hiatus from INDYCAR, allowing fans to witness fellow Brazilian Caio Collet in his rookie season.

ESPN continues to provide coverage across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as to Latin America, Brazil and Mexico where fans can support Mexican native Pato O’Ward.Spain will continue to provide premium coverage via Movistar+ and #Vamos, highlighting reigning series champion Alex Palou as he seeks to win his fourth straight and fifth overall title.

Sky Sports will showcase reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Louis Foster in the United Kingdom, and sister channel Sky Sports Italia continues race coverage in Italy.In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Sky Sports will be closely following Mick Schumacher’s Rookie season.
Sky Sport New Zealand will be providing coverage of Kiwis Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong.

A new relationship with SBS Sport allows INDYCAR to reach new audiences in Korea for the 2026 season.

Viaplay will continue its coverage in the Nordics for fans to follow Danish drivers Christian Rasmussen and Christian Lundgaard, Swedish drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson and Norwegian rookie Dennis Hauger.

Returning for its second year partnering with INDYCAR is Motorvision, also broadcasting in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Stan Sport in Australia will allow fans to follow Will Power for his 22nd INDYCAR season.
France will broadcast Romain Grosjean’s return to INDYCAR with Canal+.

Ziggo Sport continues to spotlight INDYCAR in the Netherlands for fans to follow Dutch driver Rinus Veekay.

Additional returning broadcasters of INDYCAR in 2026 include TSN in Canada, RTVS in Slovakia, S Sport in Turkey, Arena 4 in Hungary, Gaora in Japan and Sport TV in Portugal.

INDY NXT by Firestone will have also have coverage across the globe with first-time coverage in Poland with Motowizja, allowing fans to see rookie Tymek Kucharczyk in action. Polish fans will also be able to stream all races at the URL tymekkucharczyk.pl. REV TV will broadcast throughout Canada, while ESPN will showcase INDY NXT races to fans in Latin America and Brazil. Further coverage will be provided on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Italy, Viaplay in the Nordics and Sport TV in Portugal.

WHAT INDYCAR’S DRIVERS ARE SAYING
“Viaplay has done a great job covering the NTT INDYCAR SERIES the past several years, and I’m glad they’ll continue this season. While it’s a North American sport, there’s a growing global audience which only happens if they have access to watch the on-track action.” – Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
“It’s cool whenever I’m home in New Zealand and I get to see INDYCAR races be rebroadcasted on Sky Sport. I hope that New Zealanders, can follow closely this season. They have two Scotts (Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin) and a Marcus (Armstrong) competing at the pointy end of the field this year. The opportunity to see three New Zealanders lock out a podium is actually very possible this year, so it’s going to be pretty cool to watch and I’m glad that Sky Sport will be there to catch it all for everyone back home to watch.” – Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing
“It is extremely important to have INDYCAR back on free-to-air television, especially on a broadcaster like Band, which has a long and rich history not only with motorsport, but also with INDYCAR itself. This helps elevate the category, expand its global reach, attract even more fans around the world and also promote brands and personal sponsors that enable us to be there doing our job.” – Caio Collet, AJ Foyt Racing
The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 1 at noon ET with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The start of the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins the same day, also on the streets of St. Petersburg, at 10 a.m. ET. A full list of international broadcast partners is available here. 

Rossi Powers ECR to Top of Speed Charts at Phoenix Open Test 

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From IndyCar:

 AVONDALE, Arizona (Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026) – Alexander Rossi’s last oval victory in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES came in August 2018 at Pocono Raceway. There’s a strong chance that drought may end in 2026, based on the results of the second and final day of the Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway on Wednesday. Rossi led both sessions on the 1-mile oval, including the fastest overall lap

.SEE: Morning Session Results | Afternoon Session Results | Overall Test
Results

2016 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Rossi turned his best lap of 174.542 mph in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet during the afternoon session, which started 90 minutes late due to passing sprinkles. He also led this morning at 174.444.
“We got through everything we wanted, and when you can do that, it’s a good day,” Rossi said. “Christian’s (Rasmussen) car is also strong, so there’s nothing more I could ask for.”

All 25 drivers expected to compete at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 1 tested both days at Phoenix, which returns to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for the first time since 2018 with the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday, March 7

.“We have a good baseline, and it feels like we are on top of it,” Rossi said of ECR’s Phoenix setups.

Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden ended up second overall at 174.362 in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet with his best lap this morning. Newgarden was second fastest Tuesday on the opening day of the test at 172.201 behind new teammate David Malukas, as 24 drivers posted faster laps today than Tuesday.

