Indianapolis 500 – Page 4 – The Pit Window by Mike Silver

2026 IndyCar – A Look to the Future with the Past in New Wrappers

February 23, 2026 thepitwindow

Changes both real and cosmetic marked the off season as the NTT IndyCar series prepares for the 2026 season opener at St. Petersburg this weekend. Old drivers are in new places, new drivers created new alliances, and a new officiating board kept the old staff intact. Some new regulations just dropped as I began this post. Let’s break it down.

Keep That Scorecard Handy

Of the drivers who switched teams, Will Power in car 26 for Andretti Global is the biggest shock of all. After 18 years with Team Penske, remembering that Power is not in the 12 will take a couple races to sort out.

Meanwhile, David Malukas moves into Power’s old ride. While people will be watching Power, a critical eye will be on Malukas. The new Team Penske driver has yet to win a race, and I’m not sure how long a leash he will have at Team Penske. I think Malukas enters the season in a very warm seat.

Two moves I found puzzling. Rinus VeeKay had a very good season at Dale Coyne in 2025, and I thought something nice was in the making there. But VeeKay informed Coyne late in the season that he was joining Junco Hollinger Racing for 2026. If a driver changes teams, it is ususally to go to a better situation. This move Sees VeeKay staying at the same level.

Dale Coyne finally announced his second driver, and Romain Grosjean returns yto where he began his IndyCar career. Nothing against Romain, but I thought this was a strange hire given some of the other candidates for that car. I hope Romain can serve as a mentor for rookie Dennis Hauge.

A Strong Rookie Class

The Three rookies, Dennis Hauger at Dale Coyne Racing Caio Collet at A. J. Foyt Racing, and Mick Schumacher at Rahal Letterman Racing, bring great credentials to the series. Hauger won the IndyNXT championship last year, and Collet finished second in the junior series. Schumacher is a former F1 driver who shined in F2.

Give Schumacher half a season to

learn how things work, and I think he just might win Rookie of the Year.

A Smaller Grid to Start

The grid for at least the first four races will have just 25 cars, as the team known as Prema is undergoing an ownership change. The new team has tentative plans to debut at Long Beach. It is possible that they enter just one car for the Indianapolis 500 as well.

The Schedule

The 2026 schedule is the best in a long time. I am happy to see the calendar grow to 18 races. I think a 20 race schedule is ideal. St. Pete begins a stretch of four races in five weeks to start the season and six races in five weeks to end the season. There are just two three week breaks, one after Long Beach and one after Nashville.

The new schedule creates a different dynamic to the season, and may make a Palou four in a row championship more challenging.

Four new venues- Phoenix, Arlington, Markham, and Washington, D. C., will add to the challenges for the drivers. While isn’t a new venue, this is the first time IndyCar will race on the new track configuration, added after the series last ran there in 2018.

Predictions

Don’t bet the house on these, but here are my predictions for 2026:

Championship- Alex Palou

Indianapolis 500- Pato O’Ward

Rookie of the Year- Mick Schumacher

First time winners- David Malukas and Marcus Armstrong

Will Power will win at least two races for his new team.

Nine different drivers will win at least one race in 2026.

I will post another article tomorrow discussing the officiating situation and the new tire rules and other procedures tomorrw. Then Iwill head to St. pete on Wednesday.

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Hucul Dies at 79

February 21, 2026 thepitwindow2 Comments

Another sad note from IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 20, 2026) – Canadian driver Cliff Hucul, a veteran of three Indianapolis 500 starts in the late 1970s, died Feb. 17 on his farm in his native Prince George, British Columbia. He was 79.

Hucul made three consecutive starts in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from 1977-79.

His best finish came as a rookie in 1977, 22nd in the No. 29 Team Canada McLaren/Offenhauser that Hucul bought after Johnny Rutherford drove it to victory in the 1976 “500.” Hucul completed 72 laps before being sidelined by gearbox problems. He qualified on Bump Day for that race despite touching the wall in practice the previous day and suffering two engine failures during the Month of May, a significant pitfall for his low-budget team

.Hucul’s best qualifying spot was 18th in 1979, his final “500” start.

