Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Palou Outpits Rosenqvist to Win 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Alex Palou claimed victory at the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19, taking his third win of the season in six races from second on the grid. Felix Rosenqvist led for the opening two-thirds of the 85-lap race from pole position, but a full-course yellow for debris triggered a simultaneous pit-stop sequence that proved decisive. Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing crew executed a faster stop and he emerged ahead. Palou crossed the finish line 3.9663 seconds clear of Rosenqvist, with Scott Dixon third and Kyle Kirkwood fourth. The victory extended Palou’s championship lead to 17 points over Kirkwood.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Long Beach TV Audience Reaches Best in 20 Years as IndyCar Ratings Surge on FOX
The 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach drew an average audience of 1,269,000 viewers on FOX, delivering the series’ best Long Beach television audience in nearly 20 years. Viewership peaked at 1,527,000 during the closing stages as Alex Palou chased down the lead. The figure represents a 130-percent increase from Long Beach 2025, when the race attracted 552,000 viewers on FOX, and stands as the most-watched Long Beach race since the Champ Car and IndyCar merger in 2008. For the 2026 season to date, IndyCar on FOX is averaging 1,239,000 viewers per race, up 44 percent year-over-year.
Sources: RACER
Rosenqvist's Long Beach Pole-to-Second a Step Forward for Meyer Shank Racing
Felix Rosenqvist qualified on pole at Long Beach, his seventh career IndyCar pole, and led the majority of Sunday’s race before losing the lead in the final pit stop cycle. A full-course yellow with roughly 20 laps remaining bunched the field, neutralising a three-second advantage Rosenqvist had built. When the pit window opened simultaneously, Alex Palou’s faster stop moved the Chip Ganassi car ahead. Rosenqvist finished second, claiming his first podium of 2026, and rose from 14th to ninth in the championship standings. Meyer Shank Racing described the Long Beach weekend as a significant step forward for the team despite missing victory.
Sources: Pit Debrief
Acura Expands IndyCar Footprint and Confirms Pause of IMSA GTP Factory Programme
Honda Racing Corporation USA will pause its factory Acura ARX-06 GTP programme in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the end of 2026, redirecting resources toward the NTT IndyCar Series. Acura branding will appear on Meyer Shank Racing Honda-powered cars at select 2026 races, including on Marcus Armstrong’s No. 66 entry at the 110th Indianapolis 500 in May, marking the brand’s first appearance in that race. HRC cited its Precision Crafted Performance identity as the strategic motivation for the shift. Acura recorded 25 wins, 34 poles and 10 championships across its IMSA GTP era before announcing the pause this week.
Sources: RACER
IndyCar Teams Head to Indianapolis for Indy 500 Open Test on April 28–29
All NTT IndyCar Series teams will participate in the annual Indianapolis 500 open test on April 28 and 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, three weeks before the 110th running of the race on May 24. Tuesday’s schedule begins with veteran driver sessions from 10:05 a.m. ET, followed by Rookie Orientation Program and refresher tests, with all cars on track from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday’s running covers 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The Southeast Vista grandstands and Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open free of charge, giving fans public access to oval testing ahead of the Month of May.
Sources: AutoRacing1
Graham Rahal's Momentum Builds as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Enters Month of May
Graham Rahal finished eighth at Long Beach in the No. 15 One Cure Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a result he described as encouraging following a difficult start to the 2026 season on street circuits. A set of offseason personnel changes have begun to take effect: Kyle Sagan joined as pit stop manager, Brian Barnhart arrived as senior vice president of operations and strategist, and Gavin Ward was hired in an advisory capacity. With oval-focused rounds approaching, including the Indianapolis 500, Rahal expressed confidence in the team’s direction and said he feels strong about the remainder of the Month of May schedule.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Mick Schumacher Records Career-Best IndyCar Finish at Long Beach After Difficult Weekend
Mick Schumacher moved from 21st to 17th at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for his best NTT IndyCar Series result to date, advancing one position to 24th in the overall standings. The weekend was difficult: Schumacher missed significant practice time with an engine issue, then had two separate incidents at the same corner, near the aquarium fountain section, in subsequent practice sessions before qualifying 21st in the 25-car field. The improved race finish follows a run of difficult early-season rounds and moved Schumacher one position ahead of Sting Ray Robb at the base of the championship table.
Sources: GPFans
Palou Holds 17-Point Championship Lead After Long Beach; Rosenqvist Climbs to Ninth
Alex Palou leads the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series championship with 205 points after six races, 17 clear of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood with 188. David Malukas (Team Penske) sits third with 142 points, ahead of Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren, 136 pts), Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren, 131 pts) and Josef Newgarden (Team Penske, 130 pts). Scott McLaughlin holds seventh with 127 points and Scott Dixon eighth with 120 pts. Felix Rosenqvist’s Long Beach podium vaulted him from 14th to ninth with 109 points, while Graham Rahal rounds out the top ten with 106 pts. Thirteen rounds remain.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Drivers' Championship
1. Alex Palou — 205 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 188 pts
3. David Malukas — 142 pts
4. Pato O'Ward — 136 pts
5. Christian Lundgaard — 131 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 130 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 127 pts
8. Scott Dixon — 120 pts
9. Felix Rosenqvist — 109 pts
10. Graham Rahal — 106 pts
Teams' Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 325 pts
2. Team Penske — 272 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 267 pts
4. Andretti Global — 188+ pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 109+ pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 106+ pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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