Note: This series gathers the Inside Line panel to discuss the major storyline surrounding each NTT INDYCAR SERIES team entering the 2026 season. An installment on each team will appear at INDYCAR.com on Fridays.
Curt Cavin: My eye will be on Santino Ferrucci, who didn’t have the results last year that he had in 2024. Sometimes those things happen, and luck has a lot to do with it. But I often wondered last year if the presence of David Malukas had something to do with it. We know now that Malukas was on a one-year stop at AJ Foyt Racing on his way to Team Penske, so did that have an impact on Ferrucci and his program? At least to begin this year, Ferrucci will be back to being the team’s undisputed veteran, a role he had in the two seasons prior to Malukas’ arrival. I hope that’s part of what propels him because the sport is fascinating when Ferrucci and the team’s No. 14 car are consistently in contention. This is a good time to note that Ferrucci has finished in the top 10 at Indy each of his seven seasons with a couple of near-wins, and the sight of a Foyt car in Victory Lane would be extremely popular, especially in the patriotic livery of Homes For Our Troops (photo, above) amid this country’s 250th-year celebration.
Eric Smith: Caio Collet is especially intriguing. When we first met him during INDY NXT by Firestone content days in 2024, I said he reminded me of a young Juan Montoya, a humble driver but undeniably fast. So far, he’s validated that impression. In 28 INDY NXT starts, Collet (photo, above) produced four wins, four poles, 16 podiums and 21 top-five finishes. He steps into a ride that excelled on ovals last season. David Malukas thrived on circle tracks, averaging a 10.6 finish and earning second-place starts at Milwaukee and Nashville, along with a runner-up finish in the Indianapolis 500. Collet, however, brings the opposite profile: All four of his wins came on natural road courses. The question is whether both sides can elevate each other. Can the team help Collet find confidence and speed on ovals? And can Collet, in turn, help the program take a step forward on road and street circuits? If both happen, this pairing could become one of the most balanced and dangerous rookie combinations on the grid.
Paul Kelly: The resurrection of the Foyt team from the back of the grid to one of the strongest midfield runners since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES exited the global pandemic is one of the most uplifting stories in the series, whether it’s because of Larry Foyt’s leadership, Marlyne Sexton’s loyal funding, the continued solid performance of team veteran Santino Ferrucci or the technical alliance with Team Penske. But it’s time for the team owned by the legendary Super Tex to take the next step. Podiums and even top fives are nice, but I’m watching this season to see if the Foyt team can earn its first series victory since Takuma Sato won in 2013 at Long Beach (photo, above). Santino Ferrucci is definitely capable, especially on ovals. And how cool would it be to see A.J.’s team return to the winner’s circle at Indianapolis, the race that made Super Tex a global icon? I wouldn’t sleep on rookie Caio Collet, either. He showed tenacity and skill while chasing Dennis Hauger in the INDY NXT by Firestone standings during the second half of last season and seems to have the same quiet, cerebral approach as a fellow Brazilian, the great Gil de Ferran. A Foyt victory may seem like a wish more than a reality to some, but not me. After all, did anyone have Christian Rasmussen winning a race on their dance card for 2025? I didn’t.
