Can Kirkwood and Ericsson Finally Steer Andretti Back to Victory Lane by '26?

Andretti Aims for Consistency: Kirkwood and Ericsson Target 2026 Turnaround

Andretti Global is setting its sights on a return to its former glory in the INDYCAR series, with drivers Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson leading the charge to address inconsistencies that plagued the team throughout the 2025 season. Both drivers are spending the off-season meticulously analyzing their performance, pinpointing areas for improvement ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Can Kirkwood and Ericsson Finally Steer Andretti B...

Kirkwood, despite securing three impressive victories, including wins at Long Beach, Detroit, and Gateway, experienced a noticeable dip in performance during the latter half of the season. After a strong start that saw him consistently in the top five, Kirkwood failed to replicate that success in the final seven races. "We looked to be fighting for the championship, and a lot of good things were coming our way," Kirkwood admitted, "But I would say that that kind of deteriorated as the season went on. It was up and down."

Ericsson, meanwhile, struggled to find consistent

Ericsson, meanwhile, struggled to find consistent form, with a best finish of fifth and only three races where he improved upon his starting position. Even a near-victory at the Indy 500 was marred by a technical infraction, pushing him to the back of the field. The Swedish driver expressed bewilderment at the team's race execution, a stark contrast to his previous strengths in both INDYCAR and Formula 1. "We need to focus on for next year on how can we execute races better," Ericsson stated. "It's been a bit of a mystery because all my career, even back in my F1 days, my race craft and race execution was always my biggest strength."

A key area of focus for Andretti is improving their performance on permanent road courses and ovals, where Kirkwood believes the team has lost some of its edge. "I don’t know where the pace has quite gone [on road courses], but that used to be something that Andretti was phenomenal at," he explained. "I think over the past couple of years, it’s gone away a little bit. We’re really going to be honing in on that."

To bolster their efforts, Andretti has brought in Ron Ruzewski, formerly of Team Penske, as chief performance officer. The team also anticipates a boost from the arrival of Will Power, hoping he can bring valuable insights from his successful tenure at Team Penske. Despite a minor on-track incident between Power and Kirkwood, the two drivers share a strong rapport. "Him and I get along super well," Kirkwood clarified. "It will be great to have him on board to show us his discipline and what philosophy he has on what makes a fast race car. We’ll learn off him."

With a renewed focus on consistency and execution, coupled with strategic additions to the team, Andretti Global is determined to recapture its status as a dominant force in INDYCAR racing in 2026.