Reigning and four-time series champion Alex Palou was third overall at 174.220 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. ECR landed both of its drivers in the top four overall, as 2025 Milwaukee Mile winner Christian Rasmussen followed Palou at 173.924, good for second in the afternoon session behind teammate Rossi.

Malukas continued his strong oval form in his early days with Team Penske, rounding out the top five overall at 173.759 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.Formula One veteran Mick Schumacher continued to make steps in his oval racing education by ending up the fastest rookie over both days. He turned a top lap of 171.096 mph in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda today to lead the three rookies in the field and end up 18th overall. Schumacher gained more than 7 mph today, as his top lap Tuesday was 164.006.

There was just one incident today. 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson was unhurt 49 minutes into the afternoon session when his No. 28 Delaware Life Honda fielded by Andretti Global did a quarter-spin in Turn 4 and hit the SAFER Barrier with the rear of the car.
Over two days of testing, 25 drivers turned 4,853 laps. Series veteran
Will Power was the workhorse, turning a test-high 259 laps – more than the race distance March 7 – as he settles into Andretti Global after 16 full-time seasons with Team Penske.

Malukas Opens Penske Tenure by Leading First Day of Phoenix Open Test

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Note: Timing and scoring is available on the IndyCar app.

From IndyCar:

  AVONDALE, Arizona (Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026) – That was quite an entrance from David Malukas.Malukas led the first day of the Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway on Tuesday, his first official NTT INDYCAR SERIES test session since joining Team Penske after the 2025 season. Malukas was fastest on the 1-mile desert oval with a lap of 172.605 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

SEE: Day 1 Results | Open Test Entry List

“It feels good to be P1, but at the end of the day, we just ran through our test items,” Malukas said. “From that perspective, that’s what truly matters, and everything went very well. We’ve learned so many different things. Everything felt very clear. We got a lot of answers.”
Chicago-area native Malukas, 24, joined Team Penske after four seasons with three teams, including AJ Foyt Racing in 2025. His pace on short ovals shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, as two of his three career podium finishes have come on the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway oval near St. Louis.
Malukas paced a 1-2 result for Team Penske on the opening day of the two-day test at Phoenix Raceway as the winningest team in INDYCAR SERIES history looks to rebound from a sub-par 2025 season.

Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden was second overall among 25 drivers on track at 172.201 in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet.
2018 series champion Will Power, who Malukas replaced at Team Penske, was third at 171.706 in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda as he begins his tenure at Andretti Global after 16 full-time seasons with the Penske team. Power’s teammate Kyle Kirkwood was fourth at 171.423 in the No. 27 Siemens Honda.
Reigning and four-time series champion Alex Palou rounded out the top five at 171.357 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, which put two drivers in the top 10 of the final standings for the first time last season, also opened 2026 with speed. Marcus Armstrong was sixth at 170.919 in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda, followed by Felix Rosenqvist at 170.489 in the team’s No. 60 Honda.

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Dennis Hauger was the fastest of the three rookies on track, ending up 17th overall at 169.259 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Honda fielded by Dale Coyne Racing.
Another rookie, Formula One veteran Mick Schumacher, was 23rd at 164.006 in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda. Schumacher, son of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, was turning oval laps for just the second time in his career after his first circle-track test Feb. 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His 109 laps completed were the third-highest total today, behind ECR teammates Christian Rasmussen (128 laps) and Alexander Rossi (118).
The other rookie, 2025 INDY NXT runner-up Caio Collet, was involved in the only incident of the day. Collet made slight contact in Turn 4 in his No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONIA Chevrolet fielded by AJ Foyt Racing. He climbed from the car without help and was unhurt.

Testing will continue Wednesday in the final dress rehearsal for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Cars will be on track from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET and 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET.

The 2026 season starts with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg (noon on FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network), followed by the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday, March 7 at Phoenix. It’s the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Phoenix since 2018. 

Spring Training Schedule at Phoenix

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All Times Eastern. Phoenix is on Mountain Time, two hours behind Eastern

Tuesday, February 17

2 pm-3 pm Rookies

3 pm-7 pm All drivers

Wednesday, February 18

11 am -2 am All drivers

3:30 pm-7″30 pm All drivers

The track is free and open to fans

During the break is an autograph session for the first 300 fans in Desert Diamond Casino Infield Experience in the Phoenix Raceway midway.

Sorry, there is no live streaming of this event.

