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INDYCAR SERIESNXT SERIES

INDYCAR SERIES

 

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The IndyCar Series, officially known as the NTT IndyCar Series for sponsorship reasons, is the highest class of American open-wheel car racing in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices of various sanctioning bodies since 1920. The series is self-sanctioned by its parent company, IndyCar, LLC, which began in 1996 as the Indy Racing League (IRL) and was created by then Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George as a competitor to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). In 2008, the IndyCar Series merged with CART's successor, the Champ Car World Series, unifying the history and statistics of both series (as well as those from their predecessors).

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 24, 2026) – Felix Rosenqvist capped his magical May by edging David Malukas in a last-lap drag race to the Yard of Bricks with the highest stakes, winning the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the closest finish in the century-plus history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Rosenqvist rode the high line against the concrete wall exiting Turn 4 on Lap 200 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian and powered past the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet of David Malukas to prevail by .0233 of a second. The previous closest finish in “500” history came in 1992, when Al Unser Jr. held off a charging Scott Goodyear by .043 of a second.

SEE: Race Results

“Unreal; I still don’t believe it,” Rosenqvist said. “It kind of worked out the right way when I got back to third, and then I just had to flat-out lap on the high line, and it stuck,” Rosenqvist said. “It was just the coolest way you can finish and win an Indy 500.”

The breathtaking race featured an event-record 70 lead changes over its 200 scintillating laps, breaking the previous mark of 68 set in 2013. With his second career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, Rosenqvist became the third Swedish driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” joining Kenny Brack (1999) and Marcus Ericsson (2022).

Meyer Shank Racing also earned its second NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory – both coming in the most prestigious race in the world. Helio Castroneves captured his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2021 for the Ohio-based team.

The victory capped a remarkable month for Rosenqvist. He and his wife, Emille, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Stella, on May 4.

“I really miss my wife and my newborn child, Stella,” Rosenqvist said. “I wish they were here with me. This whole month, becoming a dad and winning the ‘500’ … We joked about it in the beginning: ‘Maybe you’ll win the ‘500’ and have a baby.’ It’s just unreal.”

Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, as the fabled team placed two drivers in the top three but fell just short of a record-extending 21st Indy 500 victory.

Pato O’Ward placed fourth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, his fifth career top-four finish in seven “500” starts without a victory. Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top five in the No. 66 Acura Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian despite taking the green flag in the lead on a one-lap shootout for the victory after a late caution.

An incredible .4360 of a second separated the top-five finishers. Rosenqvist’s average speed was 162.021 mph.

The one-lap dash to the checkered flag and immortality was set up when rookie Mick Schumacher brushed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 in his No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda on Lap 197.

Racing resumed at the end of Lap 199, with Armstrong leading to the flag stand with the white flag in the air and one lap remaining, with Malukas in second and Rosenqvist third. Malukas powered to the lead entering Turn 1 and started to pull away on the backstretch of the 2.5-mile oval with teammates Armstrong and Rosenqvist running side by side in a joust for second.

Rosenqvist, running the high line around the oval, nosed ahead of Armstrong in Turn 4 and set his sights on Malukas. With the checkered flag in the air ahead, Malukas drove his car toward the pit wall to try and break Rosenqvist’s aerodynamic tow. Malukas then moved toward the center of the track, and Rosenqvist quickly swung his machine back toward the top of the racetrack, just barely avoiding contact.

The two cars were side by side yards from the finish line when Rosenqvist nosed ahead and crossed the Yard of Bricks first by about a half-car length, the capacity crowd of 350,000 pulsating in delight.

It was the most important of the 629 on-track passes in the race, including 567 for position.

“I don’t know what else we could have done,” Malukas said as he choked back tears in his pit box. “We were the fastest car that whole race. I gave it 150 percent. I mean, I almost crashed this damn car every lap, and we still ended up with a P2.

“I just can’t believe it. I don’t know what else I can give. So close. This place, we’re going to come back and bring it everything. We’re going to give it 160 percent the next time.”

Said Rosenqvist: “Good job to Marcus and David at the end. They raced really cleanly. It’s because of drivers like that you get really good racing. Unbelievable.”

McLaughlin, O’Ward and Armstrong then crossed the Yard of Bricks three-wide in the sprint for third, capping a race for the ages.

The spellbinding finish was the final act of a dual-strategy drama that unfolded over the closing laps. O’Ward, Armstrong and Rosenqvist made their final pit stops on Laps 164, 165 and 166, respectively, right at the edge of the fuel window to finish the race without another stop under green-flag racing.

Meanwhile, Malukas, McLaughlin and pole sitter Alex Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda were among a group of cars that were on a different sequence and had to make their final stops on Laps 175 (Malukas) and 176 (Palou and McLaughlin).

Malukas took control of that chasing group, but they were more than 20 seconds behind O’Ward, Rosenqvist and Armstrong with less than 25 laps to go. Rosenqvist, with two more laps of fuel than O’Ward, was content to ride in the draft of the Mexican and save even more fuel as both lapped nearly 10 mph slower than the chasing pack to ensure they could make it to the finish.

Rosenqvist finally pounced past O’Ward for the lead on Lap 185 and was headed toward Easy Street.

The chasing trio of Malukas, McLaughlin and Palou appeared to be running out of laps to catch O’Ward, Rosenqvist and Armstrong, but the field was bunched on Lap 192 when rookie Caio Collet slammed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, triggering the sixth of seven caution periods in the race.

Race officials immediately red-flagged the event for accident cleanup, with all cars pulling into the pits.

“It was the perfect situation for us before that,” Rosenqvist said. “We kind of had everything lined up. Pato was struggling with fuel, and we were pretty rich (on fuel) to the end. I was like: ‘This is going to be great. At some point you’re just going to pass him and hopefully cruise to the win.’ But then in the end, everything flipped upside-down.

“But you just have to reload. I was a little negative at first. I was like, ‘Of course, this happened.’ But then you just had to think forward. It actually was good when I got back to third because it felt like I was hunting instead of being hunted.”

Rosenqvist led the field to green flag on the Lap 196 restart after the 10-minute red flag period, with O’Ward second and Armstrong third. But Armstrong powered to the front in the four-wide restart with a bold outside move in Turn 1, with Malukas riding his aerodynamic coattails to second. But then Schumacher made contact with the SAFER Barrier to bring out the final caution on Lap 197, setting up the one-lap dash for glory.

NTT P1 Award winner Palou led a race-high 59 laps but finished seventh. Adding his 12 bonus points for earning the Indy 500 pole, Palou leads the series standings by 42 points over Malukas entering the next event, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday, May 31 on the streets of Detroit.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 22, 2026) – He’s starting 23rd in the field of 33 drivers, but it’s hard to blame Josef Newgarden for being eager for Race Day for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday.

Two-time “500” winner Newgarden led the final practice Friday for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” turning a top lap of 228.342 mph in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden also led the rain-shortened post-qualifying practice Monday at 226.198.

SEE: Practice Results

“It feels OK, feels all right,” two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Newgarden said of his car. “But today is Friday. We’ve got to be good on Sunday.

“I’m just ready to get to Sunday. Sunday is what’s going to matter with the Shell car. Team Chevy has done a great job for us this month, so I’m excited to go racing.”

The last time a driver won the Indy 500 from a starting position of 23rd or lower was in 1974, when Johnny Rutherford started 25th and earned the first of his three “500” victories.

Christian Rasmussen was second today with his best lap of 227.474 in the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing. David Malukas matched his starting position by ending up third at 226.565 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Indiana native Conor Daly continued to show consistent speed by clocking in fourth at 226.341 in the No. 23 DRR KINGSPAN ARCO Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Two-time “500” winner Takuma Sato rounded out the top five at 226.244 in the No. 75 Amada Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Pole sitter and reigning “500” winner Alex Palou was sixth at 225.986 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Four-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou is trying to become just the seventh driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in consecutive years.

Dennis Hauger was the fastest of the four rookies on the 2.5-mile oval, 10th at 225.187 in the No. 19 Only Bulls Honda of Dale Coyne Racing.

2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi was back in his No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing after suffering injuries to a finger on his left hand and right ankle that required outpatient minor surgery due to a hard crash in practice Monday. Rossi, who is starting a “500” career-best second, was 31st today at 222.291 mph.

All 33 drivers combined to turn 2,169 laps in the two-hour final session, which featured just one caution period for a loose right-rear wheel that forced 2022 “500” winner Marcus Ericsson to slow on course in the No. 28 Phoenix Investors Honda of Andretti Global. Six-time series champion and 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon was the busiest driver, turning 96 laps in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

The next on-track action will take place on the big day, Race Day for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24. Live coverage starts at 10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls, with Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser expected to wave the green flag at 12:45 p.m.

 

Newgarden Leads Rain-Shortened ‘500’ Practice

Rossi, O’Ward, Grosjean Involved in Big Turn 2 Incident

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 18, 2026) – Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden rebounded from a disappointing qualifying session Sunday to lead the rain-shortened practice for the 110th Running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

But the bigger story of the practice, shortened from two hours to one hour, 18 minutes due to rain and lightning, was a frightening three-car incident in Turn 2 involving Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean 28 minutes into the session.

SEE: Practice Results

Newgarden, who will start 23rd in the race this Sunday, was fastest today at 226.198 mph in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet. He was followed by fellow double “500” winner Takuma Sato at 225.723 in the No. 75 Amada Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Rookie Dennis Hauger was third at 224.554 in the No. 19 Only Bulls Honda of Dale Coyne Racing in which he will start 29th Sunday. 2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was fourth at 224.415 in the No. 31 Prize Picks Arrow McLaren Chevrolet that he will race Sunday from the 22nd starting spot.

2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top five at 224.376 in the No. 28 Phoenix Investors Honda of Andretti Global. Ericsson also had a tough PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying day Sunday, as he will start 17th in the 33-car field.

The first major accident of the event took place at 1:28 p.m. ET. Rossi spun in Turn 2 in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing, made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier and then suffered a secondary hit from the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of O’Ward, who spun under braking trying to avoid Rossi. Both cars suffered heavy damage.

Grosjean also spun into the SAFER Barrier trying to avoid the accident in the No. 18 Bmax.IO Honda of Dale Coyne Racing.

Rossi, who qualified second Sunday, was awake and alert, in good spirits and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, said Dr. Julia Vaizer, INDYCAR medical director. O’Ward and Grosjean were released without injury.

“I’m OK; I just feel bad for my car,” O’Ward said. “Just wrong place, wrong time. I just got collected there. I obviously hit the brakes and couldn’t do much to avoid it. I’m glad Alex is all right, Romain, as well.”

The shortened session was fast and frantic, as thick packs of cars took worked in traffic in preparation for Race Day after focusing on pure speed during “Fast Friday” practice and qualifying Sunday. All 33 drivers combined to turn 1,053 laps even though the track was open for action for only 35 minutes due to track inspection, the three-car incident, and rain and lightning.

Next up is the final practice before Race Day, Miller Lite Carb Day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET Friday (FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 17, 2026) – Alex Palou will start the defense of his 2025 victory from the best spot possible in the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – the pole. 

Four-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou earned his second career pole for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in a dramatic Firestone Fast Six session Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the NTT P1 Award and a $100,000 bonus with his four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 

SEE:  Qualifying Results 

“I have no words,” Palou said. “So, that was incredible. It just feels incredible. Great start to the Month of May. 

“Did not expect it. You could see the celebration was really high (after winning the pole) because this morning when we woke up, we did not expect this speed.” 

Palou, who also won the "500" pole in 2023, earned the 15th NTT P1 Award of his INDYCAR SERIES career. He became the first reigning “500” winner to claim the pole since Helio Castroneves in 2010. 

The Spaniard will see a fellow Indianapolis 500 champion alongside him on the front row, as 2016 winner Alexander Rossi qualified second – his best qualifying performance among his 11 “500” starts – at 231.990 in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing. 

Another driver earning his career-best Indy 500 start, Team Penske newcomer David Malukas, will start on the outside of the front row after qualifying third at 231.877 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Malukas’ previous-best start was seventh last year for AJ Foyt Racing. 

Felix Rosenqvist qualified fourth at 231.375 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. It’s the second-best “500” start in Rosenqvist’s career, but the Swede couldn’t hide his disappointment after leading the opening round of qualifying (232.599) and the Fast 12 round (232.065), entering the Firestone Fast Six as the pole favorite. 

“There was quite a big gap from run two to run three,” Rosenqvist said. “It felt good. It just didn’t seem like there was that much in it. It just didn’t go as fast. 

“It’s a shame. It’s kind of déjà vu for me. I’ve had this three times now when I’ve gone into the last round and had to finish it off. It’s kind of like a curse. But it is what it is. We’ll just focus on the race.” 

