Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Thursday, June 4, 2026
IndyCar Officiating Loses Three-Decade Technical Chief ‘Rocket’ Blanch
Kevin “Rocket” Blanch, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES technical director for three decades, has left the series’ new independent IndyCar Officiating group, according to multiple sources. Blanch handled technical inspection, pit lane officiating, and other operational duties, and his loss represents a significant challenge for the organization with World Wide Technology Raceway race weekend approaching. Nick Allen — Colton Herta’s former Andretti Global crew chief — served as Blanch’s No. 2 and is expected to assume more responsibility. Blanch had been a central figure in last year’s Indy 500 qualifying controversy involving Team Penske’s modified attenuators, the incident that prompted the creation of independent officiating.
Sources: RACER
McLaughlin Clears Air With Power, Eyes Gateway Redemption
Scott McLaughlin has cleared the air with Andretti Global’s Will Power after contact in the Detroit Grand Prix left Power’s car with broken suspension and McLaughlin falling to 19th. “I hit the hybrid button, I just got a little loose, and then it put me wider, and I never got out of the gas. And I probably should have,” McLaughlin told RACER. McLaughlin’s last win was August 2024 at Milwaukee, and he heads to World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend with renewed optimism. “That track has always suited me,” he said. For the race, McLaughlin is running a throwback livery celebrating Helio Castroneves’ 2009 Indianapolis 500-winning Team Penske car.
Sources: RACER
Four Candidates Emerge for a First 2026 Win at Sunday Night’s Bommarito 500
IndyCar’s editorial staff gave four picks for a first 2026 winner Sunday at the 10th Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Curt Cavin backs ECR’s Christian Rasmussen, who won last year at Milwaukee and led 69 laps at Phoenix before race-ending contact. Eric Smith picks Team Penske’s David Malukas — WWTR is “arguably Malukas’ best track,” with a second-place finish in 2022 and a third in 2023. Arni Sribhen selects Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong, fifth among all drivers in oval points this season. Paul Kelly backs Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, who has finished second at WWTR four times without a win.
Sources: IndyCar.com
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 327 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 265 pts
3. David Malukas — 248 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 226 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 220 pts
6. Felix Rosenqvist — 205 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 192 pts
8. Josef Newgarden — 187 pts
9. Graham Rahal — 186 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 174 pts
11. Scott Dixon — 173 pts
12. Marcus Ericsson — 153 pts
13. Rinus VeeKay — 143 pts
14. Alexander Rossi — 140 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 138 pts
16. Santino Ferrucci — 129 pts
17. Dennis Hauger (R) — 128 pts
18. Will Power — 121 pts
19. Louis Foster — 121 pts
20. Nolan Siegel — 110 pts
21. Romain Grosjean — 102 pts
22. Caio Collet (R) — 90 pts
23. Sting Ray Robb — 78 pts
24. Christian Rasmussen — 76 pts
25. Mick Schumacher (R) — 75 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel (R) — 6 pts
30. Helio Castroneves — 5 pts
31. Ed Carpenter — 5 pts
32. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 5 pts
33. Katherine Legge — 5 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Chip Ganassi Racing — 542 pts
2. Team Penske — 510 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 468 pts
4. Andretti Global — 438 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 379 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 327 pts
7. Dale Coyne Racing — 230 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 221 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 219 pts
10. ECR — 216 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports — 5 pts
*Unofficial standings via OpenWheelWorld.net
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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