Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Lundgaard Ends 47-Race Drought to Win Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis
Christian Lundgaard ended a 47-race winless streak by taking victory at the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Saturday, claiming Arrow McLaren’s first win of the 2026 season. Starting fourth, the Danish driver moved through the field and executed a decisive pass on leader David Malukas on Lap 68, slipping through the chicane at Turns 5 and 6 to take command. Lundgaard drove away to win by 4.6 seconds, with Malukas second and Graham Rahal third. The win, his second career IndyCar victory, came almost three years after his last. Josef Newgarden finished fourth; championship leader Alex Palou salvaged fifth.
Sources: Read Motorsport
Palou Extends Lead to 27 Points Despite Strategy Error at Sonsio Grand Prix
Alex Palou retained his NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead despite a difficult afternoon at the Sonsio Grand Prix, in which a pit strategy error dropped him from first to 19th before he recovered to finish fifth. After six rounds, Palou holds 237 points — 27 ahead of Kyle Kirkwood, who finished ninth on Saturday. Palou has now secured five top-five finishes in six races, demonstrating remarkable consistency even when strategy does not go to plan. Christian Lundgaard’s victory at Indianapolis moved the Dane into fourth in the standings, tightening the competition behind Palou as the series heads into the pivotal Month of May.
Sources: IndyCar
IndyCar Eliminates Bump Day and Expands Indy 500 Qualifying Format for 2026
IndyCar has announced significant changes to the Indianapolis 500 qualifying procedure for 2026, eliminating bump-day for the first time in four years and expanding the format to give more drivers a path into the coveted top-12 shootout. Day 1, on Saturday May 16, will run from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. ET and lock in positions 16 through 33; the nine fastest drivers will advance directly into the top-12 battle on Day 2 on Sunday May 17. The six quickest then contest the Firestone Fast Six for pole, carrying a $100,000 prize. All 33 entrants are guaranteed a starting position.
Sources: Racer
Nine Past Winners Among 33 Confirmed Starters for 110th Indianapolis 500
The official entry list for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, released Monday, confirms a full field of 33 drivers — including nine past winners and five NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions. The grid represents IndyCar’s deepest talent pool in years, with past winners such as Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, and Scott Dixon set to compete alongside four Rookie of the Year candidates: Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger, and Mick Schumacher. Katherine Legge is the sole female entrant and the only woman to attempt the Indianapolis 500 since 2024, competing for AJ Foyt Racing in partnership with HMD Motorsports.
Sources: Speedway Media
Month of May Begins: Full 33-Car Field Hits IMS Oval for First Indy 500 Practice
The 110th Indianapolis 500 takes its first official step on Tuesday as the full 33-car field takes to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for a six-hour practice session beginning at noon ET — the first of several days of preparation before PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on May 16 and 17. All drivers, including four Indy 500 rookies who completed their orientation programmes at the April open test, accumulate oval running ahead of next weekend’s qualifying sessions. The Indianapolis 500 itself is set for Sunday, May 24, making this week’s practice a crucial window for teams to establish setup direction for race day.
Sources: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mick Schumacher Set to Make History as First Schumacher to Enter Indianapolis 500
Mick Schumacher is set to become the first member of his family to compete in the Indianapolis 500, driving the No. 47 Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during the 110th running of the race. His father, seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, never entered the Indy 500, though he won five times on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Formula One. Mick completed the mandatory Rookie Orientation Programme at the April open test and starts official oval practice on Tuesday. He is one of four Rookie of the Year contenders this season, alongside Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, and Dennis Hauger.
Sources: IndyCar
O’Ward’s Title Bid Takes a Hit After Double-Crash Day at Sonsio Grand Prix
Pato O’Ward endured one of the most damaging afternoons of his IndyCar career at Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix, falling from fourth to seventh in the championship after two separate race incidents at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Starting from the front row, O’Ward was collected in a multi-car Turn 1 crash on the opening lap when Felix Rosenqvist’s car locked up under braking. Later, on Lap 29, Rosenqvist went airborne into O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren at Turn 13, forcing the Mexican driver through five pit stops and to an 18th-place finish. O’Ward now sits 89 points behind championship leader Alex Palou with twelve races remaining.
Sources: IndyCar
IndyCar Power Rankings: Lundgaard Surges to Second as Palou’s Consistency Impresses
The post-Sonsio IndyCar power rankings, published Monday, place Palou at the top despite his fifth-place finish, with Lundgaard jumping to second after his breakthrough win. David Malukas, runner-up at the Sonsio Grand Prix, holds third in the rankings for a second consecutive week after leading 27 of 85 laps at Indianapolis. The 2026 season has reached its one-third mark with Palou’s consistency standing out: five top-five finishes from six starts, backed by a 27-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood. Malukas, who finished second at last year’s Indianapolis 500 and returns to it third in the championship, figures to be a major oval threat at the Indy 500.
Sources: IndyCar
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 237 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 210 pts
3. David Malukas — 185 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 182 pts
5. Josef Newgarden — 162 pts
6. Scott Dixon — 148 pts
7. Pato O’Ward — 148 pts
8. Graham Rahal — 141 pts
9. Scott McLaughlin — 141 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 128 pts
11. Felix Rosenqvist — 116 pts
12. Marcus Ericsson — 112 pts
13. Alexander Rossi — 110 pts
14. Will Power — 107 pts
15. Dennis Hauger — 100 pts
16. Kyffin Simpson — 93 pts
17. Mick Schumacher — 44 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 590+ pts
2. Team Penske — 488 pts
3. Andretti Global — 445+ pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 330 pts
5. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 185 pts
6. Meyer Shank Racing — 116 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 110 pts
8. Dale Coyne Racing — 100+ pts
9. AJ Foyt Enterprises — est.
Source: indycar.com/Standings (compiled from available driver data)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency