Carson Hocevar has been ruled out of contention for a potential fourth entry at Andretti Global at the Indianapolis 500. The team continues to evaluate its options for the 2026 edition of the race and whether expanding beyond its current three-car lineup adds value to its campaign.
The fourth car discussion has been ongoing for months. Andretti Global has traditionally entered an additional one-off car for the Indy 500 in recent years, often with Marco Andretti. However, his retirement forced the team to reassess its approach, leaving the seat open and attracting interest from multiple drivers across categories.
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Earlier in the season, co-owner Dan Towriss indicated that Andretti was prepared to field a fourth entry regardless of whether Towriss-owned Cadillac driver Colton Herta was available. The emphasis was on flexibility, with Towriss highlighting the depth of available talent both within IndyCar and beyond.
That stance was reinforced on X by Jenna Fryer, who relayed Towriss’ latest comments:
“Dan Towriss said Andretti Global will field a 4th #Indy500 car regardless of if it’s Herta or not. ‘There’s no shortage of drivers, and not just from IndyCar.’ The only driver he ruled out was ‘Hurricane Hocevar.’ (Towriss’ name for him, not mine.)”
The statement comes after Carson Hocevar himself threw his hat in the Indy 500 bucket last month, when he said:
“I would love to do the (Indy) 500 obviously…. but, kind of have to be successful at the day job first…. Better shot than most others could say when you got similar bosses.”
Dan Towriss’ remarks effectively close the door on Carson Hocevar, despite his growing profile in NASCAR. The 23-year-old competes full-time in the Cup Series with Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet. His season has shown flashes of promise, including two top-5 finishes, but consistency has been an issue, leaving him 15th in the standings with 171 points.
While the early pace suggested a breakthrough year, results have not always followed, making an Indy 500 crossover unlikely at this stage. Indy 500 takes place the same day as the Coca-Cola 600. Kyle Larson was the last NASCAR driver to attempt the Double and failed in both 2024 and 2025.
Andretti Global shifts focus to three-car lineup after Colin Herta setback and Carson Hocevar removal
Andretti Global’s evolving position on the fourth car is closely tied to developments outside IndyCar. The rescheduling of Formula 2 rounds has created a direct clash with the Indy 500, removing Colton Herta from contention for the extra seat. The American is competing in F2 as part of his push toward F1 with Cadillac.
That change has had a direct impact on Andretti’s plans. Jenna Fryer later clarified the team’s update about Herta and Carson Hocevar on X:
“Complete Andretti Global update— while Towriss did say the 4th car earlier this season — now that it won’t be Herta the team will focus on its current three driver lineup for the #Indy500”
With that, Andretti Global is expected to proceed with its core trio of Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson for the 110th running of the event.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