The small-town driver from northern British Columbia learned his craft by racing stock cars and modified sprint cars at local tracks. He then began racing modifieds and supermodifieds in the Pacific Northwest against drivers that included eventual Indianapolis 500 winner and INDYCAR SERIES champion Tom Sneva and his brother Jerry Sneva.

Hucul made 24 total USAC and CART starts between 1977-81, with eight top-10 finishes. Hucul’s best finish in the standings was 11th in 1979, when he started the season by placing fifth at Ontario Motor Speedway and a career-best fourth at Texas World Speedway.In 1996, Hucul became a paraplegic after an automobile accident when crossing black ice on a highway in British Columbia. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Hucul remained active, managing his farm and mentoring many drivers in the area. He was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame for his lifetime contributions to auto racing.

Hucul is survived by his son, Kelly, and daughter-in-law, Sylvie; daughter, Michele, and many grandchildren.

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Krueger Dies at 74

February 12, 2026 thepitwindow

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.

Five Central Indiana Artists Selected to Welcome Race Fans in May

February 4, 2026 thepitwindow

From IMS::

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026) – The five artists selected to create the 2026 Welcome Race Fans artworks, a culmination of the Hoosier hospitality that welcomes visitors to Indianapolis throughout the Month of May, were announced Feb. 4 by Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Arts Council.
Selected from a record-breaking pool of 120 applicants, the five artists who will create this year’s welcoming artwork are Kirsten Anderson, Jonathan E. Carr, Kylene Dolen, Kenyon Mason and Philip Ramilo.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, Welcome Race Fans exemplifies what May means to Indianapolis, both on and off track. Each year, Central Indiana artists are challenged to bring to life what “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” means to the Racing Capital of the World.
While some artists work in rich color palettes and others use computer coding as their medium, all Welcome Race Fans artists have drawn on personal connections to share uniquely meaningful stories about Indianapolis and its culture.
“Since the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016, Welcome Race Fans art has been one of the first things thousands of visitors see when they come to the city of Indianapolis and IMS for the Month of May,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.
“As we showcase the more than 80 artists who have contributed to the program over the last decade and welcome five new artists in 2026, we’re reminded of the many reasons the Month of May is so special to so many.”
This year’s artists will create a piece of original artwork, to be placed throughout the city, using their unique processes and styles to showcase the intersection of art and motorsports. Both two- and three-dimensional pieces of art – like sculptures, carvings and papercraft – were considered and may be created for the program.
Kirsten Anderson is a passionate stained-glass artist who uses the copper foil method to take any picture and transform it into a unique, handcrafted glass design. She strives to select the perfect glass for every artwork, considering color, texture and pattern to ensure each piece tells a beautiful story that resonates, comforts and inspires.
Jonathan E. Carr is a digital illustrator with a career rooted in the expansive character of natural landscapes. Through a deeply immersive creative process, he is guided by principles of balance, beauty and intention to capture the authentic references that fuel his work and capture the dynamic energy of sport and auto racing.
Kylene Dolen is an acrylic painter whose pop-art style layers images and bold color schemes to curate vibrant art collages. Drawing inspiration from nostalgic memories and everyday life, she hand-draws on canvas before layering the art with acrylic paints and finishing them with a crisp black outline.
Kenyon Mason is a 2D mixed media artist inspired by graffiti, portraiture and bold use of color. He combines both dry and wet mediums and experiments with sustainable materials to create expressive, dynamic portraits reflecting the raw energy of contemporary street-style art and his refined traditional skills.P
hilip Ramilo is a mixed media artist whose work is influenced by his life experiences and cultural heritage. Through a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, his art tells compelling stories that explore themes of identity, memory and transformation.
The five Welcome Race Fans artworks will be unveiled May 1.To explore the full list of Indy 500 community initiatives and programs, visit IMS.com/Community.
To see an up-to-date calendar of IMS events, click here.