From yesterday:

IndyCar’s Engine Deal- A Win for the Series

IndyCar’s Engine Deal- A Win for the Series

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Last week’s renewed cont5racts with Honda and Chevrolet allowed everyone involved to breathe a sigh of relief. rumors had been swirling since 2023 about Honda leaving the series when their contract end at the end of 2026. Chevy hinted that they may not want to be the sole supplier. The sticking point for HOnda was return on investment.

Honda gave out cryptic hints as late as August of last year. In a press availability during the Milwaukee weekend, David Salters responded to questions about Honda’s future in the sport with a vague “We love IndyCar.”

Chevy said that they love having competition, implying that they wouldn’t love racing alone.

In the end, all was resolved Beginning in 2028, the OEMs will provide new 2.4-liter V 6 engines with a hybrid component. To attempt to provide some return on the companies’ investment, IndyCar will grant each engine manufacturer a charter to field one car apiece. Honda and Chevy may field the cars separately, or they may affiliate with an existing two car team.

I really like this deal. It is innovative, and the contract gives Honda and Chevy a larger stake in the series. I am relieved that Honda is staying, and that Chevy will have the competition that they want.

I do, however, have some questions. There was talk of reducing the grid to around 25 cars. Is that talk now off the table since there will be 27 cars guaranteed spots in 2028? This deal leaves no room for new teams or cars outside of the Indianapolis 500. What happens to teams like Prema or their 2026 iteration? Will Dreyer & Reinbold want to continue as an Indy only team, just as they were on the cusp of expanding their program?

Exclusivity looks like a growing trend in motorsport, and I’m not5 sure that it’s necessarily a good thing. Established want to protect their investment. I get that, but I don’t think there is much chance a new team bumping a charter team from a race should the rules allow it.

Eventually new teams will need to come into the series. IndyCar needs to provide a mechanism for that. I don’t see any current team willing to sell a charter just yet.

Overall, the new engine agreements are one of the best deals IndyCar has ever made, but as with anything there are unintended consequences. I hope IndyCar can come up with a plan to avoid the possible pitfalls with this arrangement. Meanwhile, Iam excited for 2028.

Coyne Tabs Grosjean to Complete the Grid

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From Dale Coyne Racing:

Romain Grosjean Named First Global Brand Ambassador for Bitcoin MAX; Returns to Dale Coyne Racing For 2026

Romain Grosjean - INDYCAR Sebring Test - Day 1 - By_ Chris Owens_Ref Image Without Waterma

PLAINFIELD, Ill. – February 13, 2026 – Dale Coyne Racing today announced a new partnership with global financial brands OnlyBulls and Bitcoin MAX for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The agreement strengthens the team’s expanding partner portfolio while ushering in the return of several key elements from its past. The partnership coincides with the global launch of OnlyBulls, a next-generation finance super app, and Bitcoin MAX, a Swiss-based Bitcoin trust launching next month. Bitcoin MAX is structured to enable holders to spend the value of their crypto more easily and leverage bitcoins potential.

Romain Grosjean has been named the first Global Brand Ambassador for Bitcoin MAX and will return to Dale Coyne Racing to drive the No. 18 Honda in 2026. The season marks a homecoming for Grosjean, who delivered his strongest INDYCAR campaign with the team in 2021, earning his first series pole and a podium finish at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

A veteran of Formula One (2009–2020) and INDYCAR competition from 2021–2024, Grosjean most recently competed in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.

“I cannot tell you how excited we are to welcome Romain Grosjean both to the race team and to Bitcoin MAX as the first global brand ambassador,” said Milton ‘Todd’ Ault. “Romain is the perfect global representative for the brand. His story and professionalism embody what we stand for.”

The 2026 season also highlights the continued presence of the iconic No. 19 entry, a number closely tied to the team’s identity and famously driven by team owner Dale Coyne during his driving career, now being driven by INDY NXT Champion, Dennis Hauger for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

Veteran engineer Bill Pappas also returns to the organization. Pappas was instrumental in delivering Dale Coyne Racing’s first INDYCAR victory and first oval win alongside Justin Wilson, milestones that helped establish the team as a consistent competitor in the series.

OnlyBulls and Bitcoin MAX join existing partners askROI, Bitnile.com, Ault Blockchain, and Seismic Media Partners as part of the 2026 program. Grosjean’s entry will also feature support from neuro.IO and DNSFilter.

