The Indycar Dad Podcast Feb 13, 2026

Indycar News In 5 Minutes - Who Won Testing - Ep. 9

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Term

driver evaluation

Driver evaluation is when someone checks how well a driver performs in a race or event. It's like grading them on their driving skills.

Term

points system

A points system is how scores are given in a competition. Drivers earn points based on how well they do, and these points help decide who wins.

Brand

McLaren

McLaren is a company that makes fast and expensive cars. They are also famous for their racing cars in Formula 1.

LIVE

Hi, welcome to this week's IndyCar News in five minutes.

I'm IndyCar Dad, an IndyCar super fan

that focuses on having fun at the races.

I read and watch everything IndyCar from,

and from this past week,

I try to summarize everything in a five minute podcast.

So let's go, quick updates.

It looks like Honda and Chevy are committing

to longer term powertrain supply.

So that's really good for the series.

One of the things that people are really concerned about

is what if Honda left the series

or what if Chevy left the series?

And with the new car coming and everything like that,

the series really does need two suppliers

to work on the new car.

So it's really great.

It's also gonna add a layer of interesting to the series

because Honda and Chevy are each gonna get one team charter,

which means a guaranteed spot on the grid.

And one of their teams of choice

can compete for that winner circle money.

So that's like about a million and a half dollars

that goes to the top 20, 21 cars.

So that's great news for the series

and for everyone involved.

So congratulations, Chevy, Honda and IndyCar.

On not so great news, Prima looks like they're not gonna be

at the first four races of the year.

There's talk that they might bring a single car entry

to Long Beach.

Long Beach is a very popular race.

So if you're looking for sponsors,

that might be a good one to do.

Next thing to happen is the IndyStar,

that's a newspaper in Indianapolis,

did an article on the timeline

of the Alex Pillow legal case with McLaren.

It was really neat to see in print

and it was very well done.

But I have to say, I made a video on this subject

not too long ago when I poured over the court documents

and though my video doesn't have every single detail

that IndyStar article does, I got the big parts right.

So it's worth watching if you get a chance.

The other big news is this was a test week.

And I know everybody wants to say

you can't win testing and all of that sort of stuff,

but that's not how IndyCarDad does it

because I'm gonna tell you who I think won testing.

I hear people say this, so this is how I did it.

There were a morning session and an afternoon session,

12 cars in one, 11 cars in the other on two days.

So then you could rank how the people placed.

So first, second, third, fourth, up to 11 through 12th.

So if you place first, I gave you one point.

If you place second, I gave you two points.

If you place first in the afternoon session, one point.

Same thing on day two.

Drivers got one or two points.

And you'd think, well, what happens

if someone finishes first in the morning session

and then a different driver finishes first

in the second session and they end up with this tie?

It didn't really happen.

So let's just talk about who won testing.

And the answer is Meyer Schenck won testing.

Marcus Armstrong had a perfect score of two points.

So he won both sessions that he was in.

He was the fastest car.

And then Felix Rosenquist got four points.

He was second in both sessions he was in.

So Clearwind behind him, Kyle Kirkwood

and Alex Palau both had six points.

Scott McLaughlin had six points as well

as the strongest Penske.

And then Renus Vique was up there as well.

Seven points, Scott Dixon, Marcus Erickson,

Joseph Newgarden, Will Power, Hunter McElray.

He only did one session because he's there

for driver evaluation, so he's only there one day.

But he finished six, so I gave him 12 points.

So and then who didn't do so well?

I have to say McLaren didn't do that well.

Pato had 14 points.

I know Enceco had 17 points.

And Christian Lincard's car only had 18 points.

I guess they struggled.

So and who finished last?

Second to last was Romain Grosjean, 21 points.

And last last was Mick Schumacher.

So Mick's got to get it together quick.

So I have faith in him, but man, that's tough.

So there you go.

Not so much crazy detail,

but I try to give it to you quick.

And that's the IndyCar news in only four minutes this week.

Thanks for watching.

I'm IndyCar Dad, follow along.

I'm on all the platforms.