Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Rookie Collet Tops Indy 500 Open Test with 226mph Draft Run
Brazilian rookie Caio Collet surged to the fastest overall speed of the 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Wednesday, recording a tow-assisted lap of 226.381 mph in the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Collet’s effort came early in the shortened second day, which started 75 minutes late due to overnight thunderstorms. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was second at 226.223 mph in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, while defending champion Alex Palou ended the day third at 225.272 mph. Collet’s draft-assisted lap led overall across both days, surpassing Tuesday’s pacesetter Conor Daly, who posted 225.394 mph.
Sources: Motorsport Week
Newgarden Leads Veterans at Open Test, Eyes Third Consecutive Indy 500 Win
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden posted the fastest lap in the veterans’ session on Day 2 of the 2026 Indy 500 Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, running 225.617 mph in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden finished second overall on the day behind rookie Caio Collet’s tow-assisted effort. The two-time Indy winner expressed confidence heading into the Month of May, saying, “This is just the first step towards coming back here next month and trying to win another Indianapolis 500.” Team Penske will field three primary entries for the 110th running on May 24 with David Malukas and Scott McLaughlin joining Newgarden.
Sources: RACER
Engine Failure Sidelines Harvey at Dreyer & Reinbold on Final Test Day
Jack Harvey’s second day of 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test preparations ended abruptly when a large cloud of white smoke poured from the rear of his No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet between Turns 3 and 4 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon. Harvey reported a “little bit of a hesitation” exiting Turn 3 before spotting the smoke, consistent with an engine failure. Despite the early end, Harvey had already posted impressive results: his best no-tow lap of 221.112 mph led the non-tow timesheet across both days, improving on his Day 1 non-tow best of 220.318 mph. DRR faces limited time to assess damage before practice opens May 12.
Sources: Frontstretch
Arrow McLaren Deploys Full Four-Car Indy 500 Lineup at Open Test
Arrow McLaren deployed all four of its primary 2026 Indianapolis 500 entries during the two-day open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, generating simultaneous data across its full complement. The team’s full-season drivers Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Christian Lundgaard were joined by Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2012 IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, returning in the No. 31 Chevrolet with PrizePicks as primary sponsor. O’Ward was fourth fastest overall on Day 2 at 225.109 mph. Team principal Tony Kanaan stated the squad has “no fear” running all four primary cars simultaneously, treating the test as critical race preparation ahead of the May 24 event.
Sources: Speedway Media
Schumacher Passes Rookie Orientation at Indianapolis, Cracks 220mph
Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher completed his Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program during the 2026 open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, clearing himself to practice and qualify for the 110th running of the race. Schumacher, driving the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, cracked 220 mph and ranked 24th in both single-car and tow-assisted speeds. The German rookie described the adjustment to high-speed oval racing as requiring him to “trust my butt,” noting that drivers must carry the car as cleanly as possible through the corners. Schumacher passed all three phases of the orientation on his first attempt, clearing the way for May practice.
Sources: Frontstretch
Legge Clears Veteran Refresher After Technical Setback on Opening Day
Katherine Legge completed her mandatory veteran refresher test on Wednesday, earning clearance to compete in the 2026 Indianapolis 500 with HMD Motorsports in partnership with A.J. Foyt Racing. Legge, 45, had been unable to run Tuesday after apparent clutch problems grounded her No. 11 Chevrolet before completing any timed laps. A dedicated one-hour window was granted Wednesday morning, and Legge completed both required phases during the afternoon general session. She will carry primary sponsorship from e.l.f. Cosmetics in her fifth Indianapolis 500 attempt. All four rookies and four veteran returnees cleared their required testing during the two-day event.
Sources: IndyCar.com
All 33 Entries Cleared After Incident-Free Open Test Logs 4,697 Laps
The 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test concluded Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after all 33 entered cars turned 4,697 combined laps — 11,742.5 miles — across two incident-free days. All four Indy 500 rookies — Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger, Mick Schumacher, and Jacob Abel — completed their Rookie Orientation Programs, while four veteran returnees cleared their refresher requirements. Every entered car is now eligible to participate when practice opens Tuesday, May 12. The only mechanical issue was Jack Harvey’s engine failure, which caused no track incident. Time Trials follow May 16–17 before the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24.
Sources: Speedway Media
Fox on Track, Weather Delays, and Strategy Data Mark Key Moments at Indy Open Test
Beyond the headline speed figures, the 2026 Indianapolis 500 Open Test produced several memorable moments across two days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Overnight thunderstorms delayed the second day by 75 minutes after soaking the racing surface. Reigning series champion Alex Palou took photographs of the iconic IMS facility between sessions. A fox sprinted across the racing surface from the infield Wednesday afternoon, triggering a brief caution flag until the animal exited safely. Team crews also focused on gathering draft and no-draft baseline data for race strategy planning. The test concluded with all 33 entries incident-free, providing comprehensive preparation for the Month of May opening May 8–9.
Sources: TrackSide Online
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. Louis Foster — — pts
20–23. Collet / Abel / Hauger / others — — pts
24. Mick Schumacher — — pts
25. Sting Ray Robb — — pts
Standings after Long Beach (Round 5). Positions 19–25 confirmed from indycar.com; exact pts pending.
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 Racing — 106+ pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 105 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 79+ pts
9. AJ Foyt Racing — 74+ pts
10. Dale Coyne Racing — 76 pts
Teams 1–5 computed from confirmed driver pts. Teams 6–10 show partial confirmed pts (+).
Curated by JD · samwise.agency