Consistency has been Andretti Global’s fatal weakness for many years. Will the combination with Will Power bring the perfect answer to the desire to conquer the throne?
In the high-octane world of IndyCar racing, few teams carry the weight of legacy quite like Andretti Global. Founded in 1993 as Forsythe/Green Racing and rebranded under the iconic Andretti name, the organization has etched its place in motorsport history with over 250 race wins across various series. Mario Andretti’s four national championships and 1969 Indianapolis 500 triumph set an unattainable standard, while his son Michael piloted the team to back-to-back IndyCar titles in 2004 and 2005 with Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon, respectively. Yet, for nearly two decades since that golden era, Andretti Global has been haunted by a persistent specter: inconsistency. Flashes of brilliance—pole positions, oval speed, and occasional victories—have tantalized fans and analysts alike, but the championship throne has remained stubbornly out of reach.
The team’s plight is a tale of near-misses and what-ifs. In the hybrid era of IndyCar, Andretti has fielded talented drivers like Colton Herta, whose raw speed netted multiple wins and a near-miss at the 2022 title, only for mechanical gremlins and strategic missteps to derail campaigns. Ryan Hunter-Reay’s 2014 series championship came under a different banner, but when he joined Andretti, the results were sporadic. Marco Andretti, the family’s third generation, delivered heart-stopping Indy 500 runs, including a dramatic near-win in 2006, but consistency eluded the squad. Critics point to organizational flux—leadership changes, engine partnerships that faltered under Honda’s power, and a three-car lineup that sometimes felt more like a collection of solo acts than a symphony. As one racing pundit noted earlier this year, Andretti’s problem wasn’t talent; it was the glue holding it together. The 2025 season encapsulated this frustration: solid midfield finishes, a podium here and there, but no sustained threat to Penske or Ganassi dominance.
Enter Will Power, the Australian maestro whose signing with Andretti Global on September 3, 2025, sent shockwaves through the paddock. After 17 seasons with Team Penske—where he claimed two championships (2014 and 2022), 45 victories, and a record 71 poles—Power parted ways following the 2025 finale. His departure was bittersweet, marred by the infamous Indianapolis 500 cheating scandal that cost Penske key executives and tainted Power’s final year. Yet, at 44, Power remains a force, his oval mastery and qualifying prowess unmatched. He steps into the No. 26 Andretti Honda for 2026, replacing Herta, who transitions to a test driver role with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team—a move that underscores Andretti’s growing F1 ambitions but leaves a void in IndyCar speed that only a veteran like Power can fill.
Power joins a revamped lineup alongside Kyle Kirkwood, the 2025 Indy 500 winner whose road course finesse complements Power’s strengths, and Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 champion whose steady hand has stabilized Andretti’s efforts. “Will is a fierce competitor whose record speaks for itself,” said Jill Gregory, COO of TWG Motorsports and president of Andretti Global. “Additionally, he’s a great personality and we feel he’ll be a strong fit for the team culturally as well.” Power himself radiated enthusiasm: “I’m excited to watch [Herta] and will work to step in and do everyone on the 26 team proud. I’m really looking forward to meeting all the Andretti team and getting to work in 2026. They have some very smart people, and I know it will be enjoyable to get to winning.”
But the real intrigue lies in the reunion behind the scenes. Just three weeks later, on September 24, Andretti announced Ron Ruzewski as its new IndyCar team principal, effective January 2026. Ruzewski, ousted from Penske amid the same scandal that involved illegally modified parts on Power’s and Josef Newgarden’s cars, brings intimate knowledge of championship-caliber operations. As Penske’s former IndyCar managing director, he orchestrated strategies that delivered titles and Indy 500 glory. His hiring reunites him with Power, forging a partnership forged in victory lanes and tempered by adversity. Rob Edwards, the outgoing principal, shifts to chief performance officer for TWG Motorsports, signaling a strategic realignment under majority owner Dan Towriss, who acquired control post-2024.
This convergence feels like destiny’s script. Power’s metronomic consistency—evident in his 2022 title run, where he methodically racked up points amid Penske’s internal chaos—could be the antidote to Andretti’s erratic pulse. Imagine the No. 26 slicing through Barber’s turns with Power’s precision, backed by Ruzewski’s tactical acumen and a Honda engine that’s shown promise in Kirkwood’s hands. Ericsson’s cool-headedness on ovals could mitigate Power’s occasional aggressive lapses, creating a triad that pressures rivals like Scott Dixon or Alex Palou.
Skeptics abound, of course. Andretti’s history is littered with high-profile additions that fizzled: Sam Hornish Jr.’s brief stint, James Hinchcliffe’s injury-plagued tenure. The 2026 DW12 chassis and hybrid tweaks add variables, and Power’s age invites whispers of decline. Yet, the momentum is palpable. Towriss’s investment has already yielded upgrades in simulation tech and data analytics, areas where Penske excelled. With Herta’s F1 liaison potentially funneling back insights, Andretti isn’t just chasing relevance—it’s engineering a renaissance.
As the off-season sims hum in Fishers, Indiana, the question hangs electric: Can this alchemy transmute Andretti’s fatal flaw into fuel for the fire? Power’s arrival isn’t a panacea, but it’s the boldest stroke yet in a canvas craving completion. For a team starved of silverware since 2005, the throne gleams closer than ever. In IndyCar’s unforgiving arena, consistency isn’t just a virtue—it’s victory’s key. And with Will Power turning it, Andretti Global might finally unlock the door.