Santino Ferrucci qualified fifth at 230.846 in the No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Pato O’Ward rounded out the Firestone Fast Six at 230.442 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. 

Six different teams are represented in the first two rows of the starting grid for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 24. 

Rain washed out PPG Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, creating a pressure-packed format of one qualifying attempt per driver per round under sunny skies and air temperatures that climbed into the mid-80s Sunday. All 33 drivers participated in the first round, with the 12 fastest advancing to the Top 12 second round, which whittled the pole contenders to the Firestone Fast Six. 

Palou was at a disadvantage in the first round due to his wife, Esther, drawing the 31st position in the qualifying order in the blind draw Friday evening. His attempt took place two hours, 19 minutes after teammate Scott Dixon – who drew the first starting position – made his attempt in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 

Air and track temperatures were around 5 and 10 degrees higher, respectively, for Palou’s run, and he barely earned a transfer to the Top 12 after ending up 11th in the first round with a four-lap average of 231.155. But he climbed to second in the Top 12 at 231.665 behind Rosenqvist due to his Chip Ganassi Racing crew already accustomed to tuning the car for the peak heat of the day. 

“I have to say being on the 31st – thanks to my wife, by the way for drawing that number – I think being there allowed us to work on those conditions,” Palou said. “It’s not easy to do everything the way this team is executing.” 

Next up is practice from 1-3 p.m. ET Monday (FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). 

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). 

 

 

Indy Pole day a wash out

Saturday May 16th-early morning heavy rain and off and on showers lead to Indy Car officials and the indianapolis motor speedway to cancel today's qualifications at 3pm eastern time and reschedule the run for the pole to tomorrow Sunday May 17th

 

INDYCAR has announced an updated schedule for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after persistent rain forced the postponement of Day One of qualifications Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Beginning at noon ET Sunday, all 33 qualifiers will line up based on Friday’s qualifying draw and have one attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying speed and the opportunity to advance to subsequent qualifying rounds.

SEE: Qualification Order

Due to the time parameters needed Sunday for “knockout rounds,” initial qualifying runs will determine positions 13-33, with the fastest 12 qualifiers continuing directly to a Top 12 round at approximately 4:30 p.m. Under this abbreviated format – like in previous years – the order of Sunday’s Top 12 begins in reverse of qualifying speeds from the cars’ initial qualifying attempts (12, 11, 10, 9, etc). Each car will have one attempt. Those finishing seventh through 12th will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their time and speed.

The fastest six will advance to the next round of “500” qualifying and the Firestone Fast Six to determine positions one through six.

Fans will be able to salute advancing teams ahead of the Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six rounds during a mandatory cool-down period, which will include laps behind the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Pace Car. Traveling at 100 mph, the laps will allow air to flow through the air ducts to help cool the engines before the dramatic next round.

The fastest in the Firestone Fast Six will claim the coveted NTT P1 Award and pole position for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and the accompanying $100,000 prize.

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points also will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to the 12th fastest (one point).

All tickets and paid parking from Saturday will be honored Sunday. Suite and hospitality tickets from Saturday will grant general admission access, not access to their suite or hospitality space. Suite and hospitality parking from Saturday is not valid Sunday.

Live coverage of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 will begin with split-group practice at 9:30 a.m. ET on FS2 and FOX One, with qualifying scheduled to begin at noon also on FS2 and FOX One. The final two rounds of qualifying – Top 12 and the Firestone Fast Six – will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on FOX and FOX One. All sessions are also available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

 

 

 

NDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 15, 2026) – Sometimes speed arrives at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when you don’t expect it. Just ask Felix Rosenqvist.

Rosenqvist became the first driver this week to top 233 mph by leading “Fast Friday” practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, turning a top lap of 233.372 mph in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian.

SEE: Practice Results | Qualifying Draw, Format

The session, scheduled for six hours, was shortened to five after morning rain forced a two-hour delay of the start of the final practice before PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying this weekend on the 2.5-mile oval.

“We started pretty slow, to be honest,” Rosenqvist said. “It’s kind of rare you’re able to crawl out of a hole like that. I think our first run was like a 230-something. We just found basically 3 mph. That’s kind of cool. The car felt pretty good.

“Sometimes that happens, like once you find a little speed, it kind of comes. It kind of starts flowing. The balance was really good.”

The top speed of the week soared by more than 5 mph Friday because the Honda and Chevrolet engines that power the field featured approximately 100 more horsepower due to increased boost levels, which also will be available during qualifying this weekend.

A pre-qualifying practice takes place from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday (FS2, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls), with qualifications from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. (11 a.m.-2 p.m., FS2; 2-4 p.m., FS1; 4-6 p.m., FOX; INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

Positions 16-33 for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be locked in Saturday, with the 15 fastest cars advancing to the final rounds of qualifying Sunday to determine the coveted NTT P1 Award winner and the first five rows of the starting grid.

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon will be the first driver in the qualifying line Saturday morning after his son, Kit, chose the coveted No. 1 coin in the blind qualifying draw after today’s practice.

2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi was second at 232.932 in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing. 2024 pole winner Scott McLaughlin led early in the session but ended up third at 232.674 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was fourth at 232.655 in the No. 75 Amada Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. 2022 “500” winner Marcus Ericsson rounded out a stacked top five with his best lap of 232.622 in the No. 28 Phoenix Investors Honda of Andretti Global.

Rosenqvist’s top lap came with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow, but he was sixth-fastest on the “no-tow” list at 232.324, validating his solo speed for qualifying this weekend.

McLaughlin was fastest without aerodynamic help at 232.674, turning just seven laps on the day due to satisfaction with his car’s speed. Reigning “500” winner and four-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou was second fastest solo at 232.532 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Rosenqvist, who welcomed his first child with wife, Emille, on May 4, also was the fastest of drivers in simulated four-lap qualifying attempts. His best four-lap average was 232.828. McLaughlin had the second-fastest qualifying sim among his paltry seven laps on track, with a four-lap average of 232.572. Rossi was third on the qualifying sim speed chart with his four-lap average of 232.543.

An incident-free week of practice continued as all 33 drivers combined to turn 836 laps, the lowest total of the event due to the shortened session and teams’ focus on four-lap qualifying simulations. Jack Harvey was the busiest driver, recording 42 laps in the No. 24 DRR INVST Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

 

 

O’Ward Eager for 'Fast Friday' Boost After Leading Practice at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 14, 2026) – Pato O’Ward was happy with leading practice Thursday for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, but the Mexican and his 32 rivals already are looking ahead to the increased power and speeds of “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

O’Ward led at 227.308 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, a lap he turned in traffic with the benefit of an aerodynamic tow in the first 35 minutes of the six-hour session. It was O’Ward’s fastest lap of the week and the third fastest overall, behind 228.080 by Conor Daly and 228.026 by reigning “500” winner Alex Palou in cooler conditions Wednesday.

