INDYCAR is known for having diverse drivers from countries all across the globe.
So, to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada — we choose the best INDYCAR driver from every country being represented in the momentous event. Obviously, not every country has had an INDYCAR driver, but we did our best when compiling this list.
So here we go, by each World Cup group:
Enge competed in 17 races over three seasons with a best finish of fifth in the 2005 event at Sonoma Raceway. He also made three Formula 1 starts in his career.
With 11 wins overall (eight with CART during the split and then three with INDYCAR), Fernandez is one of the most well-known racers from Mexico. When NASCAR went to Mexico City in the 2000s with what was then the Nationwide Series, Fernndez was the driver who was able to get a ride and generate excitement among the fan base.
Mexico’s Adrián Fernández owns 11 career victories.
Scheckter won two INDYCAR races over a career that included 118 starts from 2002-11. His best finish was seventh in the standings in 2003 when he was driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
I couldn’t find an INDYCAR driver who was native to South Korea, but Choi competed in what is now the Indy NXT Series in 2015, 2016 and 2018. His best finish was sixth in Portland in 2018.
No drivers for Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar.
This was a hard one. Paul Tracy or Jacques Villeneuve? And regards to James Hinchcliffe. However, the nod goes to Tracy and his 31 victories, including a seven-win season in 2003 when he captured the CART title. The only blemish is that he didn’t win an Indianapolis 500 (although he will contend that he did, it’s just not in the record book).
Canada’s Paul Tracy was the 2003 CART champion.
There are plenty of Brazilian drivers who have competed in INDYCAR, but none have been as successful as Castroneves in the Indianapolis 500. That’s because no one else has been more successful in that particular race, with Castroneves tied for the record with four victories (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021). Castroneves won’t rule out another attempt for an Indy 500 win as he is a co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing. Overall, he has 31 victories and finished second in the standings twice. He’s tied for 11th all time in victories with Tracy and …
Franchitti has 31 INDYCAR wins, four championships (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011) and three Indianapolis 500 victories (2007, 2010 and 2012) for one of the most prolific careers in INDYCAR history. His 31 victories tie him for 11th all time with Tracy and Castroneves. He still works with Chip Ganassi Racing as a driver coach.
No drivers for Paraguay or Türkiye.
Power ranks fourth all time with 45 career victories and has a record 71 poles. Power is a two-time series champion (2014, 2022) and won the 2018 Indianapolis 500. He plans to add to those numbers as a driver at Andretti Global.
Australia’s Will Power owns a pair of INDYCAR titles as well as an Indy 500 crown.
Luyendyk had seven career victories, but two of them came in the Indianapolis 500 (1990, 1997). He made 171 starts over a career that spanned 20 years.
There have only been five drivers from Sweden who have competed in the Indianapolis 500 and three of them are Indy 500 winners — Brack, Marcus Ericsson and now this year’s victor, Felix Rosenqvist. Brack gets the nod here with nine career victories, including the 1998 Indy Racing League title.
No drivers for Egypt or Iran.
Baugette competed in the 2010 INDYCAR season and placed seventh in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
Dixon was born in Australia and was raised in New Zealand, so we’re putting him here. He ranks second all time with 59 victories and six INDYCAR titles (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020). He won the 2008 Indianapolis 500 from the pole. And he’s not done yet, as he continues to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing.
New Zealand’s Scott Dixon is one of the sport’s most accomplished drivers with six INDYCAR titles.
Rodríguez’s INDYCAR career makes some wonder what could have been. The Team Penske driver was killed in practice at Laguna Seca in what would have been his second career start in 1999.
No drivers for Senegal or Iraq.
Bourdais ranks seventh with 37 career series victories and won four consecutive CART titles from 2004-07. Certainly some would say Simon Pagenaud should be on this list here with his 15 victories, including the 2019 Indianapolis 500 win, but Bourdais gets the nod.
The 2026 INDYCAR rookie for Dale Coyne Racing and 2025 Indy NXT champion, Hauger is the first Norwegian driver in the series and is considered to have a bright future as an Andretti Global driver on loan to Coyne for this season.
Norway’s Dennis Hauger was the 2025 Indy NXT champion.
No drivers for Croatia, Ghana or Panama.
Wheldon won 16 races, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011. He won the title in 2005. He was killed in a crash in 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
England’s Dan Wheldon was a two-time Indy 500 winner before his career was cut short by a tragic accident.
