Andretti global rides wave of momentum after Markham, D.C. wins

Here's the thing: Andretti Global might be arriving fashionably late to the 2026 party, but what a terrifyingly fast entrance they are making right now. Kyle Kirkwood took top honors at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. last Sunday, following right on the heels of Marcus Ericsson capturing the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham a week prior. And who was right there keeping them honest every step of the way? Will Power, quietly hammering home a pair of third-place finishes in both races.

Now, let us talk about the stakes. Kirkwood sits second in the championship entering the final three races, though he is facing a steep 91-point deficit to Alex Palou. Two of those remaining showdowns go down this very weekend at the Milwaukee Mile with the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 on Saturday and the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on Sunday, with the season finale waiting on Sunday, Sept. 6, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Ericsson holds seventh in the standings 192 points back, and Power rests 10th at 225 points behind. Both have been mathematically eliminated from the title fight, but nobody in the paddock wants to race this trio right now.

“It starts with the engineering group,” Kirkwood explained. “They have done a phenomenal job all this season, whether it's street courses, road courses, ovals. We've elevated the game, our game, exponentially.”

That engineering prowess, paired with some major offseason shake-ups, has unlocked something wild in these machines. Team Principal Ron Ruzewski walked over to the squad last offseason after spending 21 years with Team Penske, where he climbed from race engineer to managing director and captured three Indianapolis 500 wins plus two series championships. Power made that exact same jump from Team Penske during the offseason, bringing a legendary resume featuring 65 of his 71 NTT P1 Awards, 42 of his 45 series victories, the 2018 Indianapolis 500, and two series titles. That is serious pedigree walking through the door.

“Our team has been really clicking,” Ruzewski noted. “Sunday, one, three, four. The week prior, we had a double podium. I think we're really starting to see the momentum. The team is really jelling.”