SEE: Practice Results

“We got a race run in, we got some qualifying simulations in, and the car is in good balance,” O’Ward said. “Tomorrow when the boost comes up, it does change quite a bit. Yeah, so far it’s been very smooth.”

Teams and drivers will shift their focus to four-lap qualifying simulations during practice from noon-6 p.m. ET Friday (noon-3 p.m., FS2; 3-5 p.m., FS1; 5-6 p.m., FS2; FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). The Honda and Chevrolet engines that power the field will feature approximately 100 more horsepower due to increased boost levels that also will be available during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.

“Today, we noticed (reaching top speeds) over the course of two corners or like half a lap, but tomorrow you’ll go from the start of the exit of (Turn) 2 to the entry of (Turn) 3 almost like full beans, so it’s cool,” O’Ward said.

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was second at 226.977 in the No. 06 Cleveland Cliffs Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, leading a banner day for the team with all three drivers in the top four.

Marcus Armstrong was third at 226.841 in the No. 66 Acura Honda of MSR, followed by teammate Felix Rosenqvist at 226.626 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda.

2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi rounded out the top five at 226.364 in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing, a solid rebound after an engine change late Wednesday afternoon.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was the fastest car today without the benefit of an aerodynamic tow, with an eye ahead to qualifying simulations Friday and single-car qualifying runs Saturday and Sunday. Sato’s best “no-tow” lap was 223.828 in the No. 75 Amada Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the fastest solo lap of the week.

Scott McLaughlin was second on the “no-tow” list at 223.738 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet.

All 33 cars entered in the event this year combined to turn 1,469 incident-free laps today, the lowest total this week as teams started to focus on qualifying simulations. Rossi turned a session-high 68 laps on the 2.5-mile oval.

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) – In nearly ideal conditions, speeds soared Wednesday on the second day of practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, with Conor Daly leading two drivers over 228 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Indianapolis-area native Daly continued his strong start to the event by posting the fastest speed of the two days of practice, 228.080 mph, in the No. 23 DRR KINGSPAN Chevrolet of Indy 500-only team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Daly turned his top lap in thick traffic, getting an aerodynamic tow, just slightly over an hour into the six-hour session.

SEE: Practice Results

Conditions were ideal for speed on the 2.5-mile oval, with air temperatures in the mid-60s and partly cloudy skies.

“Feeling great, but we weren’t even flat on that lap,” Daly said. “The car feels pretty good. It’s going really well. Honestly, it was very exciting out there, too. I saw more side-by-side racing out there on that run than I’ve seen in practice for a long time. It seemed good.”

Daly was third fastest on Opening Day on Tuesday at 225.838.

Reigning “500” winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, fastest Tuesday at 225.937, was second today and one of two drivers over 228 mph at 228.026 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

David Malukas was third at 227.139 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, jumping from 10th Tuesday. Graham Rahal continued to show consistent speed, fourth at 226.835 in the No. 15 United Rentals Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan after stopping the clocks in sixth Tuesday.

Romain Grosjean also continued the trend of carrying Opening Day speed into today, rounding out the top five at 226.591 in the No. 18 Bmax.IO Honda of Dale Coyne Racing. Grosjean was ninth Tuesday.

Ideal conditions and aerodynamic tows from leading cars helped speeds elevate in traffic today. Pato O’Ward was the fastest driver running alone, with a best solo lap of 221.409 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was the second-fastest solo driver at 221.392 in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing.

The top two no-tow speeds were slightly slower than the fastest no-tow speed of 222.062 on Tuesday by Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global.

All 33 cars entered in the event this year combined to turn 2,542 incident-free laps today, a considerable hike from the 1,996 laps recorded on Opening Day. Palou carried the biggest workload, turning a session-high 118 laps after completing just 28 laps Tuesday.

Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. ET Thursday (noon-4 p.m., FS2; 4-6 p.m., FS1; FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – With about one hour, 45 minutes to go in the opening practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, Alex Palou pulled into pit lane and thought there was a mechanical gremlin in his car.

Ninety minutes later, there were no problems whatsoever.

Reigning “500” winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou led the first day of track activity for this year’s edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” turning a top lap of 225.937 mph with less than 15 minutes remaining in the six-hour session Tuesday. The fast lap came on the first run Palou made on the 2.5-mile oval after his crew evaluated his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda for nearly 90 minutes, as he pulled into the pits around 4:15 p.m. ET because he sensed a problem with the right rear of the car.

SEE: Practice Results

“Yeah, it’s good; it’s good now,” Palou said. “We had a couple of issues, but we fixed them. It wasn’t a mechanical issue or anything. It was just balance, not being super happy with it. We found something that explained what I was feeling, and it was good to go back out today before we go to sleep so we can be a bit happier.”

Four-time series champion Palou is driving a different car this month than he used in the Indy 500 Open Test on April 28-29 at IMS and a different machine than the one he drove to his first career oval victory in last year’s Indy 500. He turned just 28 laps, tied for the third fewest among the 33 drivers on track today.

“You always want to do a lot more,” Palou said. “We didn’t do a many laps today, but still we understood a lot of stuff. Feeling much better than (earlier this afternoon).”

Marcus Armstrong was fastest for most of the day until Palou’s late dash but ended up second at 225.895 in the No. 66 Acura Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. Indianapolis-area native Conor Daly was third at 225.838 in the No. 23 DRR KINGSPAN Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden ended up fourth at 225.121 in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet, while 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon rounded out the top five as the last driver faster than 225 mph with his best lap of 225.087 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

All top speeds were produced with the benefit of an aerodynamic “tow” from leading cars. Kyle Kirkwood was the fastest driver running alone, turning a top solo lap of 222.062 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global. His teammate and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was second on the “no-tow” list at 221.455 in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.

Jack Harvey was third fastest without a tow at 220.853 in the No. 24 DRR INVST Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. That validated Harvey’s performance without aerodynamic help in the Open Test, when he was fastest both days on the “no-tow” list.

All 33 cars entered in the event this year were on track today under sunny skies and air temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s, combining to turn 1,996 laps. 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was the busiest driver, the only competitor with more than 100 laps after turning 116 circuits in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing.

Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. ET Wednesday (noon-4 p.m., FS2; 4-6 p.m., FS1; FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 9, 2026) – Christian Lundgaard prevailed in a race filled with thrills, incidents and enough pit wall decisions to prematurely age strategists to win the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory in nearly three years.

Lundgaard drove his No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to his second career victory by 4.6713 seconds over the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet of David Malukas. Lundgaard’s first career win came at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 16, 2023, while driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. This victory ended a 47-race winless drought for the Danish driver, and he became the third McLaren driver to win in the INDYCAR SERIES, joining Johnny Rutherford and Pato O’Ward.

SEE: Race Results

“Very happy,” Lundgaard said. “I really didn’t expect this today. I hoped for it. This was a long wait for this win, especially around this place. You know how fast I’ve always been around here, and it’s just been time after time after time disappointments. Now we’re here. Let’s go!

“We did it. Let’s go. Good start to May.”

Graham Rahal was the final podium finisher today, third in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda to tie his season-best result.

Josef Newgarden placed fourth in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet to put two Penske cars in the top four. NTT P1 Award winner Alex Palou, who led every session he was on track this weekend entering the 85-lap race, rounded out the top five in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Lundgaard, who started fourth, took the lead for good with a scintillating pass of Malukas on Lap 68. The two drivers raced side by side through Turns 3 and 4 before Lundgaard slipped through a small opening in the Turns 5 and 6 chicane leading to the backstretch of the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit.

Then Lundgaard, who last pitted for the final time one lap earlier than Malukas on Lap 65, pulled away over the closing laps. Malukas led a race-high 27 laps, four more than Lundgaard, as he fell just short of earning his first career victory.

“We were very strong in those middle stints, and then toward the end, we maybe made the wrong decision on wing (adjustments) there,” Malukas said. “We were just falling apart. I was doing everything I can just to survive, and Rahal was coming from behind.

“But either way, that is a fantastic result. We went into this weekend knowing it was going to be a struggle for us. We thought we wouldn’t even make the (Firestone) Fast Six (in qualifying), and here we are P2 on the podium. We’re one step closer to getting that win.”

Chaos and snap decisions from strategists reigned from the drop of the green flag until the race settled into a rhythm after the final round of pit stops for the field with 20 to 25 laps to go.

Palou led into Turn 1 at the start, seeking his fourth consecutive victory in this road race that opens the Month of May at IMS. Behind him, O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Scott Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda and Caio Collet in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet were collected in a chain-reaction accident as the 25-car field funneled from the front straightaway to the tight Turns 1-2 complex.

That incident helped Malukas jump from fifth to second and triggered the first of three full-course cautions in the race. Many teams began to adopt alternate strategies to cope with the early field shuffle, entering for tires and fuel when the pits opened on Lap 3.

Meanwhile, Palou stayed on track and began to pad his lead. Kyle Kirkwood drove his No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda of Andretti Global past Malukas for second place on Lap 7, and the top two drivers in the series point standings started to pull away and possibly set up a one-on-one duel for victory.

The race turned on its head on Lap 22 when the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet driven by Alexander Rossi of ECR stopped along the pit wall near the Yard of Bricks start-finish line on the front straightaway with a mechanical problem. Many other cars had started to pit before the full-course yellow, but Palou and Kirkwood did not from the top two spots.

Palou and Kirkwood entered the pits on Lap 25, dropping them to 19th and 20th, respectively, when they returned to speed. Palou and Kirkwood just avoided calamity on the restart on Lap 28, darting around another chain-reaction collision – this time in Turn 13 – between Rosenqvist, O’Ward, Sting Ray Robb in the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet and Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Kirkwood’s chances at contending for victory ended during his pit service on Lap 39, when a slow right-front wheel change resulted in a 15.2-second stop. Palou’s stop was 7.2 seconds on the same lap, allowing him to continue to march toward the front. But he never got any closer than fifth, ending up 14.3630 seconds behind winner Lundgaard.

Palou’s two-race win streak this season ended, but he still padded his series lead over Kirkwood to 27 points. Kirkwood finished ninth.

Lundgaard will try to repeat Palou’s 2025 “double” of winning the Sonsio Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge when the 110th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” takes place Sunday, May 24. Practice on the fabled 2.5-mile oval opens Tuesday, May 12.

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 8, 2026) – Persistent rain and pooling of water on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course Friday forced the postponement of NTT P1 Award qualifying for the Sonsio Grand Prix to Saturday morning, May 9.

Live coverage of qualifying starts at 10:30 a.m. on FS2, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls, with the three-round session starting at 10:45 a.m. Coverage will move to FS1 at 11:30 a.m.

The warmup session scheduled for 11:40 a.m. Saturday for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES event was canceled. The 85-lap race remains scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (FOX, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

Four-time series champion Alex Palou led both practice sessions in dry conditions earlier today in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou has won this event for the last three years on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) – One day after veterans dominated the speed chart, rookie Caio Collet rode the aerodynamic wave to the fastest overall speed of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone series runner-up Collet turned a top lap of 226.381 mph in the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet during the early moments of testing Wednesday, the start of which was delayed 75 minutes by damp track conditions created by overnight and morning rain. That speed was better than Tuesday’s best of 225.394 by Conor Daly in the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet, as drivers with at least 10 Indy 500 starts posted the five fastest speeds on the first day of the test.

SEE: Test Overall Speeds | Test Overall No-Tow Speeds | Wednesday AM | Wednesday PM

“No, no, never expected that,” Brazilian driver Collet said. “Obviously, the team has a good background here and has done really, really well the last couple of years, especially last year. As a rookie, I was just trying to learn things and see how everything went. But the team, they did a really good job and got me up to speed quickly, and I got really comfortable.

“Obviously, a lot of things I still have to learn, especially in traffic. I have to understand how to manage traffic and how to get by people. But I think by myself I felt really good, and the team gave me a really good car both days.”

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was second at 226.223 in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, also turned early in the session. Newgarden also led the afternoon session at 225.617.

Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou stepped up the speed chart by ending up third at 225.272 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Two-time “500” runner-up Pato O’Ward was fourth at 225.109 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato rounded out the top five today at 224.957 in the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

All the top speeds over the two-day test on the historic 2.5-mile oval were boosted by a “tow,” the phenomenon when cars deeper in a line gain speed due to the leading cars creating a slipstream.

Once again, veteran Jack Harvey was the fastest driver running without a “tow.” His top solo lap of 221.112 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet was even faster than his best solitary lap of 220.318 that led the “no-tow” charts Tuesday.

