To the average fan, the thought of a Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing driver being in contention for the championship might sound ludicrous.
Christian Lundgaard was in and around the top 10 of the drivers’ championship for them before he announced his move to McLaren.
But rarely was he ever in contention for race victories, with the team lacking that cutting edge required to reach the top step of the podium.
Now they’ve signed a man who has proven himself to be a perennial winner, with Louis Foster stepping up to the IndyCar plate off the back of a historic eight-win Indy NXT season.
What does Louis Foster need to do to establish himself?
The first step for Foster in his IndyCar journey will be getting used to the physically demanding car that he will face all season.
There are 17 rounds of the championship, including the world-renowned Indy 500 for him to tackle for the first time in the fastest machinery across North America.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan proved that they can be a consistent points-scoring force in 2024, and with a little bit extra behind the cockpit, they could be even better.
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Foster’s junior record speaks for itself, but winning the Indy NXT championship by a margin of 122 points indicates just how dominant he was.
It’s going to be tough to replicate that in IndyCar, but if he brings that confidence and winning mentality to the team, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Why Foster could compete for the title
The benefit of being high on confidence and knowing how to lead from the front is that Foster will set himself up very well if he can qualify.
Making the fast six isn’t a requirement, but would go a long way towards giving him a shot at silverware across most weekends.
He doesn’t know who his teammate will be yet, as the team is biding their time before making an announcement, but striking up a good partnership with them could be hugely beneficial.
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It wouldn’t be surprising to see Foster in and around the top 10 immediately at the season-opening Grand Prix of St Petersburg.
It would be even less of a shock if he was to help Rahal Letterman Lanigan claim their first victory since 2023 at some stage in the season.
Building on his performances will be vital for a championship challenge, and if he can continue to develop, there’s no counting him out of an unlikely push to claim it all.