Previously announced rookie Dennis Hauger will pilot the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in 2026 with primary sponsorship from AULT Blockchain. Additional partners on the No. 19 include NAMMO, Valpak, RentalGroup, Blåkläder, Team Verksted, HTB Racing, and Refuel.

Team owner Dale Coyne added, “Pairing an exceptional rookie in Dennis with a proven veteran like Romain gives us a strong competitive foundation. Bringing back key pieces of our history while building new global partnerships positions us well for 2026.”

The partnership provides OnlyBulls and Bitcoin MAX with a global platform to engage INDYCAR’s international audience while supporting Dale Coyne Racing’s continued pursuit of performance and innovation.

INDYCAR Announces Historic, Multiyear Commitment from Chevrolet, Honda

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Editor’s note: Huge news from IndyCar, Chevy, and Honda

 Manufacturer Charters To Accompany Boosted Investment Across NTT INDYCAR SERIES

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026) – INDYCAR today announced a multiyear commitment from Chevrolet and Honda to continue as official Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Each OEM agreement will commence in 2027 and run for multiple years, reflecting the upward trajectory of the sport and new investments in its growth.The new commitment from Chevrolet and Honda represents a significant financial investment in North America’s premier open-wheel series. It is also an endorsement of the momentum and continued growth of the series.
Both manufacturers will also be heavily involved in the development of the engine and competition rules to be implemented with the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES car, which is expected to begin competition in 2028.

“This is a monumental day for INDYCAR, fueled by a massive and historic commitment from two of our best and most trusted partners,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said.
“Chevrolet and Honda have worked tirelessly with us over the last 12 months to get to this point, and both have made it very clear that they are fully committed to this sport and invested in continuing the positive momentum the series generated in 2025.”
“Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, successful relationship with INDYCAR as an engine manufacturer, and this extension paves the way for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to continue to grow and for us to further maximize technology transfer from race to road,” General Motors President Mark Reuss said.
“The addition of a charter allows Chevrolet to join with other stakeholders to continue to make the series even stronger. INDYCAR produces consistently exciting racing on road and street courses as well as ovals, and we look forward to building on our INDYCAR legacy and put on a great show for our loyal Chevrolet fans.”

“To our esteemed Honda fans, customers and associates, we are thrilled to announce our ongoing participation in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Honda Racing Corporation USA President David Salters said.
“With a deep respect for the history and competitive spirit of INDYCAR racing, we are proud to continue our involvement after more than 30 years. This long-standing commitment strengthens our ability to allow us to further develop our people and technology at the pinnacle of open-wheel racing in North America.

“The partnership between INDYCAR and FOX continues to grow, bringing outstanding race coverage and elevating the experience for fans everywhere. The future of INDYCAR looks incredibly bright, and we at Honda are honored to play a critical role in its continued success.”

This multiyear announcement extends Chevrolet’s current participation in the INDYCAR SERIES. Chevrolet is a nine-time champion since its return to the sport 14 seasons ago in 2012. Including the 1988-93 and 2002 titles, Chevrolet has won 16 total INDYCAR SERIES manufacturer championships.
Honda began INDYCAR SERIES competition in 1994 and has been a continuous and key fixture on INDYCAR grids as an engine supplier for over 30 years – including six seasons as the sole engine supplier. The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season marked its 11th manufacturers’ title in multiple manufacturer competition and the fifth in the last eight years.
In addition to commitments made in engine development, engine supply and promotion of the series, each manufacturer will be entitled to own a charter to be utilized beginning with the 2028 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
“As charter entrants in 2028, Chevrolet and Honda now have a new and exciting opportunity to build on their incredible legacies across INDYCAR SERIES racing, while continuing their strong relationships with our current roster of teams and helping deliver an innovative and industry-leading new car in 2028,” Boles said.
The INDYCAR charter system was originally announced in September 2024. Charters were extended to teams based on full-time entries from the 2022-23 seasons, with a maximum of three awarded per team.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams with three charters are not eligible to utilize a fourth charter via an OEM.
Complete details of the powertrain parameters to be utilized with the new 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine with hybrid technology and introduced with the 2028 NTT INDYCAR SERIES car will be announced at a later date.
The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 1 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Coverage of the race begins at noon ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One and the FOX Sports app. Audio coverage will be available via the INDYCAR Radio Network on SiriusXM Channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Krueger Dies at 74