But there was a damper to Harvey’s continued solo speed. A large, billowing plume of white smoke erupted from the rear of his car between Turns 3 and 4 in traffic midway through the afternoon, and Harvey hurried into the pits. His day was over due to a mechanical problem.

“I had a little bit of a hesitation on the exit of (Turn) 3 and just looked down and saw the smoke immediately,” Harvey said. “I’ve had engines that have had issues here in the past, and when it happens it’s normally very obvious. What happened then wasn’t.

“Not how we wanted to end the day, but I still think overall it’s been a pretty productive test.”

Katherine Legge completed her veteran refresher test in the No. 11 HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. All 33 drivers are eligible to participate when practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge opens Tuesday, May 12, as all four rookies and four other veterans completed their required testing Tuesday.

All 33 cars combined to turn 4,697 incident-free laps – 11,742.5 miles – over the two-day test. Other than Harvey’s mechanical problem, the closest thing to an incident Wednesday occurred when a fox ran on the racing surface from the infield, triggering an immediate caution flag until the animal scurried from the facility.

Up next for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix, which opens the Month of May on May 8-9 on the IMS road course. The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24.

For more information or to buy tickets for both events, visit IMS.com.

 

 

 

If there was one common trend in the first day of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test, it’s that experience matters.

The top five drivers on the speed chart Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway each have made at least 10 starts in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as 12-time “500” starter Conor Daly led with a best lap of 225.394 mph in the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet.

SEE: Day 1 Test Results | Day 1 No-Tow Results

“There are several cars that aren’t running their race cars yet,” Daly said. “It’s just testing; we can’t overreact to test results. But honestly, every time we went out there, we did seem to be pretty quick, which is good. Our mission this month (May) is one day at a time.”

The most experienced driver in the field, four-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves, was second at 225.200 in the No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda. Castroneves is making his 26th Indy 500 start this season as he tries to become the first driver to win the race five times.

Another driver with vast experience, two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato, was third at 224.800 in the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. Sato has made 16 “500” starts.

Daly, Castroneves and Sato each turned their best laps on the fabled 2.5-mile oval in the last 15 minutes of on-track action. Many cars circulated in large packs during “Happy Hour,” creating large aerodynamic “tows” that pulled the cars running toward the back of the line.

“Honestly, we changed pretty much everything but the color of the car for that last run, so we were not dialed in or optimized at all,” Daly said. “But this car is fast, so it’s easier to do those kinds of speeds when the car allows you to do it. It was a fun race car, but we were not in maximum race trim yet. Hopefully we’ll dial that in tomorrow and get a little more zesty with everyone out there.”

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon, who has made 23 “500” starts and won in 2008, was fourth at 224.564 in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Alexander Rossi, who won the 2016 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, rounded out the top five at 224.367 in the No. 20 ECR Chevrolet.

Nearly every driver’s fastest lap was aided by the “tow” from a leading car breaking a hole in the air. Leader Daly’s teammate, veteran Jack Harvey, was the fastest driver without any aerodynamic help, turning a top non-tow lap of 220.318 in the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet in a marquee day for the team that fields cars only in the Indianapolis 500.

Four Indianapolis 500 rookies and four veteran drivers completed the Rookie Orientation Program and veteran refresher tests, respectively. The rookies: Jacob Abel, Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher. The veterans: Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, Jack Harvey and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

“I think it’s obviously the best thing I’ve done in my life,” said Collet, driver of the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet. “The first time you’re actually here, you see guys flying by and think, ‘Oh, can I really do that?’ Once you get in the car, the team does a good job prepping you to be here and to do the laps. We got it all done, got up to speed quite quickly.”

Thirty-two of the 33 cars at the track combined to turn 2,262 incident-free laps – 5,655 miles, the approximate driving distance from Los Angeles to New York and back – on Tuesday. The eight-hour session was divided into six hours of track time for veterans and two hours for Rookie Orientation and veteran refresher tests. Katherine Legge, who was named to drive an HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet on Monday, was the only driver not on track.

Track activity during the two-day test continues from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Wednesday. The track is open to all cars from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., with noon-1 p.m. reserved for Legge’s refresher test.

Admission is free, with general admission seating in the Southeast Vista in Turn 2 and the Turn 2 mounds via Tunnel 3. Free parking is available in Lot 3P. All sessions also will be streamed live on the INDYCAR YouTube channel.

Practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts Tuesday, May 12. Race Day is Sunday, May 24. For more information or to buy tickets, visit IMS.com.

 

Motorsports Legend Jimmie Johnson To Drive NFL Star on Race Day

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 23, 2026) – Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pierce was selected by the Colts in the second round, with the 53rd overall pick, of the 2022 National Football League Draft. He has completed four seasons with the Colts and has developed into one of the top receivers in the league.

Illinois native Pierce, who played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati, produced his best season in 2025. He had 47 receptions for 1,003 yards – his first career 1,000-yard season – and led the NFL in yards per catch at 21.34. He also scored six touchdowns.

Pierce signed a four-year contract with the Colts in March after his breakthrough season.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Indianapolis 500 veteran Jimmie Johnson will drive Pierce in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat, leading the field of 33 drivers to the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” before sold-out grandstands at the world’s largest spectator sporting facility.

Pierce joins a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers before a global audience and the FOX national broadcast. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride has been taken by the likes of Tom Brady, Simu Liu, Jon Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Channing Tatum and Rudy Pankow.

Coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge begins at 10 a.m. ET Sunday on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One. The green flag is expected at 12:45 p.m. ET.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a thrilling and demanding set of ovals and road and street circuits. The full schedule is available here.

 

NTT extends its sponsorship of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, entering new phase of partnership

NTT and NTT DATA accelerate outcomes for Penske Entertainment through advanced AI and data capabilities

Partnership enhances growing momentum across sport, including rising viewership

  

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 22, 2026) – NTT, Inc., together with NTT DATA Group Corporation, today announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Under the renewed agreement, NTT has expanded its role beyond race analytics and fan engagement to provide advanced AI and data capabilities for Penske Entertainment and INDYCAR. This includes AI-driven operations, real‑time decision intelligence and emissions visibility across INDYCAR, the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and marquee events within the Penske Entertainment portfolio.