Commemorative Milk Bottles, Cartons Return for 2026 Indy 500

February 3, 2026 thepitwindow

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026) – Indianapolis Motor Speedway, American Dairy Association Indiana and the Prairie Farms Family of Companies once again are collaborating to bring Indianapolis 500-branded single-serve milk bottles and cartons to fans across 20 states
.More than 25,000 retailers across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama will be stocked with single-serve milk bottles celebrating five winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The commemorative bottles will be available in both the Prairie Farms and Hiland brands in their respective markets. Bottle styles may vary by region
.“Much like racing, dairy farming is built on early mornings, precision and resilience – values rooted in a shared pursuit of excellence that make the Indianapolis 500 and its iconic milk celebration a natural fit,” said Jenni Browning, CEO of the American Dairy Association Indiana, which represents Indiana dairy farmers.
Each milk type will feature a different Indy 500 winner, allowing fans to collect them all. Fans who collected bottles last year will notice all-new designs and featured drivers:2% reduced-fat milk features back-to-back winner Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024)
Whole vitamin D milk features defending winner Alex Palou (2025)
Premium chocolate milk features 2016 Indy winner Alexander Rossi1% low fat chocolate milk features 2008 Indy winner Scott Dixon
Premium strawberry milk features four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021)
These single-serve bottles will be in retail locations beginning March 1.In addition to the collectable single-serve bottles, approximately 200 million half-pint cartons decorated with a graphic in celebration of Winners Drink Milk are being distributed to schools throughout the same states now.
“The Prairie Farms Family of Companies is proud to partner with IMS and ADAI again this year,” said Matt McClelland, CEO and executive vice president of Prairie Farms Dairy.
“Not only does this partnership allow us to celebrate this iconic tradition in retail stores and schools, but it also gives us the opportunity to recognize the commitment and dedication of our farmer owners.”
“Fans loved the commemorative milk bottles last year, and many attempted to collect all five,” said INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles.
“These milk bottles and cartons allow our fans to be a part of the Race Day excitement and celebrate like an Indy 500 winner – with a cold drink of milk.”
An ice-cold bottle of milk after 500 miles of racing is one of the most iconic celebrations in all sports. The tradition of drinking milk after winning the Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1936, when Louis Meyer, an avid drinker of buttermilk, requested a bottle after winning his third Indy 500. As the story goes, a dairy industry executive saw the newsreel footage of the iconic moment and requested milk be made available to the winner of each Indianapolis 500 thereafter.
These days, buttermilk is no longer offered as an option. All 33 drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge submit their milk preference to the Dairy Association in advance. They can choose between whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk or skim milk. Whole milk is the most popular choice, but there are some drivers that still request buttermilk in honor of Meyer.
The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24. Tickets are on sale at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS Ticket Office.

Weine 500 Returns

January 26, 2026 thepitwindow

In the biggest racing news of the weekend, IMS announced the return of the Weinie 500. The race will be sandwiched between the Carb Day practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Pit Stop competition.

The announcement from IMS:

Oscar Mayer Weinie 500 Returns to Miller Lite Carb Day May 22

The meatiest race in motorsports is officially back!

Oscar Mayer announced the second annual Wienie 500 will return to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Miller Lite Carb Day, Friday, May 22, leading up to the 110^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Sunday, May 24.

The race returns with a sizzling new twist! Following a disappointing performance in last year’s race, the Sonoran Dog is officially relegated due to not cutting the mustard, leaving a spot open for a new regional dog to enter the competition.

Race lovers can visit @Wienermobile on Instagram to cast their vote in the first-ever ‘Pick Your Dog’ Wienie 500 bracket where they can choose from a fresh lineup of seven new regional hot dogs or opt to give Sonoran Dog another shot at qualifying.

ECR FOCUSES ON ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH AS THE TEAM ENTERS SEASON FIFTEEN

January 22, 2026 thepitwindow

Editor’s note: ECR also confirmed that Ed Carpenter will drive a third car in the Indianapolis 500.

From ECR;

Team Development at the Forefront of ECR’s Preparation for Its Fifteenth NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season

(INDIANAPOLIS) January 21, 2026 – ECR announced today a series of organizational improvements and team growth ahead of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The Indianapolis-based race team heads into Season Fifteen on the heels of its best campaign in several years, highlighted by Christian Rasmussen’s victory at the Milwaukee Mile. ECR will strive for more in 2026 with an expanded leadership team, a more robust engineering department, and an increased emphasis on pit lane performance.

