Caio Collet will drive for A.J. Foyt Racing in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR Series. (Photo courtesy of A.J. Foyt Racing)

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

A.J. Foyt Racing’s aggressive, youth-oriented offseason has added Brazilian Caio Collett to its driver lineup for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Championship runnerup in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone standings, Collett will wheel Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet during an expanded 17-race schedule, with sponsorship from Combitrans Amazonia. Collett replaces native Chicagoan David Malukas, who joined Team Penske in mid-September after the exit of free agent Will Power of Australia.

Waller, Texas-based Foyt Racing has a technical partnership with Team Penske, the most successful organization in domestic open-wheel history. Malukas finished 11^th in the point standings in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. The technical alliance shared between Team Penske and Foyt Racing provided Malukas with a platform to develop his skill-set during his only year with the organization founded and owned by 90-year-old motorsports legend A.J. Foyt Jr. of Houston.

Malukas, 23, will be the second driver to wheel team-owner Roger S. Penske’s No. 12 Verizon entry heretofore synonymous with Power, a two-time series champion (2014, 2022) and winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500. Power, 44, signed with Andretti Global to drive the No. Gainbridge 26 Honda formerly wheeled by Colton Herta.

A 23-year-old native of São Paulo, Brazil, Collett won four races during his two seasons in INDYCAR’s developmental series with HMD Motorsports of Brownsburg, Ind. This past season, Collett collected three victories, three pole positions, 12 top-five finishes (including 10 podiums) and 13 top-10s in 14 starts.

Collett earned INDY NXT Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 after placing third in the standings. His season was highlighted by a victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, after qualifying on-pole. Collett’s 2024 stats featured 11 top-10s, nine top-fives and six podiums.

“Caio is a welcome addition to A.J. Foyt Racing,” said Larry Foyt, team president and son of motorsports icon Foyt Jr. “He has shown great potential in INDY NXT by Firestone and in the junior formulas in Europe. I was impressed with how he adapted to our car at the recent Mid-Ohio test, and I’m very excited to see what he can do in INDYCAR. There’s no doubt that he will be a strong contender in the battle for Rookie of the Year.”

To that point, Collett figures to compete for ROY honors with Dennis Hauger, the reigning INDY NXT by Firestone champion. A 22-year-old native of Norway, Hauger joined Dale Coyne Racing in late September to drive one of the team’s Honda-powered entries for the full schedule. DCR also confirmed that it has entered into a technical alliance with Andretti Global for the 2026 season.

Hauger scored six wins, five additional podium finishes, 13 top-10s and seven poles in 14 races en route to the INDY NXT title as a rookie with Andretti Global. Hauger clinched the title at the penultimate round of the season at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis.

Collet continues a storied line of Brazilian drivers who have starred in INDYCAR, including four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves; series champions/Indy 500 winners Emerson “Emmo” Fittipaldi, Gil de Ferran and Tony Kanaan, as well as series champion Cristiano da Matta.

“I’m very happy to join A.J. Foyt Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series and thankful to Larry for trusting my skills and giving me this fantastic opportunity,” Collet said. “It’s a dream come true after years of hard work in developing series since my early go-karting experiences. I’m thankful to all teams and sponsors that helped me through my career, especially Marcelo Camargo from Combitrans Amazonia, that joined our INDY NXT campaign this season and will be with us next year.

“INDYCAR is huge in Brazil, and I’m looking forward to bringing its flag back to a fulltime seat in the 2026 season.”

Collet arrived in American motorsports via the European ladder series. He won the French F4 Championship before moving to Formula Renault Eurocup (2019-20), Toyota Racing Series (2020) and FIA Formula 3 (2021-23). Those accomplishments helped Collet become the reserve and simulator driver for the Nissan Formula E Team in 2024.

Combitrans Amazonia is a Brazilian logistics corporation that provides road cargo transportation, excluding hazardous materials, and moving services conducted on an intercity, interstate and international basis.

“Caio Collet’s dream is our dream,” said Camargo, owner/president of Combitrans Amazonia. “Brazil deserves the excitement of a fulltime INDYCAR driver. We’re thrilled to be part of this project with A.J. Foyt Racing and carrying the Brazilian flag among so many global brands in the NTT IndyCar Series.”

