Today’s question: The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins next week, and there will be significant attention on Alex Palou’s bid for a fourth consecutive championship and Will Power’s high-profile move to Andretti Global, among other interesting storylines. But among the other drivers, who is one we shouldn’t be sleeping on to make noise during the 18-race season?

Curt Cavin: Given the bright spotlight on Palou and the excitement that follows Power’s move, just about every other driver falls in this category. It seems we all think Josef Newgarden will regain his form and Pato O’Ward will again challenge to earn a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy, so we should dig deeper on drivers we’re not talking much right now. Foremost among those is Scott McLaughlin (photo, top). After winning three races in 2024, the driver of Team Penske’s No. 3 Chevrolet didn’t reach victory lane last year, and there was no more disappointing moment than crashing out of the Indianapolis 500 on the pace lap. If Team Penske has its management structure in a good place, McLaughlin is going to have a more McLaughlin-like season, and don’t sleep on the fact Tim Cindric will be his race-weekend strategist. Wouldn’t it be something if the combination won Indy?! The “500” hasn’t statistically been McLaughlin’s best event, but I won’t be surprised if he’s in the hunt this year on Lap 200. And I see him again in the top five of the standings after finishing 10th last year.

Christian Lundgaard

Eric Smith: I think Christian Lundgaard is a massive sleeper. He finished a career-best fifth in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings last season, his first with Arrow McLaren. Lundgaard (photo, above) believes the team can keep Team Penske behind it and remain Chevrolet’s top organization. He also doesn’t expect Alex Palou to dominate the way he did a year ago. If those factors hold, Lundgaard suddenly looks like a legitimate championship contender. He scored six podium finishes in 17 starts last season -- a dramatic jump from his time at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, where he had just three podiums in 52 starts. The No. 7 Arrow McLaren entry itself had produced only four podiums in its previous 81 races before his arrival. The progression is obvious. The next step is turning those podiums into wins and sustaining a title fight deep into the season.

Rinus VeeKay

Arni Sribhen: Though I’m not trying to be a Juncos Hollinger Racing cheerleader, I feel like Rinus VeeKay (photo, above) is going to be a sleeper this season. I know, I used my space last week to highlight Juncos Hollinger Racing as a standout at the Sebring test, but I don't people are adding much weight to VeeKay and how he’s capable of elevating JHR as he did last season with Dale Coyne Racing.

Marcus Armstrong

Paul Kelly: This will be the breakthrough season for Marcus Armstrong. He finished a career-best eighth last season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, and I will be very surprised if he’s not in the top five with at least his first career victory in his firesuit pocket at the end of the 2026 season. Nothing I’ve seen in the preseason is changing my mind, either. Armstrong (photo, above) was quickest overall in both sessions he was on track Feb. 10-11 in a group test that included nearly every full-time driver at Sebring. Yesterday at Phoenix, Armstrong was sixth overall in his Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Combine that speed on varied circuits with MSR’s continued technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing, and it won’t surprise me in the slightest if Armstrong enters the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a mathematical chance to lift the Astor Cup. Remember, Alex Palou had exactly zero career victories before he broke through with his first title in 2021.