Inside Line: Biggest Driver Leap in 2026 Standings?

Today’s question: What full-time 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver will take the biggest leap in the standings in 2026?

Curt Cavin: While I could see Christian Lundgaard vaulting from fifth to the championship, I think Will Power (photo, above, right) will statistically make a larger year-over-year standings improvement. Power was ninth last year for Team Penske, and while a title run with Andretti Global would be fun to watch, I think his ceiling is third place with two race wins. That would give him a gain of six spots, enough to take this honor. A darkhorse: Kyffin Simpson. He was 17th last year. Keep an eye on that one.

Eric Smith: I’ll agree with Curt and believe Lundgaard and Power will make jumps. However, I’ll take Scott McLaughlin (photo, above). While he finished 10th in points last season and doesn’t have a massive gap to close, I firmly believe McLaughlin is a legitimate championship contender. Team Penske went through a rash of midseason changes last year, and by season’s end, the organization was firing on all cylinders, winning two of the final three races. McLaughlin closed the year with five top-10 finishes in the final seven races, including a four-race streak and finished third in each of the final two events. He was third in the championship in both 2023 and 2024 and fourth in 2022. I believe McLaughlin will challenge Alex Palou for the title and climb at least seven positions in the standings, earning a top-three points finish.

Arni Sribhen: This might be a make-or-break season for a couple of young drivers with high potential but limited return on the investment put into them so far. Both Kyffin Simpson and Nolan Siegel (photo, above) just turned 21 and drive for top NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams. But when you have teammates who routinely contend for race wins and podiums, you have to start matching them before the bosses find someone who can. Simpson has shown he has the car and the talent to do the same but needs to find the metronomic consistency of teammates Alex Palou and Scott Dixon to work his way up the points table from 17th. Siegel was the hand-picked driver of Team Principal Tony Kanaan but has yet to consistently showcase the talent that earned him his ride. Should Siegel match his race-winning teammates’ success, even just a little bit, he should move up from 21st in the standings. A little progress can go a long way for both of them.

Paul Kelly: It almost must be Marcus Ericsson (photo, top), doesn’t it? Ericsson’s first two seasons at Andretti Global have not gone to plan, as he finished 15th in his first season with the team in 2024 and regressed to 20th last season. Ericsson finished sixth in each of his last three seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing from 2021-23, so the talent and experience are there. Like Ganassi, Andretti has excellent equipment and a crack technical staff, so Ericsson has nowhere to hide this season. A very motivated new teammate Will Power figures to be in the thick of contention for a championship and race victories, and Kyle Kirkwood looks poised to build upon his career-high three wins and fourth-place finish in the standings in 2025. A jump of at least 10 places into the top 10 at the end of the 2026 season might be what Ericsson needs to get another contract from Andretti. If not, he may be looking for a new home for 2027.