Round 10 of the 2026 IndyCar season has been completed at Road America, view the full race report here.
For the fifth successive round, championship leader Alex Palou started on pole position, ahead of David Malukas who continues to impress in his Team Penske machine. MSR drivers Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist were on the second row of the grid, wirh Marcus Ericsson and Scott McLaughlin completing the top 6.
Pato O’Ward, Will Power, Scott Dixon and Christian Lundgaard filled spots 9-12 on the grid, showing the team and driver depth in the series these days. Nolan Siegel and Caio Collet looked to convert very strong qualifying performances into good results.
Second in points, Kyle Kirkwood needed a big comeback from P18 on the grid.
Green flag in 2026 IndyCar Road America race
Holding the lead comfortably off the start, it was all kicking off behind. Armstrong managed to pass Malukas before turn 1, with the #12 and Rosenqvist engaging in a great battle. The Swede had passed into turn 3, but Malukas got it back into turn 6.
Following contact with Dixon heading into the opening turn, Christian Lundgaard fell to the back as he pitted with a broken front wing.
Nursing that nasty injury from the Indy 500, Josef Newgarden was beaten up on the first lap as he fell to 23rd. Will Power also got wheels on the grass further up, dropping to 15th.
On lap 3, a huge send into turn 5 saw Marcus Ericsson pass Scott McLaughlin for 5th as the Team Penske cars in 3rd and 6th were struggling on reds.
Palou, Armstrong, Malukas, Rosenqvist, Ericsson, McLaughlin, Collet, O’Ward, Siegel and Dixon was the top 10 as lap 5 of 55 started.
For the second time in the early stages, the #12 and #60 had a fantastic battle, with Malukas defending superbly in turns 1 and 6. At the start of lap 12, the Indy 500 winner finally overtook the Penske man for 3rd.
Once more a Team Penske driver was on the defence as Scott McLaughlin had to fend off Caio Collet. The Brazilian passed into turn 5 but the #3 got the switchback. Then Pato O’Ward passed got the rookie on the run to Canada Corner.
The first caution appears
Palou, Armstrong, Malukas boxed at the end of lap 13. Romain Grosjean also did but his left rear tyre was not fitted properly, falling off at turn 5. That caused a caution.
Just before the yellows appeared, Felix Rosenqvist got into the pits and it allowed him to take the lead. Palou, Ericsson, Armstrong, O’Ward, Siegel, Malukas, McLaughlin, Rasmussen and Power completed the top 10 on the restart. The race leader was the only one on reds of those mentioned.
Collet (P18), Dixon, Ferrucci, VeeKay, Simpson and Schumacher got shafted by the caution, having to take emergency service and pit.
Race resumes on lap 20
Rosenqvist remained out front, with the top 10 staying the same. Rossi and Rahal made contact into turn 5 but continued on.
Dennis Hauger, who was 11th, had to pit because of a tyre going down. He had been overtaking by three cars before that.
Having ended up well down the order through the pit cycle, Lundgaard overtook Newgarden Collet, Foster, Rahal and Kirkwood to move up to P12.
Meanwhile, Rossi made moves on Rahal and a breathtaking one on Kirkwood to jump into 11th.
Despite strong attempts, Armstrong could not get by Ericsson for 3rd, and the same for Power against Rasmussen for P9.
Palou makes a big mistake
Pitting at the end of lap 28, Alex Palou sped in the pits, and had to serve a drive-through a lap later.
The 2026 IndyCar Road America race is transformed
Christian Rasmussen grinded to a halt on the home straight, bringing out a caution. With Armstrong and Malukas the only main runners to pit before it, they went P1 and P2. Former race leader Felix Rosenqvist had to wait and fell to 11th, ahead of Ericsson, Siegel and Lundgaard. Pato O’Ward took emergency service and was penalised.
Green flag on lap 33
Armstrong, Malukas, Rossi, Power, Rahal, Simpson, Foster, Palou, Grosjean and Schumacher was the top 10 on the restart.
A big lock-up from the German in the RLL saw him shove Grosjean off at turn 1. However, the Frenchman was not lying down. Racing Ericsson into turn 5, he shoved the Swede wide, with the #28 losing multiple spots.
Trying to pass Schumacher in the Carousel around the outside, Rosenqvist got on the marbles and tumbled down the pack, falling to 17th.
Debris brought another caution out.
Race resumes again
On lap 36, Palou passed Foster for 7th, with Lundgaard passing Grosjean for P9.
Having fended off the #10, Simpson overtook Power before turn 1. A lap later, the championship leader and the Australian engaged in a fierce fight, with the Spaniard eventually passing on the run to turn 5 thanks to P2P.
With 17 laps to go, Armstrong lead Malukas, Rossi, Rahal, Simpson, Palou, Power, Lundgaard, Siegel and Foster.
The final stops begin
Rossi, Simpson and Palou boxed with 14 laps to go. ECR had a poor stop, dropping behind both CGR cars. Almost all the other main runners then responded a lap later. Will Power overcut the #8 and #10.
Having extended and putting down stunning lap times, Christian Lundgaard rejoined in a net P2, but he had no chance of holding the #12 on cold tyres. Malukas bravely took a bit of grass to make the inevitable pass.
Once Newgarden and O’Ward pitted, Armstrong took the lead back, from Malukas, Lundgaard, Rahal, Power, Simpson, Palou, Rossi, McLaughlin and Siegel.
Now with the softs up to temperature, Lundgaard took P2 back with seven laps to go, pulling off the switchback on Malukas out of turn 5.
Heartbreak for Armstrong in 2026 IndyCar Road America race
Looking set for a first IndyCar victory, Marcus Armstrong saw his engine give up with four laps to go. A caution had to be thrown once more. Christian Lundgaard inherited the lead.
Last lap shootout
On the restart, Christian Lundgaard drove off and took a third career win, having dropped to last at the end of lap 1. Malukas was comfortable in 2nd. Behind that, it got wild.
Power passed Rahal for 3rd into turn 1 but then ran wide out of turn 8 and handed it back. With more P2P, the Aussie had a massive run down to Canada Corner. However, the #15 moved across and contact was made. The RLL driver went into the fence and was out.
Down at turn 5, Nolan Siegel was spun by Josef Newgarden and lost a top 10 finish. The #2 fell from P9 on the road to 22nd post-race.
Lundgaard, Malukas, Power, Simpson, Palou, Rossi, McLaughlin, Rosenqvist, Ferrucci and Kirkwood was the top 10.
