INDYCAR a Growing Possibility for Mick Schumacher after Indianapolis Test
- Jeffrey Hrunka
- 24 minutes ago
- 3 min read
JEFFREY HRUNKA - INDYCAR CONTRIBUTOR
With there not being much INDYCAR on-track action over the last few months, fans and media members alike saw last week’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course test as a chance to fill the void.
It didn’t disappoint, as former Formula One driver Mick Schumacher, son of 7-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, tried his hand at American open-wheel. Schumacher tested alongside the likes of rising INDYCAR talent and an established veteran, putting up impressive times in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.
“I love seeing my wheels, for sure,” Schumacher said. “It's obviously a bit different from all the single-seaters that I've driven so far, as we have [an] aeroscreen, so it was getting kind of hot at times, and air flow is a bit difficult, but those are all things you're kind of getting used to and understanding about what those little changes and differences are.”
According to Bruce Martin and Forbes, Schumacher was third fastest (1:10.980) compared to the other drivers he faced last Monday. Rookie Dennis Hauger and Ed Carpenter Racing veteran Alexander Rossi were the only two drivers to clock in faster in first (1:10.768) and second (1:10.858) respectively. Every other driver in the session - Christian Rasmussen, Caio Collet, Lochie Hughes and James Roe - ran a lap time in the 1:11s time bracket.
“It being similar to a single-seater or it being a single-seater. I think that's what's kind of attracting me to it,” Schumacher explained. “I love having open wheels. I think one of the things my dad always said was, ‘the Schumachers are usually faster if they can see their wheels.’”
While countless fans would love to see a Schumacher race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since the early 2000s, they shouldn’t get their hopes up about the 26-year-old being on the grid for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR Series season. In the many questions directed towards Schumacher regarding a future in INDYCAR, he implied that people are looking too far ahead.
“I still have got to let everything sink in a bit, figure it out, and yeah, I guess make a decision down the line,” he said. “It's hard to say how high the percentage is. Today has been very fun, but yeah, I guess I've got to analyze.”
That being said, Schumacher didn’t rule out the possibility of a future in the sport. One of the main reasons for his participation in the test anyway was his interest in INDYCAR.
“I think it's just the fact that I wanted to try the car. It was pretty simple as that. It was very interesting to see what that would be about and how it would feel to drive an INDYCAR.”
If Schumacher does want to join the INDYCAR grid next season, he needs to act fast as open seats continue to run out after Rinus Veekay’s recent signing with Juncos-Hollinger Racing.
Two seats that have been announced without a driver for next season are A.J. Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet, previously occupied by Penske bound David Malukas, and Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 51 Honda, whose driver Jacob Abel has yet to confirm if he is returning for a sophomore campaign.
“I won't go into detail, because I don't think it's really necessary, Schumacher said. “I do have the options and, again, INDYCAR is one of them, as are some other ones out there. It's a matter of me trying to just figure out what I want to do. Again, I probably won't take too long to make that decision. Then, I'll make sure to let everybody know.”
Whatever the future holds for Schumacher, either on or off the INDYCAR grid, he holds the series to a high status for its focus on the driver.
“I think probably the one word that stuck the most with me that somebody told me who works here in INDYCAR, that the most important aspect of that team or, let's say, of making a decision is the driver” he said. “The fact that they rely so heavily on the driver is something that really spiked my interest and made it interesting for me to come out and try.”