Sunday’s season finale at Laguna Seca wrapped up the 2026 NTT IndyCar Sequence season, with Scott McLaughlin snapping a 35-race winless drought and Alex Palou formally being topped champion for a fourth consecutive season.
With six months remaining till the 2027 IndyCar marketing campaign begins on March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., listed here are some early questions swirling across the 2027 season.
Can anybody cease Alex Palou…
Like Thanos, Palou has been inevitable over the previous 4 seasons. The five-time sequence champion and 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner gained six occasions this season and had 15 prime 10s in 18 races, successful the championship by 86 factors over Kyle Kirkwood.
Many pundits have pointed to IndyCar’s new race automotive in 2028 as a possibility for the sphere to lastly beat Palou, however that does not imply they will not be attempting to finest the Spaniard subsequent yr. Everybody within the IndyCar paddock had higher get to work instantly if they do not need to see Palou win a fifth straight Astor Cup subsequent season?
…and can or not it’s Kyle Kirkwood?
Kirkwood is the plain alternative because the potential villain who might upend Palou’s dynasty. The Jupiter, Fla., native gained twice this season and matched Palou with 15 prime 10s, although the championship was already determined forward of Sunday’s race at Laguna Seca.
If the No. 27 staff can discover a strategy to have a 4 or five-win season in 2027, beating Palou for the championship might grow to be very practical. Kirkwood has grow to be one in all IndyCar’s latest superstars and seems to have the very best shot at stopping Palou’s streak of titles.
How will Scott Dixon, Christian Lundgaard fare with their new groups?
After 25 years with Chip Ganassi Racing, Dixon, who had his first winless season since 2004 this yr, will transfer onto what could or will not be greener pastures at Arrow McLaren subsequent season. The 46-year-old wasn’t all that aggressive this season, although with a brand new group, he might be a darkish horse within the title race subsequent yr as he appears to be like for a seventh championship.
Alternatively, Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, who racked up two wins, 14 prime 10s and a third-place factors end this season, is but to announce his vacation spot for 2027, although he is the favourite to land Dixon’s previous trip at CGR, primarily finishing a driver swap between the 2 organizations. McLaren determined that Lundgaard’s efficiency on ovals leaves one thing to be desired, however he made strides in that division in the direction of the top of the season and will probably be within the championship hunt subsequent yr.
Can David Malukas lastly win a race?
David Malukas’ quest to win an IndyCar race hasn’t fairly been the odyssey that was Dale Earnhardt’s try to win the Daytona 500, however make no mistake about it, the Chicago native has been by hell and again in his wrestle to succeed in victory lane. From dropping the closest Indianapolis 500 in historical past to Felix Rosenqvist in Could to an engine concern that value him a win at Milwaukee final week, that elusive checkered flag is but to come back for Malukas.
The excellent news is that the 24-year-old nonetheless confirmed out in his debut season with Staff Penske, ending fifth within the standings with 9 prime fives and 13 prime 10s. He was even second within the standings for a portion of the season. All that is left for him to do is lastly win a race, which is proving to be a lot simpler mentioned than performed.
