Schumacher's Short Start at Long Beach IndyCar Race

Mechanical issues sidelined the rookie driver early in Friday practice.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an IndyCar race in a fractured, multi-perspective style, with sharp planes of bright racing colors and no recognizable elements.A rookie driver's early mechanical troubles expose the complex challenges of adapting to the demands of IndyCar racing.Long Beach Today

Mick Schumacher's debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was cut short on Friday when his No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda encountered engine problems on the first lap of practice, forcing him to stop on track and bring out a red flag. The crew was able to push the car back to the paddock, but Schumacher missed the rest of the session and will now have to play catch-up for the rest of the weekend as the only driver who didn't get to learn the track or test the alternate tires.

Why it matters

As an IndyCar rookie, Schumacher was already facing a steep learning curve at the iconic Long Beach street circuit. The early mechanical issue has put him at a significant disadvantage compared to the rest of the field, who were able to get valuable track time and tire data during the opening practice session.

The details

Schumacher reported something felt 'weird' on his car after the first lap of practice, and it soon became clear there was an engine issue that forced him to stop on track. The RLL crew was able to push the car back to the paddock, but they had to immediately start work on an engine change, causing Schumacher to miss the rest of the session. This means he will be the only driver this weekend who didn't get to learn the Long Beach circuit or test Firestone's alternate tires, which are only available during Friday practice.

  • On the first lap of Friday's practice session, Schumacher reported an issue with his car.
  • Schumacher's car then stopped on track, bringing out a red flag.

The players

Mick Schumacher

A rookie driver in the IndyCar series, competing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

The IndyCar team that fields Schumacher's No. 47 car.

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What they’re saying

“On the first lap I told them team that something felt weird. We ran another lap and then the car just stopped.”

— Mick Schumacher, Driver

What’s next

Schumacher and the RLL crew will need to work quickly to get the car repaired and ready for the rest of the weekend's on-track activities, as the rookie driver tries to make up for the lost practice time.

The takeaway

This early setback for Schumacher highlights the challenges of being a rookie in IndyCar, especially at a demanding street course like Long Beach. The team will need to maximize the limited track time remaining to get Schumacher up to speed and give him the best chance of a strong result.