Tag: Andretrti Global

Murray Leads Andretti Power Play in Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS 

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Editor’s Note: I was unable to attend the test today. Here is the report from IndyCar.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Oct. 27, 2025) – Sebastian Murray laid down the first marker for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, leading the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.Murray was quickest among 24 drivers turning laps on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit, stopping the clocks at 1 minute, 14.5035 seconds in the No. 27 Andretti Global car.
Murray, from Scotland, finished 13th in the series standings in 2025 as a rookie for Andretti Cape INDY NXT before moving to the Andretti team after this season for 2026.
SEE: Overall Test Results
“Great day at IMS,” Murray said. “We finished P1, so obviously thrilled. The team was amazing today, and we learned a lot and improved a lot. We were obviously very fast all day, so massive thank you to the team.”
The quick lap by Murray was the highlight of a strong performance for Andretti Global, whose drivers seized the top three spots on the time chart. Andretti Global drivers also have won the last two championships in the INDYCAR development series.Series veterans and Andretti newcomers Max Taylor and Josh Pierson ended up second and third, respectively.
Taylor’s best lap was 1:14.6366 in the No. 28 car, while Pierson ended up at 1:14.6674 in the No. 29 machine. Taylor was quickest overall in the morning session at 1:15.0926.
Nikita Johnson was fourth overall and the quickest rookie at the test, turning a best lap of 1:14.8849 in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports car. USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 series runner-up Johnson made three INDY NXT starts early in the 2025 season but will be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2026.
AJ Foyt Racing marked a successful return to the INDYCAR development series with USF Pro 2000 veteran and INDY NXT rookie Alessandro de Tullio rounding out the top five at 1:15.0406.
The annual open test is named in memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports who passed away suddenly in September 2011. Twenty-four drivers – three more than the burgeoning 21 cars that ran most of the 2025 season – combined to turn 1,728 laps over the two sessions of the test day.
The 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season starts Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Power Joins Andretti

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Andretti G;obal Photo

Will Power has a new home at Andretti Global. Power had been with Team Penske since 2009. That relationship started with a one race deal to replace Helio Castroneves. After 17 years, 42 wins including the 2018 Indianapolis 500, and 71 pole positions, Power embarks on a new IndyCar adventure.

The new driver of car 26, replacing Colton Herta who was announced earlier today as a test driver for Cadillac F1, immediately makes Andretti a strong title contender for 2026, and strengthens the Honda driver lineup.

It will take me a couple of races next year to remember that power is not in car 12, and Herta is not in the 26.

Below is the official press release from Andretti Global:

INDIANAPOLIS (September 3, 2025) – Andretti Global, a racing team under the TWG Motorsports umbrella, announced today that two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power will join the team starting in 2026. Power will pilot the No. 26 Andretti Honda as Colton Herta transitions to serve as a Test Driver for the Cadillac Formula 1® Team.

The INDYCAR veteran brings over 20 years of record-breaking open-wheel experience to the Andretti organization, holding the series’ record for most pole positions (71) and ranking fourth on the all-time INDYCAR win list with 45 career victories. In over 300 starts, Power has led over 5,000 laps and currently sits in fourth on both the all-time INDYCAR podium (108) and top five (142) lists. The Australian cemented his place in motorsports history with his 2018 win at the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 and two INDYCAR Championship titles in 2014 and 2022.

Power will join confirmed teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson to complete the 2026 Andretti INDYCAR lineup.

JILL GREGORY, COO, TWG MOTORSPORTS AND PRESIDENT, ANDRETTI GLOBAL

“First, I want to thank Colton Herta for all the great memories and success he brought to Andretti Global during his time with the team. We’re incredibly proud of him and wish him the best in his new F1 journey.

“We couldn’t think of a better driver than Will Power to fill Colton’s shoes here at Andretti and take the wheel of the No. 26 Honda. Will is a fierce competitor whose record speaks for itself. Additionally, he’s a great personality and we feel he’ll be a strong fit for the team culturally as well.”

