Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Indy 500 Qualifying Wiped Out Saturday — First Full-Day Washout Since 2008
Persistent heavy rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway wiped out the entire first day of Indianapolis 500 qualifying on Saturday, May 16 — the first full-day qualifying washout since 2008. IndyCar announced a condensed one-day schedule for Sunday: all 33 drivers make their four-lap attempts from noon ET, with the Final 15 session eliminated due to time constraints. The fastest 12 from the opening round advance to a Top 12 session at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET, and the top six proceed to the Firestone Fast Six at 6:00 p.m. ET to determine pole position. Sunday’s forecast showed only a 10 percent chance of rain.
Sources: IndyCar.com
One Year On: How the Team Penske Attenuator Scandal Reshaped IndyCar
One year after the Team Penske attenuator scandal upended the build-up to the 109th Indianapolis 500, the sport continues to process its fallout. In May 2025, IndyCar inspectors discovered Penske technicians had applied body filler to the rear crash structures of two cars and clear-coated them smooth — an illegal modification also found on Josef Newgarden’s 2024 race-winning car. Newgarden and Will Power were penalized to the rear of the grid, while longtime president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski, and general manager Kyle Moyer were all dismissed. The scandal prompted IndyCar to establish the Independent Officiating Board ahead of 2026, separating oversight decisions from the Penske-owned series.
Sources: Motorsport.com
IndyCar’s Boles Vows to Bring Bump Day Drama Back to Indy 500 Qualifying
IndyCar and IMS president Doug Boles used qualifying week to advocate for the return of bump day drama, expressing frustration that this year’s entry list sits at only 33 cars. PREMA Racing’s financial collapse and a Formula 2 conflict blocking Colton Herta cost the field an estimated two to three additional entries. “The Indianapolis 500 has to always be the fastest 33,” Boles told RACER. “It can’t be a race where you get a guaranteed spot.” Since 2016, over half of Indy 500 entry lists have contained only the minimum 33 cars, a trend Boles says he is determined to reverse by re-energising the “Bump Day” tradition.
Sources: RACER
Scott Dixon ‘Quietly Comfortable’ Ahead of His 20th Indianapolis 500 Start
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon enters his 20th Indianapolis 500 start with measured confidence, describing his preparations ahead of Sunday qualifying as “quietly comfortable.” Dixon, 45, won the race in 2008 and has five top-five finishes at Indianapolis, but has never earned pole position at IMS. The No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda showed consistent pace throughout practice week, and Dixon sits sixth in the drivers’ championship with 148 points, 89 behind leader Alex Palou. With Ganassi teammate Palou among the favourites, the New Zealand-born veteran enters Sunday’s sessions targeting a spot in the Firestone Fast Six as he chases an overdue second Indianapolis 500 victory.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Last Year’s Polesitter Shwartzman Watches 2026 Indy 500 from the Sidelines
Robert Shwartzman, who earned a stunning rookie pole position for PREMA Racing at the 2025 Indianapolis 500 before crashing out during the race, is watching the 2026 edition from the grandstands after PREMA’s IndyCar programme collapsed due to financial difficulties. The Italian-based team’s ownership group, DC Racing Solutions, is seeking new investors and has been absent from the grid all season. Shwartzman, who became the first rookie Indy 500 polesitter since Teo Fabi in 1983, said watching from the sidelines was “pretty tough” and is also the first Indy 500 pole winner to miss the following year’s race since Buddy Rice in 2005.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Ricciardo Attends First Indy 500, Pushes Back on F1 “Looking Down” Claims
Former Formula 1 race winner Daniel Ricciardo will attend the Indianapolis 500 for the first time as a spectator on May 24, with his lifestyle brand Enchanté partnering the No. 20 entry of driver Conor Daly. Appearing on Daly’s Speed Street podcast, the eight-time grand prix winner dismissed the narrative that Formula 1 drivers look down on IndyCar. “There was never a discussion like ‘we’re the best, F1’s this, we’re up here’ — like no,” Ricciardo said. He also expressed candid respect for oval racing, describing the 2.5-mile Indianapolis circuit at speed as deeply intimidating — echoing similar sentiments Max Verstappen has voiced about IMS.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Mick Schumacher’s Oval Mastery Impressing RLL Ahead of Indy 500 Debut
Mick Schumacher has impressed Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with rapid adaptation to oval racing ahead of his Indianapolis 500 debut. RLL team president Bobby Rahal praised the 27-year-old former Formula 1 driver as a “true professional,” noting Schumacher has been “right out of the box good” since the Indy 500 open test and has grown more comfortable with every IMS session. Veteran IndyCar driver and team coach Ryan Briscoe has worked closely with Schumacher throughout practice week. The son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher enters his maiden Indianapolis 500 start targeting a strong result for the No. 47 Honda entry of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Sources: Motorsport.com
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. Scott McLaughlin — 141 pts
9. Graham Rahal — 141 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 123 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. Rinus VeeKay — 94 pts
17. Kyffin Simpson — 93 pts
18. Santino Ferrucci — 90 pts
19. Louis Foster — 86 pts
20. Nolan Siegel — 76 pts
21. Caio Collet — 70 pts
22. Romain Grosjean — 69 pts
23. Christian Rasmussen — 65 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 55 pts
25. Mick Schumacher — 54 pts
26. Jacob Abel — 0 pts
27. Ed Carpenter — 0 pts
28. Hélio Castroneves — 0 pts
29. Conor Daly — 0 pts
30. Jack Harvey — 0 pts
31. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 0 pts
32. Katherine Legge — 0 pts
33. Takuma Sato — 0 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 406 pts
2. Team Penske — 387 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 346 pts
4. Andretti Global — 342 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 239 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 233 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 175 pts
8. Dale Coyne Racing — 169 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 160 pts
10. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 149 pts
(Unofficial calculation, updated through Round 6)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency