Josh Pierson Cleared for IndyCar After IMS Road Course Evaluation

Overview

• Pierson passed an NTT IndyCar Series licensing approval test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, with IndyCar officials and former driver Davey Hamilton observing his run on Tuesday.
• He earned the right to take the evaluation by winning the first race of the Laguna Seca doubleheader, a result that triggered IndyCar's pathway allowing a test rather than a lengthy resume review.
• IndyCar said Pierson satisfied specific performance measures, including car control, pace, consistency and communication, which makes him officially eligible for an IndyCar license.
• The licensing clearance immediately strengthened Pierson's standing as the frontrunner for AJ Foyt Racing's second seat next year, though no signed contract has been publicly announced.
• Pierson is a 20-year-old Oregon native who spent multiple seasons in Indy NXT; his 2026 campaign featured two poles, three podiums including the Laguna Seca win, and a series-high 108 laps led, and teams will now decide if his funding and fit justify a step up to IndyCar.