Today’s question: The second half of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts this weekend with the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR. What are you paying closest attention to this weekend?

Curt Cavin: Isn’t it about time Pato O’Ward asserted himself? Yes, the driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet (photo, top) is fifth in the standings, eight points closer to Alex Palou than he was a year ago after nine races. But here are two stunning facts: Last year’s series runner-up still doesn’t have a top-three finish, much less a race win, and all 19 of his laps led have come on two oval tracks. Meanwhile, teammate Christian Lundgaard has a race win among his three podium finishes and has led five races. In spite of all that, Lundgaard has only seven points more than O’Ward, but there’s no disputing that Lundgaard has been more of a factor this season.

Christian Lundgaard

Eric Smith: I’m watching Christian Lundgaard. The Arrow McLaren driver (photo, above) sits fourth in points, but the next two races could position him as Alex Palou’s biggest challenger. Lundgaard has finished first (Sonsio Grand Prix) and second (Barber Motorsports Park) on the series’ two permanent road courses this season and owns five consecutive podium finishes on that track type. He followed his Road America race last year with a third-place finish at Mid-Ohio, and while his best result at Road America is seventh, his current form suggests that could change this weekend. Don’t be surprised if Lundgaard leaves Mid-Ohio sitting second in the championship if this weekend sparks a second-half surge.

Alex Palou

Arni Sribhen: In between watching World Cup matches this weekend (multiview screens for the win!), I’ll be focusing on Chip Ganassi Racing. Did you know that CGR has won more than any team at America’s National Park of Speed, with eight wins since 1997? CGR has won five of the last seven races at Road America, including three of the last five with Alex Palou (photo, above). It’s easy to suggest that Palou can win again in Elkhart Lake, and it would be a historic win for the Spaniard. A win – a fourth at Road America since 2021 – would be his 24th career win, tying him with Ralph De Palma and Bobby Rahal for 18th all-time, and his 50th INDYCAR SERIES podium, where he’d become just the 22nd driver to achieve that feat. So, if it’s Palou’s to lose, he may as well make history.

Nikita Johnson

Paul Kelly: I’ll let Curt, Eric and Arni pay close attention to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES: I’m looking at the raging INDY NXT by Firestone championship race. We’re through eight of 17 races for the INDYCAR development series this season – basically halfway – and just 27 points separate the top four drivers. Heck, just five points separate the top three. To review, Nikita Johnson (photo, above) leads Enzo Fittipaldi by two points, Tymek Kucharczyk by five and Max Taylor by 27. The series has conducted four permanent road course races this season, with a different winner in each – Johnson (Barber 1), Alessandro de Tullio (Barber 2), Fittipaldi (IMS Road Course 1) and Kucharczyk (IMS Road Course 2). So, who knows who is the favorite with that track record and in standings this tight at the top? But this is shaping up to be the most competitive INDY NXT season in years. The last time the series runner-up ended the season within a race’s worth of points of the champion was in 2021, when Kyle Kirkwood edged David Malukas by 13 points. The last time less than a race’s worth of points separated the top four was 2017, when champion Kyle Kaiser was 51 ahead of fourth-place Matheus Leist. Give me more of this, please.