Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Prepares for 2026 IndyCar Season

Team adds experienced leadership and new driver Mick Schumacher as it aims to build on recent road course success.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 2:47pm

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Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) is gearing up for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series, which begins on March 1 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The team's driver lineup includes Graham Rahal, Louis Foster, and new addition Mick Schumacher. RLL is coming off a strong 2025 season, particularly on road courses, and has bolstered its leadership with the additions of engineer Gavin Ward, executive Brian Barnhart, and pit stop manager Kyle Sagan.

Why it matters

RLL has established itself as a top road course team in recent years, with consistent success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The team's ability to contend for wins on road and street courses will be crucial in the 2026 season as IndyCar continues to feature more of these event types. The addition of Mick Schumacher and experienced leadership also signals RLL's ambition to challenge for the championship.

The details

In 2025, Graham Rahal delivered several strong performances, including a sixth-place finish at the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course where he led 49 of 85 laps. Rookie Louis Foster also impressed, winning the NTT P1 Award at Road America and earning a Firestone Fast Six qualifying spot at Mid-Ohio. For 2026, Mick Schumacher replaces Devlin DeFrancesco in the No. 47 Honda, while RLL has added engineer Gavin Ward, executive Brian Barnhart, and pit stop manager Kyle Sagan to bolster the team's operations.

  • The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series kicks off on Sunday, March 1, at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
  • In 2025, Graham Rahal finished 19th in the overall IndyCar standings.

The players

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

An American professional auto racing team that competes in the NTT IndyCar Series.

Graham Rahal

A veteran IndyCar driver who has been with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing since 2013.

Louis Foster

A rookie IndyCar driver who joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2025 and was named Rookie of the Year.

Mick Schumacher

A new addition to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2026 season, previously competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Gavin Ward

An experienced motorsport engineer who has joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as a special advisor.

Brian Barnhart

A seasoned motorsport executive who has joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as senior vice president of operations.

Kyle Sagan

The new pit stop manager for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

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What they’re saying

“It's not even open for debate that the IMS road course has been RLL's best track in recent years.”

— Jay Frye, Team President

“Barnhart will serve as Rahal's strategist on race weekends.”

— Jay Frye, Team President

What’s next

The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season will kick off on March 1 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will look to build on its recent road course success.

The takeaway

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has positioned itself as a team to watch in the 2026 IndyCar season, with a strong driver lineup, experienced leadership additions, and a proven track record of success on road courses. The team's ability to contend for wins on a variety of circuit types will be crucial as the series continues to evolve.