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026) – Phil Krueger, a veteran of two Indianapolis 500 starts, died Feb. 9 in Indianapolis. He was 74.
Krueger, a native of Milwaukee, competed in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1986 and 1988. His best finish was eighth in 1988, completing 196 laps in the No. 97 CNC Systems Sales March-Cosworth fielded by R. Kent Baker Racing. He also qualified a “500” career-best 15th that year.
The performance in 1988 also earned talented mechanic and fabricator Krueger the Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award for his work tuning the 2-year-old car into a solid qualifying spot and top-10 finish and guiding an all-new crew for the team.
Krueger was a regular competitor in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the 1980s, turning laps every year from 1981-89 with small, low-budget teams with older equipment.
He failed to qualify from 1983-85 and in 1989, and he didn’t attempt to qualify in his first attempt at the race in 1981 or in 1982 and 1987 due to crashes in practice
.His Month of May in 1987 symbolized his hard luck and perseverance at the Speedway. Krueger started the month as the chief mechanic for the Raynor Motorsports entry for Dennis Firestone. Krueger climbed into the team’s backup car as a driver after Firestone crashed and suffered a broken foot in the team’s primary car.
Krueger clipped the wall between Turns 1 and 2 in practice, damaging the rear suspension. He led repairs to the car and attempted to qualify on Bump Day. His opening lap of 203.920 mph was on pace to make the field, but he crashed in Turn 1 on his second lap and didn’t qualify. Still, Krueger earned the Jigger Award that year for his determination amid hard luck during May.
A model of perseverance and courage, Krueger suffered multiple fractures in the No. 89 Joe Hunt Magneto Eagle-Chevrolet – a 7-year-old car that he rebuilt during the previous offseason – in the 1981 crash at Indy and was seriously injured in crashes during CART races in 1984 and 1989 at Michigan Speedway but returned to race each time.
That determination also was displayed by Krueger as he climbed to the elite level of North American open-wheel racing. He started his career in endurance karts in his teens. In 1977, with a $200 budget in his pocket, he began competing in the USAC Mini-Indy Series.
Krueger then competed in Super Vee and Formula Ford while also learning how to build and fabricate Indy cars when not racing. His driving and mechanical skill helped him climb to CART in 1981, and he made 23 career INDYCAR SERIES starts between 1981-91. His best finish was fifth in the 1988 Michigan 500 among his seven career top-12 finishes.
After his driving career, Krueger worked as an engine builder, mechanic and crew chief. He also was a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic whose passion for aviation included maintaining his cherished 1941 Luscombe and building a World War I-S.E.5a biplane from Royal Aircraft blueprints.Krueger also volunteered for many military causes, including working with the USO at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. 

Sebring Test and Other Notes

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Photo: Mick Schumacher testing at Sebring. All photos by Chris Jones, Penske Entertainment

Some personal news:

Winter headquarters is no more, and I will be staying in Indianapolis most of the year from now on. While I enjoyed my winters in Florida, the cost of living there got to be hard on the budget.

The two day IndyCar test at Sebring International Raceway The previous two days didn’t tell us a lot about what to expect for the season, but it was fun seeing cars on track. Thanks to my friends who sent photos and videos of a session I would have attended.

Start Getting Used to It

I am happy for the visuals of Will Power5 in the 26 and David Malukas in the 12. I bet I will still mix them up at St. Pete.

Here is Will Power in his new home:

The car has more yellow than it idi in 2025 when Colton Herta drove it, so that helps me remember there is a new driver in the cockpit.

David Malukas is now Power’s former ride:

The predominant red and the yellow band across the top of the aeroscreen says, “New driver.”

For the record, Alex Palou led session 1 Monday morning. Marcus Armstrong led sessions 2 and the first group on Tuesday morning. Kyle Kirkwood led the final session Tuesday afternoon.

All teams had the opportunity to work with the 2026 tire compound. Marcus Armstrong didn’t see a lot of difference from last season’s tire.

Is He or Isn’t He?

Romain Grosjean, long believed to be the mysterious TBA, drove car 19 for Dale Coyne Racing during the test. We are still waiting for a formal announcement that Grosjean will drive the number 19 entry for the season. I guess we will know February 27.

St. Pete Homecomings

The support races at the season opener in St. Pete will likely have more people paying attention to them this year.

Last week four time IndyCar champion and three time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Fr5anchitti announced that he will drive in the NASCAR truck race Saturday afternoon..

This morning, another four time IndyCar champion, Sebastien Bourdais, was announced as a driver in the MX-5 cup events.

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a great event, and adding these former IndyCar stars to the support races takes the program up several notches.

I will be back in a couple of days with The Pit Window’s highly anticipated (dreaded?) season preview.