ADVENT CALENDAR DOOR 5 – Title number five? Can Andretti win their first title since 2012?

Andretti is one of the most famous names in motorsport and also one of the most well respected and competitive teams in the NTT IndyCar Series. However, the team hasn’t won an Indycar championship since 2012 when Ryan Hunter Reay won the championship by just three points ahead of Will Power.

The team previously won the championship in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Can the team finally return to championship winning form in 2026?

What has gone wrong since 2012?

The team is still one of the front runners in Indycar, winning countless races since the 2012 season, but hasn’t been able to take the outright honours in the championship since.

They have been able to provide at least one driver inside the top ten of the championship standings since then. Their best results being in 2018 and 2019 when Alexander Rossi finished in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Also in 2024 where Colton Herta finished 2nd. In all three years their drivers missed out on the championship by somewhere between thirty and sixty points.

However, in the same time they also had serval times where they didn’t have a driver inside the top five of the standings. In 2016 and 2023 they only just had one driver inside the top ten.

The team has produced serval solid championship contenders over the years, but has always just fallen short, illustrating the highly competitive nature of the Indycar series. The team has also always had the expectation that comes with the Andretti name that no doubt brings added pressure.

Furthermore, there is sometimes the added complexity of teammate rivalry. For example, as seen with the clashes seen with Alexander Rossi and Romain Grosjean in 2022 which undoubtedly held the team back.

Recently, there has also been the development of the Andretti/Cadillac Formula One entry which has led to Michael Andretti leaving the team and saw it rebranded to Andretti Global as it was purchased by TWG Motorsports.

Motorsports is always a highly complex and political world, and sometimes just a right place, right time world in terms of success.

All of which have played a part in Andretti’s lack of championships since 2012, but the team continues to perform at a higher level and with the recent restructuring at the team it may provide the necessary motivation and foundation for the team to take the next step and finally win its first Indycar title since 2012.

2026 title hopes?

A refreshed driver line up for 2026 may bring a rejuvenated energy to their title hopes next year. Kyle Kirkwood continues in the No.27 car, along with Marcus Ericsson in the No.28.

Colton Herta departs for FIA Formula 2 with Hitech in conjunction with the Cadillac F1 team as he chases his dream of driving in Formula One. He will also serve as the teams reserve driver next year in F1.

He will be replaced by two time Indycar champion, Will Power next year after he departed Team Penske at the end of the 2025 season.

All three drivers will hope to fight for the 2026 title, but can any of them pose as a realistic championship contender next year?

Kyle Kirkwood was Andretti’s highest finishing driver last season, finishing fourth in the standings. The Floridian took wins at Long Beach, Detroit and Gateway. Only Alex Palou won more races. Next year will mark Kirkwood’s fifth year in Indycar, and every year he has improved his championship finish.

Therefore, a top three finish or even winning the championship must be the goal for Andretti and Kirkwood. Kyle was one of only a handful of drivers that were able to challenge Palou on some degree last year, winning on both oval and circuit racing tracks.

He without a doubt is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, his Road to Indy record is outstanding and he may be Andretti’s best shot at championship contention next year if he and the team can hit the ground running.

Marcus Ericsson joined Andretti for the 2024 season, and its been massively disappointing so far. A 15th place finish in 2024 was an uncharacteristic result for the former Formula One driver. 2025 was even worse for the Swedish driver as he finished a lowly 20th.

His years at Andretti have only included one podium finish. Before joining the team he had a rather successful F1 career and previously raced for Chip Ganassi Racing in Indycar, which included multiple top ten finishes in the championship.

The highlight of course was his 2022 Indy 500 win and then narrowly missing out the following year as he finished second in the 500 mile race. Ericsson is without a doubt a talented driver, you wouldn’t get to F1 if you weren’t, but for some reason it hasn’t worked out the last few years.

He must return to form next year or he may lose his seat. Andretti prospect and reigning Indy NXT champion, Dennis Hauger, makes his Indycar debut next year with Dale Coyne and if Ericsson is lacklustre again he may have to make way for Hauger.

However, if Ericsson can find his best driving ability once again there is no reason he couldn’t challenge for wins and the championship for Andretti, but it’s going to be an important year for him.

Will Power joins the team after leaving Team Penske, a team which he’s been with since 2009. Power is a former two time Indycar champion and was Penske’s highest finishing driver last year.

Power is the only driver who has actually been able to beat Ganassi’s Alex Palou in the championship in recent years. If Power can find that form again in a new and refreshed environment at Andretti Global there is no reason why he can’t be a championship challenger.

Penske didn’t perform last year, so with his new equipment Power should be reenergised to be up the front.

Can they end the Ganassi/Palou dominance?

2026 is going to be crucial year for Andretti Global. Someone needs to take the challenge to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing after the dominance the pair showed last year, and Andretti should aim to be the team to do so.

All three of its drivers have the capabilities to be championship contenders, with a former champion, former F1 driver and one of the best young drivers on the grid.

With the added investment from TWG Motorsports expectations will be high for the team, but they could finally win their fifth drivers title next year.

Do you think Andretti can be championship contenders next year? If so which of their drivers can be the one to end Palou’s dominance?

written by Michael Williams / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment