News Summary
- Yuki Tsunoda is being considered for an IndyCar test with Meyer Shank Racing on October 26 at Barber Motorsports Park.
- The Japanese driver has previously driven IndyCar machinery during a Honda promotional event in 2024.
- Honda’s factory-backed Meyer Shank entry for 2028 could provide a future opportunity, although neither the test nor a race deal has been confirmed.
Former Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda could take part in an IndyCar evaluation test with Meyer Shank Racing at Barber Motorsports Park on October 26, as the Japanese driver explores opportunities to resume his racing career in the United States.
According to Marshall Pruett of RACER, Tsunoda is among the drivers being considered for the test, which will involve several IndyCar teams evaluating potential future recruits and development candidates.
The 26-year-old has maintained close ties with Honda throughout his career, making Meyer Shank a potential destination as the Japanese manufacturer prepares to expand its involvement in IndyCar in 2028.
Neither Tsunoda’s participation in the Barber test nor a future racing agreement has been officially confirmed.
The evaluation session is scheduled for October 26 at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, with several teams expected to use the opportunity to assess drivers and carry out development work.
Meyer Shank Racing is preparing for the 2027 season with Marcus Armstrong and Mick Schumacher as its confirmed drivers.
Schumacher, who competed for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2026, will replace Felix Rosenqvist in the #66 Honda, while Armstrong moves into the #60 car.
The team has already begun integrating Schumacher into its operation, although co-owner Michael Shank confirmed that neither of its regular drivers is expected to drive during the Barber evaluation test.
That creates an opportunity for the organisation to assess other candidates without disrupting its confirmed race programme.
Honda’s 2028 IndyCar programme could offer Tsunoda a future seat
The potential test is particularly significant because Meyer Shank Racing will operate Honda’s additional manufacturer-backed IndyCar entry in 2028.
The programme will expand the team’s involvement beyond its existing two cars and create an opportunity for a driver closely associated with Honda.
Tsunoda is among several candidates linked with the project.
According to RACER, 2024 IndyCar Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist and Japanese Super Formula contender Kakunoshin Ohta are also being considered.
Ohta has established himself as one of Japan’s leading single-seater drivers and has connections with Honda’s international racing programmes.
Lundqvist, meanwhile, already has experience competing in IndyCar and could provide an alternative for a manufacturer seeking familiarity with American racing.
The evaluation process could therefore influence Honda’s longer-term driver selection rather than produce an immediate change to Meyer Shank’s 2027 line-up.
Tsunoda already drove an IndyCar in 2024
Tsunoda has previous experience with IndyCar machinery, having driven a Honda-powered car during a promotional event near Las Vegas in November 2024.
The demonstration brought together Formula 1, IndyCar and IMSA machinery as part of Honda’s motorsport activities in the United States.
Tsunoda was able to experience the different handling characteristics of an IndyCar, including its braking response, mechanical grip and power delivery.
Speaking to Road & Track after the demonstration, the Japanese driver compared the experience with karting and highlighted the car’s more direct handling.
He explained that the absence of some electronic systems familiar from Formula 1 made the car feel more responsive to throttle inputs and allowed him to manage rear-wheel sliding differently.
The outing was not a full competitive evaluation, but it gave Tsunoda an initial introduction to the category.
A test at Barber would provide a more relevant opportunity to assess his pace, feedback and adaptation to an IndyCar on a permanent road course.
Former Red Bull driver searches for new racing opportunities
Tsunoda competed in Formula 1 from 2021 to 2025, initially racing for AlphaTauri and Racing Bulls before joining Red Bull’s senior team.
He lost his full-time seat at the end of 2025 and remained involved with Red Bull in a test and reserve capacity during 2026.
The Japanese driver returned to racing for three grands prix with Racing Bulls earlier this season, but the team’s 2027 driver line-up remains focused on Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and the development of its junior programme.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported, Racing Bulls is expected to retain Lawson and Lindblad for 2027, although the team has not formally announced its final decision.
The limited number of available Formula 1 seats has increased the relevance of alternative championships for Tsunoda.
A move to IndyCar would also continue a long history of Japanese drivers competing in American single-seater racing, including Takuma Sato, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 and 2020.
Meyer Shank prepares for IndyCar’s new era
The Barber evaluation test comes as IndyCar teams prepare for the introduction of a new car in 2028.
Meyer Shank’s existing technical relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing provides an established engineering structure, while its partnership with Honda will expand through the additional manufacturer entry.
The team won the 2026 Indianapolis 500 with Felix Rosenqvist and is now preparing for its new driver pairing of Armstrong and Schumacher.
Schumacher has already begun working with the organisation ahead of his second IndyCar season, with the team planning to involve him in its engineering and simulator programmes.
The October 26 Barber test is expected to provide Meyer Shank with an opportunity to evaluate potential future drivers, including Tsunoda if his participation is confirmed.