Foyt Racing announced last week that teen-ager Alessandro De Tullio will make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026 wheeling the organization’s signature No. 14 car. Addition of the 19-year-old Italian-American is a significant marker in Foyt Racing’s recently launched commitment to developing the next generation of NTT IndyCar Series talent.

Foyt Racing returned to INDYCAR’s developmental series with De Tullio during the recent Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. The native of Miami placed fifth overall among 24 drivers turning laps on the 2.439-mile/14-turn layout with a top circuit of 1-minute, 15.0406-seconds/117.009 mph.

Foyt Racing is fielding a two-car INDY NXT team in 2026 in a strategic alliance with HMD Motorsports. The collaboration between Foyt Racing and HMD Motorsports will strengthen the connection for open-wheel driver and team crew personnel looking to advance from INDY NXT into the premier NTT IndyCar Series.

The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season is scheduled to start on Sunday, March 1, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg street race in Florida. The 17-race schedule includes a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington street race on Sunday, March 15. All 17 races will be televised by FOX.

Rising INDYCAR star Kyle Kirkwood, a five-time NTT IndyCar Series race-winner, has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain with Andretti Global. Kirkwood will continue to drive the No. 27 Andretti Honda he wheeled to a career-best fourth-place point finish in the 2025 standings.

“These are very exciting times for myself, Andretti Global and TWG Motorsports,” said Kirkwood, a 27-year-old native of Jupiter, Fla. “I’d first like to thank the entire team, and especially Dan Towriss and Jill Gregory, for putting their trust in me. We’ve had an amazing three years together and our future together is very bright. We have proven to be true contenders, and most recently, championship contenders.

“Our trajectory has only been up, and I’m confident we will be fighting again for championships. Between the new shop, leadership, teammates and the many evolving factors within the organization, I believe this team is an absolute powerhouse, and we’re so excited for the journey ahead.”

Since joining Andretti Global in 2023, Kyle Kirkwood has delivered five wins, three NTT P1 Awards for pole position and six podium finishes, leading more than 300 laps. His breakout 2025 season was highlighted by a career-best three wins (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit, World Wide Technology Raceway oval in Madison, Ill).

Kirkwood advanced to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2022 with A.J. Foyt Racing after winning the INDY NXT by Firestone championship in 2021 with Andretti Global. He returned to Andretti for the start of the 2023 season.

“Kyle represents exactly what we strive for across TWG Motorsports and Andretti Global,” said Gregory, Andretti Global president. “His blueprint for success has made him a key part of our INDYCAR lineup defined by talent, tenacity and a relentless drive to win. Kyle’s growth and ambition reflect the strength of Andretti Global and our commitment to developing world-class competitors on and off the track.”

Kirkwood will join two-time INDYCAR champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power of Australia and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Sweden in Andretti’s lineup for the 2026 season.

Final 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 711; 2, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 515; 3, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 452; 4, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 433; 5, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 431; 6, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 372; 7, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 372; 8, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 364; 9, Will Power, Team Penske, 357; 10, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 356;

11, David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, 318; 12, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 316; 13, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 313; 14, Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, 305; 15, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 297; 16, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 293; 17, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 282; 18, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 268; 19, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 260; 20, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 234;

21, Callum Ilott, PREMA Racing, 218; 22, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 213; 23, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 213; 24, Robert Shwartzman, PREMA Racing, 211; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 181; 26, Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 171; 27, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, 123; 28, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 36; 29, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 20; 30, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 16;

31, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 12; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 10; 33, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren with Henrick Motorsports, 6; 34, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian, 5.

2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES RACE WINNERS

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (Will Power, Team Penske)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (Josef Newgarden, Team Penske)

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Saturday, March 7 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.

Sunday, April 19 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif.

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course

Sunday, May 24 _ 110^th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 16 _ Streets of Markham, Canada

Saturday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.

Note _ All races to be televised by FOX Sports

2026 INDYCAR NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Saturday, March 28 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 1

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 2

Friday, May 8 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 1

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 2

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Saturday, June 20 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 1

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 2

Saturday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 1

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 2

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.

Saturday, Sept. 5 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 1

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 2