110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

NTT, along with its subsidiary NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, will continue as the Official Technology Partner for INDYCAR, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, IMS, the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

“Our partnership has evolved from series‑level analytics into an enterprise‑wide AI and data intelligence collaboration,” said Akira Shimada, president and CEO, NTT. “In addition to powering race‑day analytics and enabling AI‑driven intelligence that supports safety, sustainability and decision‑making, NTT is applying data and AI at scale with our clients and partners to create a more connected, resilient and responsible future.”

Evolving the Fan Experience Through AI-Driven Intelligence

During a typical race weekend, including the Indianapolis 500, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES generates billions of real‑time data points from cars, teams and track operations. NTT DATA provides actionable insights to inform race control, operations teams, broadcast partners and event planners to support faster, more precise decisions.

Penske Entertainment and NTT DATA are deploying AI to transform how fans experience INDYCAR – starting with “Up To Speed,” a new AI‑powered feature delivering smarter, more dynamic race insights to fans, alongside expanded real‑time data, content and digital experiences coming online throughout this season. The new “Up To Speed” feature is available now on the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

700,000+ new users have downloaded the reimagined INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA since its 2023 re-launch, driving an overall usage increase of more than 30% with fans in more than 100 countries reflecting expanded international interest in motorsports.

NTT DATA Provides Developments in Sustainability and Safety

  • Emissions tracking and sustainability accountability were strengthened through carbon accounting and automated data collection, supporting Penske Entertainment’s “Racing toward Zero” initiative across 100+ organizations and partners.
  • A state‑of‑the‑art tracking platform streamlines data collection, reduces reporting gaps and provides improved visibility for emissions measurement.
  • AI‑driven Venue Solutions at IMS support real‑time decision‑making across the 1,000‑acre venue, using predictive modeling, advanced connectivity and analytics to enhance crowd management, traffic planning and operational safety.

With attendance rising annually to over 350,000 fans on site, including a sold‑out race in 2025 and 2026, NTT DATA delivers critical data to provide a safe, seamless, high‑quality experience at scale.

“Leading into another iconic edition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ we are thrilled to continue our world-class partnership with NTT,” said Roger Penske, founder and chairman, Penske Corporation. “Their significant expertise as a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services is integral to how we build engagement across INDYCAR’s fanbase and provide a top-notch customer experience at the Racing Capital of the World. This is a partnership based on trust and a shared commitment to innovation and excellence, providing all the foundational attributes necessary for a long-term and highly successful relationship.”

The announcement comes on heels of significant momentum driven during NTT’s ongoing immersive partnership with Penske Entertainment.

To read more about NTT and NTT DATA’s data and AI services visit: https://www.nttdata.com/global/en/services/generative-ai.

 

 

INDYCAR Officiating Announces Indianapolis 500 Post-Qualifying Technical Violations and Penalties

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 17, 2026) – INDYCAR Officiating has announced post-qualifying technical inspection penalties for the entries of No. 4 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises and No. 24 of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

During post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, INDYCAR Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing were in violation of:

  • Rule 14.12.1.1. EMS must be used as supplied by Dallara and approved by INDYCAR.
  • Rule 14.12.1.6. EMS covers may only be attached with the supplied hardware and Helicopter Tape.

Both cars (Nos. 4 and 24) have had their qualifying results disallowed and have been re-ordered to the rear of the field in order of entrant points.

Additionally, Car No. 4 had its three Indy 500 qualification points also disallowed. Subsequently, Car Nos. 9 and 76 will be awarded 10th and 11th place Indy 500 qualification points. Car No. 75 is ineligible for qualification points as it did not participate in Top 12 qualifying.

Car Nos. 4 and 24 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.

Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – INDYCAR and INDYCAR Officiating have announced an operating practice and process update following a review of the on-track incident involving car No. 20 during the Saturday, May 9 race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

On Lap 21, car No. 20 lost power and stopped on the front straightaway on drivers’ right of the track – off the racing line. Course marshals followed standard flagging protocol and deployed a standing yellow condition at Marshal Panel 14, with a corresponding waving yellow condition at Marshal Panel S/F (start-finish) to alert competitors to the stationary car. The escalation to a full course yellow (FCY) was made on Lap 22 as the driver began to exit the race car.

Following race control practice, the assessment of whether and when to escalate a local yellow to a FCY included the weighing of the following standard factors: driver egress, vehicle position, recovery vehicle access, safety team locations, laps remaining and the timing of approaching traffic to the incident. Additional factors on timing of a FCY also included pit windows and the running order of cars on track.

Effective immediately, INDYCAR Officiating will no longer take into consideration pit windows and the running order of cars on track before deploying a FCY. While there is no change to local yellow procedures, initiation of a FCY will be based primarily on: driver status, vehicle position and condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery access, and the speed differential between affected cars and approaching traffic.

“The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a full course yellow,” INDYCAR Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board chair Raj Nair said. “INDYCAR Officiating, with INDYCAR’s full support, has made this change of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the full course yellow escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor.”

Added INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles: “The most important job in race control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers and fans. Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central mission and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss over the last 48 hours. The Independent Officiating Board, the new managing director of officiating, race director and INDYCAR are all in agreement and the metrics used to determine when to initiate a full course yellow will now ensure that when there is any risk to driver safety that race control will initiate a full course yellow.”

The race result from Saturday’s race on the IMS road course stands as posted. The updated flag escalation standard has been communicated to teams and drivers.

The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Sunday, May 24. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One. Audio coverage is available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

 
 

Additional Round on Sunday To Set Top 12 Round, Add Another Layer of Intense Competition in Quest for Pole Position

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 11, 2026) – What is widely regarded as the most powerful and pressure-filled four laps in motorsports have become even more challenging and ultimately more rewarding for the driver and team that claim pole position for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

INDYCAR has announced an update to the PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying with Day One scheduled for Saturday, May 16 and Day Two Sunday, May 17. Both will set the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It begins with Day One of qualifying from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. ET, which will determine positions 16-33 for the “500.” The fastest nine cars from Day One also will be locked into the Top 12 qualifying session on Day Two earning the opportunity to advance to the Firestone Fast Six and a spot to compete for the coveted NTT P1 Award and start from pole position on Race Day.

Cars ranked 10-15 on Day One will advance to the Final 15 round on Day Two and will have the opportunity to compete for the three spots remaining to fill the Top 12 round. Starting in reverse order of qualifying speeds based on Day One (15, 14, 13, 12, 11 and 10), each of the six cars will have one attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest three will advance to the Top 12 qualifying round.

At approximately 5 p.m., Top 12 Qualifying will begin with the three advancing cars from Final 15 – slowest to fastest – followed by the cars, from ninth to first, that advanced to the round based on speeds from Day One. Like in previous years, the fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. Those finishing seventh through 12th will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their time and speed.

