Test Patterns: Mid-Ohio

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES summer sprint to the championship starts Sunday, July 5 with The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid, as there are eight races coming up in the next 10 weeks.

So, it’s only fitting that 14 drivers from six teams turned laps at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Tuesday, June 23 to prepare for that race and for the stretch run.

Andretti Global, Dale Coyne Racing, ECR, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian and Team Penske participated in the team test at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course near Columbus, Ohio.

It’s time for some itemized deductions.

Kirkwood Back on Track?

Kyle Kirkwood looked to be the toughest challenger to reigning series champion Alex Palou early this season, especially after his victory in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. That win in the third race of the season launched Kirkwood (photo, top) to the series lead, 26 points ahead of Palou.

But since then, Kirkwood has stumbled. He has led just five laps in the last seven races and is third in the standings, 61 points behind Palou.

So, it was a good sign for Andretti Global leader Kirkwood to lead the Mid-Ohio test with a best lap of 1 minute, 5.3542 seconds in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda.

Mid-Ohio hasn’t been a great track for Kirkwood, whose best finish there in four starts is eighth in 2024 and 2025. So, if he can continue this pace, he will have a better chance at keeping pace with or beating Palou, who has stood on the podium in all five previous starts with Chip Ganassi Racing at Mid-Ohio, including a victory in 2023.

VeeKay Heating Up

Rinus VeeKay has helped to elevate Juncos Hollinger Racing since joining the team this season, as he is 13th in the series standings. The best finish in the standings for the small team in its INDYCAR SERIES history was 16th by Callum Ilott in 2023.

VeeKay (photo, above) continued to excel at Mid-Ohio, as he ended up second with a best lap of 1:05.4130 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet. That was just .0588 of a second behind the quickest lap overall set by Kirkwood.

Dutchman VeeKay’s name is being mentioned more often as a driver who could climb to a bigger team next season, and this performance – and his strong season to date with JHR – won’t hurt.

Hauger Hurries Toward Top

Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year standings by 30 points over Caio Collet of AJ Foyt Enterprises and 41 points over Mick Schumacher of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. That lead could grow if Hauger’s test performance carries over to the race July 5.

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Hauger (photo, above) was third overall at 1:05.6703 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Honda. He won the INDY NXT race last year at Mid-Ohio, with Collet second.

Nasr Hops In for Newgarden

Team Penske had a quiet test, with Scott McLaughlin quickest among its three drivers in seventh overall at 1:06.0378 in the team’s No. 3 Chevrolet. David Malukas was 10th at 1:06.1060 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

But the powerhouse team still made news because Porsche Penske Motorsport sports car driver Felipe Nasr filled in for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and series champion Josef Newgarden in the No. 2 Chevrolet. Nasr was on standby at the race last weekend as a replacement for Newgarden (photo, above), who suffered a foot injury in a crash in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and who was still using crutches and a boot at Road America.

Former Formula One driver Nasr ended up 11th at 1:06.1614, just .0554 behind Malukas and .1236 behind McLaughlin. This isn’t the first time Nasr has tested for Team Penske, but he was on pace when compared to his teammates.