Inside Line: Content Days Points of Interest?

Today’s question: What caught your eyes or ears as interesting this week during NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis?

Curt Cavin: It’s an easy one for me. It’s Josef Newgarden’s response to a media question about his future. He was specifically asked about remaining with Team Penske, and he went all Bill Belichick on the assembled group. “I’m just focused on the next task,” he said. “Right now, for me, that’s St. Petersburg. That’s my focus.” That was it. Look, this wasn’t a surprise question as everyone knew it was coming as he enters a contract year. Newgarden knew what he was going to say, and unlike nearly all of his answers since joining the team in 2017, it didn’t include heaping praise on the 2 crew or the organization as a whole. Does that mean he is leaving Team Penske or even considering it? No. But it did affirm that this will be the interesting story we thought it would be.

Eric Smith: My main takeaway was how confident Christian Lundgaard appears to be. It’s no secret that how Team Penske rebounds from a disappointing 2025 season is one of the primary storylines heading into 2026. Another is whether anyone can stop Alex Palou from winning a fourth consecutive championship. Lundgaard believes he can finish ahead of both narratives. He emphatically sees no reason why Arrow McLaren should be overtaken by Team Penske in 2026, and he also doesn’t believe Palou will replicate the season he just had. Lundgaard added he feels Arrow McLaren worked harder than anyone else this offseason, positioning him as a legitimate championship front-runner.

Arni Sribhen: Throughout the two days of Content Days press conferences, Alex Palou (photo, above) was on the minds of a lot of the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock. Some drivers would say his name, others wouldn’t, but outside of winning the championship or the Indianapolis 500, it seemed a third major goal is beating the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. As for Palou, the feeling is mutual. When asked what was on his mind, he said, “No one in particular, but at the same time, everyone.”