Andretti Global moves fast when the pieces fit. The team has assigned crew chiefs and race engineers for 2026, building around a core that carries over two thirds of its 2025 full time drivers. Kyle Kirkwood stays in the No. 27 Honda after a rock solid fourth in the championship, while Marcus Ericsson holds the No. 28 seat despite a tougher 20th place finish. The third slot remains fluid, but the technical backbone is set, giving newcomers a stable shop to plug into from day one.
Kirkwood's continuity feels like the anchor. His No. 27 crew chief slot goes to a veteran who knows Honda power inside out, paired with an engineer fresh from sim work that nailed Mid Ohio and Toronto setups. Ericsson gets a strategist minded chief who turned heads with late season ovals, the kind of brain that spots traffic gaps when others panic. Both cars lean on Andretti's Zionsville depth, shuffling talent from Indy NXT and IMSA to fill race engineer roles without big gaps. The approach screams preparation, not panic, after a 2025 that mixed highs with frustrating midfield days.
The third car is where eyes turn. With Kirkwood and Ericsson locked, Andretti hunts a rookie or journeyman to round out the trio, someone who gels with the crew chief already pencilled in. Whispers point to Colton Herta staying put or a surprise oval ace, but nothing sticks until testing shakes out. The real win lies in the shop. Andretti's assigned chiefs bring track time from Ganassi days and Rahal battles, while engineers cut teeth on hybrid debugging that saved Kirkwood's Nashville run. No more mid season shuffles; this is a unit wired to climb from P4 towards the front.
Changes hit the pit wall too. One crew chief swaps from a rival team mid 2025, bringing data hungry eyes that exposed setup flaws at Barber. Engineers rotate with Indy 500 experience, ensuring Ericsson's No. 28 shakes off its 20th place funk. Andretti talks openly about 2026 as a bridge to the IR28 chassis, using this year to stockpile aero tweaks and hybrid maps before the reset. Kirkwood eyes the title outright now, Ericsson chases consistency, and the third driver walks into a machine humming on all cylinders.
Nobody rebuilds like Andretti when it commits. The 2026 assignments lock continuity up front while sharpening the knife behind. Kirkwood's P4 proves the potential; Ericsson's retention buys redemption time. Add the right third piece and Ganassi feels the heat early. The crew chiefs and engineers make it real, turning paper plans into the kind of on track threat that defines IndyCar's top tier.
