Note: This continues a series of 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES team previews on INDYCAR.com. The season starts Sunday, March 1 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (noon ET, FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Starting Lineup: Alexander Rossi (No. 20 Java House Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet), Ed Carpenter (No. 33 Chevrolet, Indianapolis 500 only).

2025 in Review: The Indianapolis-based team scored its ninth career victory and its first since Rinus VeeKay in 2021 when Rasmussen charged through the field late in the race at the Milwaukee Mile. He led the final 16 laps. The win was the first for Rasmussen, the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion. That finish was one of seven in the top 10 for the Danish driver, who had a particularly strong season on the oval tracks. Rasmussen’s first top-10 finish came in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge when he placed sixth after leading eight laps. He scored his first podium finish with a third-place effort at World Wide Technology Raceway and added sixth- and eighth-place finishes in the Iowa Speedway doubleheader. Rasmussen also led 21 laps in the Detroit street race and finished ninth at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Overall, he didn’t qualify particularly well, with a ninth-place starting position in Milwaukee his best. On average, he finished three positions higher than he started during the season, and the discrepancy would have been higher if not for finishing last in the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway after crashing in Turn 2 on the opening lap. The highlight of Rossi’s season was a string of three top-10 finishes to end the year. He finished fifth in Portland, fourth in Milwaukee and 10th at Nashville. His other four top-10 finishes were at St. Petersburg (10th), The Thermal Club (ninth) and Barber Motorsports Park (eighth). Mechanical failure ended his Indy run after 73 laps. Carpenter drove in the “500” for the 22nd time, finishing 15th.

New for ’26: Expectations are on the rise after the team won its first race in more than five years. Rasmussen and Rossi (photo, below) finished 13th and 15th in last year’s season standings, respectively, and given the recent investments made by new partner Ted Gelov, the sense is that either or both drivers can strive for a top-10 standing this year. Given how well Rasmussen performed on ovals last year, another such victory will be the goal.

Keep an Eye on This: In the journey to reaching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Rasmussen tracked similarly to Kyle Kirkwood, and those similarities continue at this level. Both drivers won a series race in their second season, Kirkwood in his 20th start, Rasmussen in his 30th. Both drivers statistically led their teams last season. Kirkwood now has five career series wins, and he finished fourth in last year’s standings. Can Rasmussen continue to follow Kirkwood’s lead?

Little-Known Fact(s): At Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year, Carpenter made the 22nd start of his “500” career, tying Tony Kanaan and George Snider for eighth place all-time. Carpenter and Snider have the most starts in the event among non-winners. Carpenter led a lap in last year’s race, giving him 150 laps led for his Indy career. He is one of 41 drivers (of 800) to have led as many in the event over the years.

Alexander Rossi