WILL POWER, DRIVER, ANDRETTI GLOBAL

“I just want to say how excited I am to be joining Andretti Global. I can’t thank Dan [Towriss], Jill [Gregory] and the team enough for this opportunity. Colton is someone that I’ve been massively impressed with for a while. He has a lot of natural ability, and I think he’s going to do a great job over in Europe. I’m excited to watch him and will work to step in and do everyone on the 26 team proud.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting all the Andretti team and getting to work in 2026. They have some very smart people, and I know it will be enjoyable to get to winning. I’m also looking forward to driving for Honda. They’ve been a tough competitor, and I look forward to working with the entire HRC team. Also, I have tremendous respect for Kyle [Kirkwood] and Marcus [Ericsson]. I’ve had some great battles racing against them, and I think we’re going to make a great combination as teammates. This is a whole new chapter for me. I have to say that sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh start is very energizing. I can’t wait.”

Herta Named Cadillac F1 Test Driver

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Andretti Global Photo

Andretti Global IndyCar driver Colton Herta has been named the test driver for Cadillac F1 as they make their Formula 1 debut in 2026.Herta will also drive in full time in F2 on a team yet to be named.

Herta drove seven seasons in IndyCar starting in 2018 with Harding-Steinbrenner and then Andretti. He is the youngest driver to win an IndyCar race, winning the race at COTA in 2019. His last win came at Nashville in 2024.

Herta told IndyCar.com, “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a test driver,” Herta said. “This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working toward for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up.

“My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step toward that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.”

Herta finished the 2025 IndyCar season seventh in points. He won pols at Detroit and Toronto.

For his career, Herta won nine times, earned 16 poles, and led more than 1,000 laps.

It hurts for the series to lose a 25 year old driver, especially one I am a fan of. It is hard to believe he has driven for seven years.

Andretti Global has not named a replacement for 26 yet, but I expect an announcement soon. The new driver will expected to join the

team will make the organization more powerful.

Redemption-Detroit Qualifying

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After two long weeks, Colton Herta finally has something to smile about. On May 17th he crashed hard as he began his Indianapolis 500 qualifying lap and started the race in 27th. He finished 17th, but was moved to 14th after two of his teammates and another car were disqualified.

Today Herta won the pole for tomorrow’s Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit, edging David Malukas by two tenths of a second.

Kyle Kirkwood, started the 500 23rd and drove to a 6th place finish on track before being disqualified, will start third tomorrow.

Overall, it was a day of redemption for Andretti Global.

Notes

David Malukas qualified second, a nice follow up to his second place last Sunday. He held the provisional pole for quite a while, then pulled into the pits with time left, allowing Herta to post a faster time.

Where are IndyCar’s priorities? No action was taken against Will Power for his dangerous pushing of Kyle Kirkwood in yesterday’s practice session, but Alexander Rossi was held out for 10 minutes of practice time this morning because he missed a required weigh in. This a bit skewed in the wrong direction.

Team Penske looked strong for a while. Will Power led his first round group without a tow. Josef Newgarden brushed the wall while on a lap that would have put him in round 2 and he will start 24th. Scott McLaughlin and Power got to the second round, and they will star on the fourth row.

Results

Note– Graham Rahal and Scott Dixon will serve 6 place grid penalties for engine changes. Rahal will start 11th and Dixon starts 16th.

The official starting lineup with starting tire choices will be published after tomorrow’s warm up.

F1 Accepts Cadillac; On the Grid in 2026

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It’s been a long time coming, but GM/Cadillac will have a spot on the F1 grid starting in 2026. The team is headed by TWG Global, the parent company of Andretti Global, led by Dan Towriss. No drivers have been named.

Mario Andretti will be a director on the board. The 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner and former F1 champion said, “My first love was Formula 1 and now 70 years later the F1 paddock is still my happy place. To still be involved at this stage of my life I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

It will be nice to see another American team on the grid, but I’m not happy with the disrespect the FIUA and Formula 1 showed toward Michael Andretti. Apparently, his stepping down from an ownership role with Andretti Global sped negotiations.

Having an American team on the grid makes sense for the series which has three races in the United States and is seeking a fourth event.