Tag: NTT Indycar Series

Andreti Global Signs Kirkwood to Multi-Year Extension

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From Andretti Global:

INDIANAPOLIS (November 3, 2025) – Andretti Global announced today that five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES winner Kyle Kirkwood has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain with the team. Kirkwood will continue to pilot the No. 27 Andretti Honda for the 2026 INDYCAR season. 

Since joining Andretti in 2023, Kyle Kirkwood has delivered five wins, three poles and six podiums, leading more than 300 laps. His breakout 2025 season — highlighted by a Long Beach sweep, back-to-back wins in Detroit and his first oval victory at World Wide Technology Raceway — reflects the blueprint of performance and progression driving Andretti forward. 

A former INDY NXT by Firestone Champion with Andretti, Kirkwood remains the only driver to capture titles in all three development series (USF2000, USF Pro 2000 and INDY NXT) in consecutive years. His trajectory embodies the team’s framework for sustained success, built on focus, discipline and a shared drive to elevate Andretti’s competitive and connected future. 

Under the TWG Motorsports umbrella, Andretti Global continues to strengthen its INDYCAR program with a focus on performance, innovation and long-term driver development. Kirkwood’s extension is central to that vision in retaining talent and consistency to embody the competitive spirit that defines both organizations. As a proven race winner and rising star within the Andretti lineup, Kirkwood represents the next generation of leadership on track, anchoring the team’s pursuit of championships while reflecting TWG’s broader commitment to cultivating excellence across its global motorsports platform. 

Kirkwood will join INDYCAR veteran and recently announced teammate Will Power and Indianapolis 500 Champion Marcus Ericsson for the 2026 INDYCAR season, kicking off with the season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg on Feb. 27.   

JILL GREGORY, PRESIDENT, ANDRETTI GLOBAL  

“Kyle represents exactly what we strive for across TWG Motorsports and Andretti Global. His blueprint for success has made him a key part of our INDYCAR lineup defined by talent, tenacity and a relentless drive to win. Kyle’s growth and ambition reflect the strength of Andretti Global and our commitment to developing world-class competitors on and off the track.” 

KYLE KIRKWOOD, DRIVER, ANDRETTI GLOBAL  

“These are very exciting times for myself, Andretti Global and TWG Motorsports. I’d first like to thank the entire team and especially Dan Towriss and Jill Gregory for putting their trust in me. We’ve had an amazing three years together and our future together is very bright. We have proven to be true contenders, and most recently, Championship contenders. Our trajectory has only been up, and I am confident that we will be fighting again for championships. Between the new shop, leadership, teammates and the many evolving factors within the organization, I believe this team is an absolute powerhouse, and we’re so excited for the journey ahead.” 

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About Andretti Global 

Andretti Global, part of the TWG Motorsports umbrella, is a leading racing organization competing in INDYCAR, INDY NXT and Formula E. With more than 300 race wins, multiple series championships and decades of success across premier racing categories, Andretti Global is built on a legacy of innovation, teamwork and competitive spirit. The team continues to push performance forward while representing the best of American motorsport on the world stage. Learn more at AndrettiGlobal.com. 
 

About TWG Motorsports 

TWG Motorsports is the motorsports entity of TWG Global, unifying a robust racing portfolio across the world’s biggest stages in Formula 1®, INDYCAR, Formula E, IMSA, and NASCAR. With strategic partnerships that include General Motors on the Cadillac Formula 1® Team and ownership of Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing and Spire Motorsports, TWG Motorsports combines deep technical expertise, proven competitive excellence and industry-leading business acumen. TWG Motorsports is committed to innovating, growing and winning at the highest levels of the sport. Learn more at TWGMotorsports.com. 

When a Legacy Ends

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After 61 years and 55 Indianapolis 500-mile races, an Andretti will not be on the grid in IndyCar or the 500. Marco Andretti announced his retirement from racing Wednesday. Next May it will be strange not to see this storied name on the grid or on the entry list.

Andretti is the last of the Andrettis to race in the 500. My first 500 was in 1962. I have seen an Andretti on the grid since 1965, Mario’s rookie year. Outside of the split years from 1996-2000 and 1979 when Mario was in Formula 1, an Andretti has been in the field on Memorial Day weekend. I will definitely feel a void in May of 2026.