With Barnes assuming management of the engineering department, Quentin Montigaud has been promoted to Race Engineer of Alexander Rossi’s No. 20 Chevrolet. Montigaud, from France, began his engineering career nine years ago in Formula E. He has spent his entire INDYCAR career with ECR and was most recently Performance Engineer on the No. 20.
As Montigaud begins his first season as Race Engineer, he will have the guidance of both Barnes and Pete Craik. Craik will remain Race Engineer of the No. 21, a role he has held since Rasmussen’s first race at ECR. The Australian began his career in Supercars before moving to the United States and has spent 19 years engineering Supercars, INDYCAR, and NASCAR. He has led of one of ECR’s two entries as Race Engineer for the past seven years.
ECR’s engineering department gains additional depth with the addition of Robert Gue. A 23-year motorsports engineering veteran, Gue will lead development efforts for the team as Senior Project Engineer.
With an increased emphasis on pit lane performance, ECR has added a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach. Before joining ECR, Chase Campbell worked with collegiate and professional athletes for 10 years. He leads routine workouts for the No. 20 and No. 21 crews, as well as open lift sessions for all team members. Campbell also oversees daily pit stop practice for both crews and serves as the team’s Pit Stop Coach. Additionally, he has taken on the role of Strength and Conditioning Coach for Carpenter, Rasmussen, and Rossi.
Rasmussen and Rossi will be on track for the first time this year at Phoenix International Raceway on February 17-18 as part of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Open Test. The 2026 season begins in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sunday, March 1.

About ECRECR (Ed Carpenter Racing) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team is led by owners Ted Gelov and Ed Carpenter and has proven its versatility by collecting wins across every type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals, and speedways. For the 2026 season, Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi will return as driver of the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, while new NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner Christian Rasmussen remains in the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet. Carpenter, a three-time pole winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014, and 2018), will round out ECR’s three-car lineup for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. More information on ECR can be found at www.ecrindy.com.

Coca-Cola Consolidated Announces Multiyear Partnership with IMS, Indy 500 Red Carpet

January 21, 2026 thepitwindow

From IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026) – Coca-Cola Consolidated, the nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, today announced a multiyear partnership designating Coca-Cola as the official soft beverage and water sponsor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Through the partnership, Coca-Cola Consolidated will serve as the official partner of the Indy 500 Red Carpet and will participate in multiple community activations, including Indy 500 Porch Parties and Bike to the 500.
“Coca-Cola Consolidated has been our neighbor and a part of the community for generations,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Sharing a Coke with fellow race fans will once again be a Race Day tradition.”
“As Indianapolis’ local Coca-Cola bottler and the official beverage provider for IMS, we are thrilled to partner as the official soft beverage and water sponsor,” said Heather Hucks, vice president of consumer connections at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “There’s just something special about watching a race with a Coca-Cola in your hand, and we’re excited to be part of creating lasting memories alongside race fans, while taking important steps to positively impact the Indianapolis community.”
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coca-Cola Consolidated serves more than 13,700 businesses in Indiana and has more than 1,300 teammates working in nine facilities across the state, helping bring economic opportunity to the local community. For over 124 years, Coca-Cola Consolidated has been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities it serves.
Tickets for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.

Looking Ahead to 2026

December 29, 2025 thepitwindow

I trust everyone had a nice holiday last week, and as we look ahead to 2026, I want to say thank you to everyone who visited this site during the year. It was another great year, and next May will mark 10 years of writing this humble column.

What can we look forward to in 2026? First, I don’t see Alex Palou dominating again as he did this past season. He is still the favorite for the title, but winning eight races in 2026? Probably not.

The new officiating board has more distance from Penske Entertainment, but the series ownership is still paying for it. We should know the officiating staff early next month. Will there much change in the philosophy of running the races? I doubt that we will notice any difference. One change I want to see is when a yellow is warranted, throw it without regard to pit cycles or whatever. If it ruins someone’s race, that’s the breaks.

I’m sad to see that Conor Daly won’t have a full-time ride in 2026. Daly always seems to help a team improve, and I’m not going to be happy with whomever gets the Dale Coyne seat.

For me, the most exciting possibility is the chance of Katherine Legge returning to the Indianapolis 500. Legge may have an opportunity to secure a ride, and she says she would like to do the IndyCar race at Phoenix along with driving in a NASCAR race that same weekend.

I have always considered Legge the best of the female drivers, and I hope she gets another shot at Indy. Legge has never had the best equipment at the 500, and I hope 2026 marks a change in her 500 career.