As the end of the 2026 season slowly approaches, pressure is at an all-time high. The final few races of the season are arguably the most mentally and physically draining. Drivers have to bounce back and prepare for six consecutive races. Some drivers are fighting for the championship while others aren’t sure if they’ll have a spot on the grid next year. The Girls Who Motorsport spoke to multiple different drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES about the mental aspects of preparation.
The Non-Stop Month of August
This year, the month of August rivals the month of May as being the busiest and most hectic month of the season. With six races in five weeks, there’s very little rest periods for drivers and teams as they’re constantly on the go. So far, August has featured a road course in Portland, two new street courses in Markham and Washington D.C. and most recently, the doubleheader at the oval in Milwaukee.
Between all the races a day off or a rest day are few and far in between for the drivers. Earlier this season Marcus Armstrong, driver of the No. 66 for Meyer Shank Racing, spoke to TGW about the physical and mental preparation for the busier parts of the season. He explained what a typical week looks like in order to move on for the next race.
“It’s difficult to maximise the whole preparation point because you finish a Sunday, I feel like I need Monday not to think about racing. So you already kind of lose a day. Then you have to do a good day of simulator with the team, which is a lot of time and also time for the engineers to prepare that. It’s not just arrive and drive sort of thing.
It demands a lot of preparation. Then obviously at the weekend, it’s just a lot of stuff technically, strategy, you name it. So it’s more tricky for the engineers, honestly, just to be organised. I’m very lucky that they are workaholics in the best way possible. It makes my life easier.”
Preparing for the Offseason
The offseason is on the horizon but so is the coveted “Silly Season”, the time where drivers start signing contracts and the pieces fall into place to make up the grid for 2027. With Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing downsizing, Arrow McLaren replacing two of their drivers and a handful of open seats, 2027 will be looking quite different. When it comes to drivers looking for a contract they have the dual responsibility of delivering results for their current team while catching the eye of new one.
Rookie driver Caio Collet is currently a driver for A. J. Foyt Racing after signing a one year contract with the team last November. He, along with rookies Mick Schumacher and Dennis Hauger, will be looking for a seat for next season. Collet told TGW that while he enjoys racing it’s important for him to do things outside of it during his breaks.
“Honestly, I’d rather be in the car every weekend than not. It’s just about trying to enjoy it. Obviously I try to get some rest on Monday and Tuesday when we’re off the track because you get tired mentally and physically after a race.
You just need time to reset, do some activities that can take your mindset off from racing and then come back to the next race”
The Relief of The Finale
Laguna Seca will not only be the end of the season, it also provides answers to season-long questions. The championship will be decided and most importantly its time for the drivers to get some rest before testing starts in February and the season kicks off in St. Petersburg.
Many of the drivers are looking forward to the time off after being on the go for a month straight. David Malukas discussed some of the work that goes into the season and why he’ll be looking forward to some time off.
“Normally we get these breaks in between but I think what’s helpful is that it’s all the way at the end of our season so with all of that preseason training you do, you still can’t be more ready then when you’re in the car and driving for yourself.
We already had the beginning and middle of the season to kind of get ready and built up for it [the end of season] so now that we are in this final stretch with the back to back to back, physically and mentally we’re more prepared and ready for it. I think it’s really good to finish off the season with a whole bunch of racing so once you get to the break you think ‘okay, I’m really going to enjoy this’.”
The 2026 INDYCAR season finale at Laguna Seca takes place on September 6 at 8:30 p.m. CEST.