Before Christian Rasmussen earned his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory Aug. 24 in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, Ed Carpenter Racing hadn’t celebrated a win since 2021, when Rinus VeeKay triumphed on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

That gap between wins and a difficult showing in last May’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course, where Rasmussen qualified and finished 19th and Alexander Rossi started ninth and finished 14th, motivated the team to take advantage of a test day Oct. 13 on the IMS road course.

“We didn’t have the best weekend here this year,” Rasmussen said. “Just because you were quick in 2021 doesn’t mean you’re still quick now. You have to keep developing. We’re trying to figure out where to go next, whether the direction we’ve been heading in is still right and improve as much as possible.”

Rasmussen and Rossi (photo, above) were among seven drivers representing six teams participating in the test. Also on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course were Dennis Hauger (Dale Coyne Racing), Lochie Hughes (Andretti Global), James Roe (Juncos Hollinger Racing), Caio Collet (A.J. Foyt Enterprises) and Mick Schumacher (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing).

“It’s important,” Rossi said. “We had the option to go to here, Mid-Ohio or Laguna (Seca) and felt we’d come here because of the weather perspective. Plus, we’ve got a pretty big list not only from our side, but also from the GM (General Motors) side, as well, working on some various parts of that package.”

The conditions Monday closely resembled those during May’s Sonsio Grand Prix, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s -- ideal for gathering relevant data. In contrast, testing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in October wouldn’t reflect the summer conditions expected for next year’s race July 5.

Plus, the team didn’t want to squander the end-of-season momentum built with Rasmussen’s maiden victory and Rossi securing two top-five finishes in the final three races. A test day allowed that camaraderie to continue.

That performance and mental lift, plus the investment by Indianapolis businessman Ted Gelov -- owner of Heartland Food Products Group – by becoming co-owner of the team entering last season, significantly shifted ECR’s trajectory in 2025 and beyond.

“2026 is going to be very telling in terms of where we can go as a team,” Rasmussen said. “We’ve had great partners this year and strong development opportunities. It’ll be exciting to see what that translates to on track next year.”

Lochie Hughes

Roe, Hughes Balance INDYCAR Debut With Development Goals

Roe and Hughes both turned their first laps in INDYCAR SERIES machinery during Monday’s test.

Irishman Roe drove the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, while Australian Hughes was behind the wheel of the No. 98 Andretti Global Honda (photo, above). The two were Andretti Global teammates last season in INDY NXT by Firestone, as Hughes is set to return to the team in 2026. Roe remains a free agent and is seeking a ride.

Both had to strike a balance between learning the car and contributing to their teams’ development programs for a test day.

“We have a lot of stuff the team wants to get through,” Hughes said. “To do that, I need to be comfortable and able to drive the car properly.”

Hughes pointed out that the most noticeable difference between the INDY NXT car and the INDYCAR SERIES machinery is braking and overall weight.

An INDY NXT machine weighs 1,410-1,430 pounds (excluding fuel and driver). An INDYCAR SERIES car tips the scales at around 1,700 pounds on road and street courses.

“It just feels heavy,” he said. “It’s a different sensation. The aeroscreen makes everything quieter, too.”

Roe, meanwhile, was thrilled to turn laps at IMS while also keen to make an impression. He has raced full time in INDY NXT since 2023 after a partial season in 2022.

“Obviously, being at Indianapolis, it’s a dream place to do it,” Roe said. “The biggest thing right away is braking, the car’s weight, the power, the balance, it’s all different. It’s a big test for the team with a lot to try. I’m not just driving around; I hope I can help move the program forward. I’m just smiling ear to ear out there.”

Roe’s Path to Test: Mike Hull’s Mentorship

Roe’s opportunity to test for Juncos Hollinger came through a connection with Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull.

Though Hull didn’t directly reach out to team owners Ricardo Juncos or Brad Hollinger, his guidance helped point Roe in their direction.

“I went to Mike Hull for advice a few weeks ago, and we started mapping some things out,” Roe said. “He gave me direction, what I should and shouldn’t be doing, and I listened.”

Roe and Hull are an unlikely connection that sparked due to Roe’s outgoing personality.

“Just walked up to him in the paddock,” Roe said. “When you think of people in INDYCAR who are respected and who’ve done so much, he’s at the top of the list. He’s known for helping a lot of drivers. He’s big on giving back, and I made it a point to pick his brain.

“Very quickly, it became clear why they (Chip Ganassi Racing) win so much: Mike is logical and precise. I followed his advice. And here we are.”

Hull joined Chip Ganassi Racing in 1992 and has played a pivotal role in the team winning 17 series championships, all since 1996.

Dennis Hauger

Hauger Feeling Right at Home

Hauger (photo, above) also took part in the IMS test and is finding comfort in each outing in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing entry, which he will drive full time as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie in 2026.

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Hauger made his INDYCAR SERIES testing debut Oct. 1 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. While he was quick that day, he also crashed twice.

“The biggest thing is getting more and more comfortable with the car and building chemistry with the team,” Hauger said. “Mid-Ohio had an incident, which wasn’t ideal, but overall the car feels natural to me.”

Despite the hiccups, Hauger said the transition from INDY NXT has been smoother than expected, with similar techniques learned during his six-win championship season in the INDYCAR development series applying to the next level.

“The driving style carries over, which helps,” he said. “But the hybrid system, carbon brakes, weight and power, those are the biggest differences. I’m just building up to it gradually and trying to dial in the small details.”

While he may have pushed too far at Mid-Ohio, the layout and large runoff areas of the IMS road course provided him with confidence to continue exploring the limits.

“This track is great for pushing limits,” he said. “There’s room to experiment without too much risk. Overall, I’m happy.”

Mick Schumacher

Odds and Ends

  • No times and speeds were released from the private team test, but various media and social media reports indicated Hauger led in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Rossi was reported as second, less than a tenth of a second behind Hauger. Schumacher (photo, above) was third, two-tenths of a second behind Hauger.
  • Rasmussen noted 2026 will mark the first time in his career he returns to the same car for a third consecutive season. The Danish driver said he always climbed to another series while climbing the open-wheel racing ladder system.
  • Hughes tested in a sleek black-and-white No. 98 Honda with TWG branding instead of traditional Andretti Global livery. Andretti Global was placed under the umbrella of TWG Motorsports last season, part of a new division launched by team owners TWG Global.
  • Collet tested the No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet for the second time this month. He also tested Oct. 1 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The seat remains open following David Malukas’s move to Team Penske.
  • Monday’s test also served as a networking opportunity for drivers seeking 2026 rides. 2023 INDY NXT champion and 2024 INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist, as well as 2025 INDYCAR SERIES rookie Jacob Abel, were on site speaking with team personnel.
  • Schumacher’s mother, Corinna, was an interested observer of her son’s first NTT INDYCAR SERIES test Monday at IMS. Corinna Schumacher owns the XCS Ranch in Gordonville, Texas, a premier reining horse facility. Mick Schumacher’s mother and sister, Gina, are world-class equestrian competitors, breeders and trainers. Schumacher’s father, Michael Schumacher, won seven Formula One World Championships and the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis five times.
  • Mick Schumacher also played golf Sunday at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course at IMS, which includes four holes inside the world-famous 2.5-mile oval.