Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Team Penske Rated IndyCar’s Top Team at 2026 Midpoint
Team Penske has emerged as IndyCar’s strongest organization at the 2026 midpoint, according to RACER’s mid-season report card published June 17. Penske moved from third in 2025 to first in the midseason team rankings, with David Malukas third in points, Josef Newgarden sixth and Scott McLaughlin seventh after nine of 18 races. Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull graded his team a B, saying it is doing a really good job but there is room for improvement. Alex Palou sits at 342 points through nine races, down from 386 at the same stage in 2025, narrowing his cushion over second-place Kyle Kirkwood to 49 points.
Sources: RACER
Aero and Boost Tweaks Reshaped Strategy at Gateway
IndyCar mandated aerodynamic tweaks to reduce downforce and lowered turbocharger boost pressure for the June 7 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway, Frontstretch reported June 17. The 2026 pole speed fell almost six mph below 2025’s mark, and tire falloff proved less severe than in past years. The race produced 475 total passes, 268 of them for position, an event record. However, the reduced falloff blunted late-race strategy: despite fresh tires, Pato O’Ward, Will Power, Christian Lundgaard and Marcus Armstrong managed only a handful of late passes. There were no tire failures at the 1.25-mile oval.
Sources: Frontstretch
Arrow McLaren Leans on Road-Course Form at Road America
Arrow McLaren enters the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America carrying road-course momentum, the team said in its June 17 race preview. Through nine races the team has one win, 10 top-five finishes and three podiums, with Christian Lundgaard fourth and Pato O’Ward fifth in points. Lundgaard, who scored his win on the IMS road course, said the team has had its best races on road courses this season and called the weekend a chance to build momentum. O’Ward said Road America is a demanding, physical test where the team has had success. The 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course hosts round 10 of 18 on Sunday, June 21.
Sources: Arrow McLaren
Andretti Global Hunts First Road-Course Win of 2026
Andretti Global arrives at Road America hunting its first road-course win of 2026, the team said in its June 17 preview. Andretti comes off a strong Bommarito 500, where Marcus Ericsson finished second for his best result of the season and Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power both placed in the top eight. Kirkwood, second in points on 293, finished fourth at Road America last year, while Power won the 2016 race there. The team’s most recent natural road-course victory came via Alexander Rossi in 2019. Team principal Ron Ruzewski said the squad hopes to turn its recent test at the 4.014-mile circuit into results.
Sources: Andretti Global
Lundgaard Eyed as Palou’s Next Title Challenger
Christian Lundgaard could position himself as Alex Palou’s biggest championship challenger over the next two races, an Inside Line panelist noted in indycar.com’s June 17 column. Lundgaard sits fourth in points but owns five consecutive podium finishes on permanent road courses, having finished first at the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course and second at Barber Motorsports Park this season. The Danish driver has yet to crack the top five at Road America, where his best result is seventh. The series visits the 4-mile Wisconsin road course Sunday, June 21, a track type that has produced Lundgaard’s strongest 2026 results so far.
Sources: INDYCAR.com
Newgarden Brings Gateway Momentum to Road America
Josef Newgarden carries momentum into the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America after winning the June 7 Bommarito 500, FOX Sports noted in its June 16 odds preview, listing him at 10/1. The Team Penske driver claimed his sixth career win at World Wide Technology Raceway and his second of 2026, lifting him to sixth in the standings on 238 points. Newgarden owns two prior Road America victories. He is one of only two drivers, alongside Alex Palou, with multiple wins this season. Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin is listed at 10/1 as well for Sunday’s 10th round of the 18-race campaign.
Sources: FOX Sports
Drivers’ Championship
1. Alex Palou — 342 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 293 pts
3. David Malukas — 274 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 246 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 239 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 238 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 222 pts
8. Felix Rosenqvist — 221 pts
9. Marcus Ericsson — 196 pts
10. Marcus Armstrong — 196 pts
11. Graham Rahal — 193 pts
12. Scott Dixon — 192 pts
13. Rinus VeeKay — 175 pts
14. Alexander Rossi — 152 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 147 pts
16. Santino Ferrucci — 146 pts
17. Will Power — 145 pts
18. Dennis Hauger — 133 pts
19. Louis Foster — 131 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 117 pts
21. Nolan Siegel — 116 pts
22. Christian Rasmussen — 112 pts
23. Caio Collet — 99 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 89 pts
25. Mick Schumacher — 89 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel — 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 — 1010 pts
2. Team Penske — 879 pts
3. Andretti Global — 735 pts
4. Arrow McLaren — 507 pts
5. Rahal Letterman Lanigan — 344 pts
6. Meyer Shank Racing — 315 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 292 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 240 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Racing — 235 pts
10. Dale Coyne Racing — 19 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 5 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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