Current and prospective IndyCar racers react positively to the series’ new licensing standards

IndyCar teams arrived at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Thursday to begin writing the closing chapter of its 2026 season on the heels of the announcement by the series that redefined IndyCar’s licensing standards for 2027 and beyond.

The new rules – among the strictest ever set by the series – name success in Indy NXT as the primary benchmark for licensure while narrowing the lanes of eligibility that previously allowed any competitor in the feeder series to qualify for an IndyCar seat. Going forward, only the top three finishers in the championship and drivers who have won two or more races within the past 24 months will be considered “competitively qualified” to race in IndyCar; for the rest of the field, eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Most immediately affected by the rule change are speculated to be AJ Foyt Racing and four-year NXT veteran Josh Pierson, who was expected to join the team in 2027 with a $25m overall commitment. With one pole and no wins thus far this season, Pierson would need approval from IndyCar before finalizing the deal and could potentially be barred from entry.

If Pierson is ultimately deemed ineligible to join IndyCar, Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel, currently without a seat for 2027, could stand to benefit.

“The more interest [in me], the better,” said Siegel. “I don’t know how much that changes things, but it’s certainly not over. I want to be in IndyCar. I think there’s still a very good chance I end up here next year.”

Enzo Fittipaldi, who currently sits second in the NXT standings going into the season finale and is thus among the junior drivers who meet the new eligibility standards, does not expect the changes to affect his options for 2027 but believes they’re a move in the right direction overall.

“I think we can’t depend on [the new licensing standards] to get a deal done for next year, but I’m definitely in favor of this new rule,” Fittipaldi told RACER. “I think it’s super important to prioritize the drivers who are performing very well in the junior series leading up to IndyCar, because that’s how it should be.

“It’s a performance-driven sport like any other sport. If you perform better than the other guy, I think you deserve more chances. I completely agree with it and think it’s very good for the sport.

“I think it will help the junior series and give more motivation to young drivers who are coming up the ladder. Like, ‘Oh, if I do perform very well, I have a real shot. There’s not gonna be another driver with a lot more funding than me that’s not performing as well as I am, but he has a higher opportunity than me just because he has more funding.’ I think it equals the playing ground now because it’s just about performance.”

Alessandro de Tullio, another of the NXT drivers who satisfies the competitive qualification standards, also reacted positively when asked about how the changes affected his eligibility.

“I read a little bit into [the announcement],” said de Tullio. “I think I understand what it means. Obviously, my dream is to be on the IndyCar grid, but it’s something I’ll work at no matter what the rules are. I’m glad I’m qualified for it.”

AJ Foyt’s Santino Ferrucci believes the changes will make IndyCar safer and is strongly in favor of them.

“There are a lot of things, in my opinion, that need to change in the series,” Ferrucci told RACER. “The licensing thing I felt is a good thing. The problem is, you have drivers who shouldn’t be out there on certain tracks – especially ovals, where it’s really dangerous. Looking back through the years, I can name a few drivers that shouldn’t be out there that have caused injury to other drivers. So, I’m all for the licensing rule.

“I do think the series has to work on other things to fix as well, but that’s a good step for us in the right direction. I hope they continue to listen to some of us who drive these cars week in and week out and help us improve our racing and improve the consumer product to bring in more sponsors.”