Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Monday, April 27, 2026
IndyCar Eliminates Open Race Entries Outside Indianapolis 500 Starting in 2027
IndyCar confirmed that all entries outside the Indianapolis 500 must hold a series charter beginning in 2027, ending the practice of non-chartered teams entering regular-season events. Fields will be capped at 25 chartered cars, rising to 27 in 2028 when Chevrolet and Honda each receive a manufacturer charter under their renewed engine supply agreements. The Indianapolis 500 retains its open-entry format to preserve the 33-car grid. IndyCar cited benefits to series suppliers planning ahead as justification. Critics noted the change raises the barrier for new teams, who must now purchase a charter rather than entering individual events through an open competition process.
Sources: Motorsport Week
Sam's Club Signs On as Primary Sponsor for Kirkwood at Indy 500 and Beyond
Andretti Global and Sam's Club announced on April 23 that the membership retail chain will serve as primary sponsor on Kyle Kirkwood's No. 27 Honda for the Indianapolis 500 and the remainder of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The arrangement expands a partnership that began at last year's season finale. Kirkwood, currently second in the drivers' championship with 188 points, will debut the Sam's Club livery at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Open Test on April 28 and 29. The expanded multi-race deal marks a significant retail brand commitment to IndyCar as the series averages 1.23 million viewers through five rounds, the best audience figures since 2014.
Sources: RACER
Graham Rahal's Revival Gains Momentum as Month of May Approaches
Graham Rahal heads into the Month of May in his strongest position in years, having ended a 41-race podium drought with a third-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park on April 13. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver sits 10th in the championship with 106 points. Offseason personnel changes, including Kyle Sagan as pit stop manager and Brian Barnhart as senior vice president of operations, have stabilized the program. Rahal has 15 top-10 finishes in 17 starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and won pole there in 2023, giving him strong momentum ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 9.
Sources: IndyCar.com
David Malukas Leads Team Penske's Championship Charge in Impressive Debut Season
In his debut season with Team Penske, 24-year-old David Malukas has established himself as the team's championship leader after five rounds. The Lithuanian-American driver sits third overall with 142 points, ahead of teammates Josef Newgarden (sixth, 130 points) and Scott McLaughlin (seventh, 127 points). Malukas claimed Team Penske's best qualifying result of the year when he secured pole at Phoenix Raceway and followed with a front-row start at Barber Motorsports Park. Newgarden has described Malukas as “really good, smart, fast” and believes a race victory is imminent. Malukas drove four previous seasons for HMD Motorsports and McLaren SP before earning his Penske seat.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Arrow McLaren Delays Lundgaard and Siegel Contract Talks Until After Indianapolis 500
Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan has indicated he will not make decisions on the futures of Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel until after the Indianapolis 500, with both drivers in the final year of their contracts. Kanaan told Motorsport.com he wants neither driver distracted by negotiations during the Month of May, adding that an Indy 500 victory would immediately resolve any uncertainty. Siegel, 21, delivered his best result of the 2026 season at Long Beach, recovering from a last-place qualifying position to finish 12th after advancing 13 positions during the race. Lundgaard sits fifth in the championship with 131 points, the team's highest-placed driver this season.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Full Field of 33 Cars Set for Indy 500 Open Test, Streaming Live on YouTube
All 33 expected entries for the 110th Indianapolis 500 are set to attend the two-day Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 28 and 29, with both sessions streaming live on the IndyCar Series YouTube channel. The test provides the first oval running for 2026 rookies Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet, and Mick Schumacher, each of whom must complete a three-phase Rookie Orientation Program on the 2.5-mile oval before being cleared for May 24. Veterans take the circuit from 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, with rookie orientation beginning at noon. All approved drivers share the track from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Sources: RACER
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
11. Alexander Rossi — 105 pts
12. Marcus Armstrong — 104 pts
13. Marcus Ericsson — 104 pts
14. Will Power — 89 pts
15. Rinus VeeKay — 79 pts
16. Dennis Hauger — 76 pts
17. Kyffin Simpson — 75 pts
18. Santino Ferrucci — 74 pts
19-25. See indycar.com/Standings
Teams' Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 400 pts
2. Team Penske — 399 pts
3. Andretti Global — 381 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 267+ pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 213 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 106+ pts
7. ECR — 105+ pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 79+ pts
9. Dale Coyne Racing — 76+ pts
10. AJ Foyt Racing — 74+ pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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