Besides Mario, Michael, and Marco, Jeff Andretti, Michael’s other son, and John Andretti (Aldo’s son) also ran in the 500. Mario, Michael, Jeff, and Michael all started the race in 1991 and 1992. One odd statistic is that Michael is the only one of the five Andrettis to be running at the finish of his final 500.

The Andretti clan has a combined total of 73 Indianapolis 500s on their collective resumes.

Marco began his career in a difficult situation. He followed his mega start grandfather and superstar father into the sport. The pressure on him h tremendous. His near miss of victory at Indy in his rookie year had fans thinking that another great Andretti career had begun. It was not to be. While Marco did well at IMS, he won just two races- at Sonoma and Iowa- five years apart. Andretti also earned three pole positions, including the top spot for the 2020 Indianapolis 500.

We should still see the Andretti name on the team that Michael founded at least through next year. After that I fear the team’s name may change to TWG to reflect6 the new ownership group.

The Andretti name will soon fall to the archives as have many of the great multigenerational names of the past like Vukovich and Unser. It was a pleasure to watch the Andrettis race. Thanks to all of them for the many great years.

Marco Andretti Retires

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In an announcement on X, Marco Andretti announced his retirement from racing. Andretti raced in 20 Indianapolis 500s, finishing second in 2006 and winning the pole in 2020. He also finished third three times and had seven top 10 finishes. Andretti won three races in his IndyCar career, his final victory coming at Iowa in 2011. I will have more about this story later in the week.

Andretti’s statement:

🏁 To my family, friends, teams, sponsors, and fans who have genuinely supported me for the last 30 years in motorsports, I want to thank you for allowing me the privilege to continue our family’s passion on the racetrack. I have had some really fun times behind the wheel in a lot of different types of racing cars — a lot of great memories as well, mostly at the Indy 500. Today, I am announcing my retirement from motor racing and the Indianapolis 500. That totals 20 starts at the Speedway, which I feel so fortunate to be able to say. That is ranked 12th all-time. Not bad for a 38-year-old. I am proud of my overall stats at the Indy 500. I had six very legitimate shots at victory with Andretti Autosport and ended up with 20% top-3 finishes at the Speedway. It feels accomplishing to me to be able to retire having more podium finishes than my father Michael and the same as my grandfather Mario at the biggest race in the world. I will never forget the rare circumstance of getting to race my dad in the closing laps for the win there — the pressure of participating in a dramatic Bump Day in 2011 to a pole position in 2020. That is what the Indianapolis 500 produces: extremes on both ends. That is why I love and appreciate it so much. I am very much at peace with the next chapter in my life after dedicating three decades to the sport. I will be prioritizing most of my time on being a great father to my daughter, Miura, and tending to my other business ventures. I am also coming out with a memoir about my life called “Defending the Dynasty.” Details coming soon on that. 2006–2025: Competing at the top level of North American motorsport is and has been an honor for me, even in the tough times. That is where I can look back and say I have made my best progress in life as a man. Learning to navigate very difficult dynamics at times, and others doubting me, made me realize that my opinion of myself is the one that should matter the most. Lastly, a special thank-you to a lot of the people I respect in motor racing for the kind words about my driving, work ethic, and true character. – MA 🏁

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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.

 INDY NXT by Firestone Drivers Featured at Chris Griffis Memorial Test Monday at IMS

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  The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Testing and driver evaluations by INDY NXT by Firestone teams will take place from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit.
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.
WHAT: Chris Griffis Memorial Test
WHO: INDY NXT by Firestone Teams and Drivers Scheduled to Participate (subject to change, (R) denotes series rookie):
ABEL Motorsports: Max Garcia (R), Colin Kaminsky, Jordan Missig, Myles Rowe
A.J. Foyt Enterprises: Nicholas Monteiro (R), Alessandro de Tullio (R)
Andretti Global: Lochie Hughes, Sebastian Murray, Josh Pierson, Max Taylor
Chip Ganassi Racing: Bryce Aron, Niels Koolen
Cusick Morgan Motorsports: Juan Manuel Correa, Nicholas Stati (R)
HMD Motorsports: Jack Beeton (R), Enzo Fittipaldi (R), Tymek Kucharczyk (R)
A full participation list will be available in the coming days on the INDYCAR and IMS content site.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 27
WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

IndyCar Series Oval Testing Tuesday and Wednesday

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Four today and two tomorrow. Today and Wednesday at IMS the IndyCar series will conduct two separate tests on the oval.

Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren and Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing will run a swingle day Firestone tire test. ECR’s Alexander Rossi and Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato will begin a two-day parts evaluation.

I like that a couple of the teams not normally included in tests are getting to participate.

The turn 2 mounds will be open for fans during the scheduled 9 am- 5 pm test.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers To Participate in INDYCAR Test on Oct. 21-22 at IMS

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From IMS:

 NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, including three Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winners, will participate in an annual fall INDYCAR test Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 21-22 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
Testing is scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET both days. On Tuesday, drivers Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren and Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing will test Firestone Racing tires and the newly repaved surface at the exit of Turn 2 of the oval. Alexander Rossi of ECR and Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will use both days to test and help evaluate the performance of brake and shock components under consideration for the coming years.
The Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing.

WHO: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Teams/Drivers Scheduled To Participate (subject to change):
Arrow McLaren: Pato O’Ward
Chip Ganassi Racing: Alex Palou
ECR: Alexander Rossi
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Takuma Sato

WHAT: INDYCAR Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

WHEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 21-22

WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

VeeKay Signs with Juncos for 2026

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Rinus VeeKay will drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2026. VeeKay drove for Juncos in Pro Mazda. Juncos is VeeKay’s third team in three years.

He began his IndyCar career in202 with Ed Carpenter Racing, where he won his only race, the 2021 Sonsio Grand prix on the iMS road course.

In 2025 VeeKay drove for Dale Coyne Racing, finishing 14th in the season standings.

The Dutch driver has finished each season between 12th and 14th in each of his sixth season in the series.

Until this past season, VeeKay has been an outstanding qualifier at the Indianapolis 500, with three consecutive front row starts, along with rolling off 4th and 7th. He has three top 10 finishes in the 500.

Juncos Hollinger team principalo Dave O’Neill said about signing VeeKay, “At Juncos Hollinger Racing, we’re fully focused on building a program capable of sustained high performance in the years ahead,” said Dave O’Neill, Juncos Hollinger Racing team principal.

“We have exciting plans across every area of the team – on and off the track – and bringing Rinus onboard is a major step in that direction.”

IMS Test Day Midday Report

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A random summary of this morning at IMS:

A cool crisp morning led to a slow first hour of testing at IMS. Action began to pick up after 10 am.

The first was mainly used by Dennis Hauger for pit stop practice.

Just before 11, the action picked up with several cars on track at the same time. The ECR cars took to the track around 10:45.

Mick Schumacher turned the fastest time in the morning session.

Schumacher had a crowd following him wherever he went. He seems genuinely interested in driving in IndyCar. As far as ovals go, Schumacher did not show the reluctance that many Europeans have toward driving in circles. In answer to a question about oval driving, he said,

“I think [I] might as well, that’s what the championship is about and I think it would be wrong to just say ‘Okay, I’m just going to do one part of it.’ If I were to commit, I would like to commit to it fully.”

James Roe may get the seat at Juncos Hollinger Racing. He said that he will talk with them next week.

James Roe

Dennis Hauger is very upbeat about driving in IndyCar. He seems very happy to be at the top American level, seeing a positive in his crash at Mid-Ohio last week.

Dennis Hauger

In Other News

While Will Power could not participate in today’s practice due to contractual restrictions,, he will see some track time this weekend as he drives in the Indianapolis 8 hour.

Power will drive car 75, with fellow Australians Chaz Moster and Kenny Habul. The Mercedes-AMG is entered in the Pro class of the GT 3 event.

Conor Daly will also participate with the Random Vandals team in the number 99 BMW GT World America Pro class.

It was nice to be at the track today to get one last whiff of IndyCar before winter.