In the Firestone Fast Six at approximately 6:35 p.m., each entrant is again given one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualifying results. The fastest driver earns pole position and the accompanying $100,000 prize, while the remaining five drivers complete the first two rows of the starting grid.

“Next to Race Day, Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend is a can’t-miss moment on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis Motor Speedway calendar,” INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “As the past few seasons have proven, INDYCAR has an incredibly deep and world-class field filled with current and rising stars. This expanded format, which includes all rounds on FOX, will shine a massive spotlight on the remarkable skill it takes to start toward the front of our sport’s biggest event.

“Winning pole position for the ‘500’ carries with it one of the most prestigious honors in all of motorsports, and we know our fans – whether spending the day with us at the track or watching on FOX – will look forward to celebrating this year’s pole winner.”

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to the 12th fastest (one point).

PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Schedule (All times ET, subject to change):

Saturday, May 16

8:30-9:30 a.m. Pre-Qualifying Practice: FS2, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying (Determining positions 16-33): 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on FS2, 2-4 p.m. on FS1, 4-6 p.m. on FOX; INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

Sunday, May 17

1-2 p.m. Final 15 Practice (Positions 10-15 from Day One): FS2, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

2-3 p.m. Top 12 Practice (Positions 1-9 from Day One): FS2, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

4 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Final 15 Qualifying (Positions 13-15 determined, fastest three advance to Top 12): FOX, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

  • Fans will be able to salute the advancing teams during a cool-down period, which will include laps behind the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Pace Car. Traveling at 100 mph, the laps will allow air to flow through the air ducts to help cool the engines before the dramatic next round.

5 p.m.* Top 12 Qualifying (Positions 7-12 determined, fastest six advance to Firestone Fast Six): FOX, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

  • Fans will be able to salute the advancing teams during a cool-down period, which will include laps behind the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X Pace Car. Traveling at 100 mph, the laps will allow air to flow through the air ducts to help cool the engines before the dramatic next round.

6:35 p.m.* Firestone Fast Six: FOX, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

7 p.m.* NTT P1 Award Presentation: FOX, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls

*Times are approximate

A practice session for the Indianapolis 500 field is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Monday, May 18, with live coverage on FS1.

Live coverage of the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 24 on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One, with audio coverage available on INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

 

 

 

Indiana Pacers Guard Andrew Nembhard in Fastest Seat at Sonsio GP

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race on IMS Road Course Kicks Off Epic Month of May

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 6, 2026) – Andrew Nembhard, point guard for the Indiana Pacers, will ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 9.

Nembhard was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He has completed four seasons with the Pacers and has proved to be one of the NBA's best and most versatile defensive players.

Providing some of the most memorable moments in Pacers’ postseason history, Nembhard is known for hitting key shots during Indiana's deep playoff runs over the past three seasons. He signed a contract extension to stay in Indiana in 2024 and helped lead the Pacers to the NBA Finals for the second time in team history in June 2025. Nembhard averaged career highs this season with 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game and will be a key returning member of the Pacers' core for the 2026-27 season.

He joins a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers as he leads the field to the green flag in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride has been taken by the likes of Tom Brady, Simu Liu, Jon Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Channing Tatum and Rudy Pankow. Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton has been in the Fastest Seat in Sports at the very same race.

Coverage of the Sonsio Grand Prix begins at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on FOX One.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with drivers competing at speeds of 200+ mph across a thrilling and demanding set of ovals and road and street circuits. The full schedule is available here.

 

Expanded Availability of Push to Pass in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,

INDY NXT by Firestone To Provide Additional Opportunities for Enhanced Action

 

Expanded Availability of Push to Pass in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,

INDY NXT by Firestone To Provide Additional Opportunities for Enhanced Action

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 5, 2026) – INDYCAR has announced an update for Push to Pass usage for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone.

Beginning with this week’s events on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and for all subsequent road and street circuit races, Push to Pass – a driver-controlled system that provides roughly 60 extra horsepower via increased turbocharger boost – will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed.

Expanded availability, which now includes use on race restarts, will provide teams and drivers additional tools and overtake possibilities during the crucial moments of race restarts. The rule prohibiting passing prior to the restart line remains in effect.

“The Push to Pass software failure at the Streets of Long Beach allowed INDYCAR an opportunity to fully review the rules of the system and consider any improvements, including leaving Push to Pass available on restarts,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Push to Pass is a driver and team enhancement, which has evolved since its introduction in 2009, and – working with stakeholders – we believe it’s time for this additional update.

“While maybe ironic on how we transitioned to this procedural revision, we look forward to seeing how this new opportunity to use Push to Pass will enhance strategy and the potential for even more wheel-to-wheel action.”

Push to Pass timing parameters, including time and maximum time per push, remain unchanged.

The update comes as INDYCAR Officiating, in a separate announcement, provided its findings following a thorough review of the Push to Pass software failure, corrective measures and other rule updates.

“This has been a superb example of INDYCAR Officiating and INDYCAR working together to provide our sport outcomes that will greatly benefit on-track competition,” Boles said. “We are confident in the update to the software and are gratified with the outcome of this full review.”

The next race for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix, round six of the 2026 championship, Saturday, May 9. Coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One and the FOX Sports app. INDY NXT has its second doubleheader of 2026 with Race 1 on the IMS road course scheduled for 4 p.m. ET Friday, May 8 on FOX Sports’ FS2 and Race 2 at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 on FS1.

Audio coverage is available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

 

Sonsio Grand Prix Fast Facts
Race weekend: Friday, May 8-Saturday, May 9

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | | Weekend Event Schedule (PDF)

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 85 laps / 207.3 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 35 laps / 85.365 miles or 55 minutes (Race 1 - Friday); 30 laps / 73.17 miles or 50 minutes (Race 2 - Saturday)

Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum single duration of 20 seconds. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time. Push to Pass will be available and allowed for use at all times once the car passes the alternate start-finish line following the start and once the green flag has been displayed.

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary (hard) and five sets alternate (soft) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires in the first practice session. Teams must use one set of primary and one new (sticker) set of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend, with one new set used for qualifying and another new set used during one of the two races. Qualifying tires must be used during one of the two races. Two carryover sets from the Barber Motorsports Park event may be used during pre-qualifying practice.

X: @IMS, @IndyCar, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Instagram: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Threads: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYGP, #INDYCAR

Facebook: @indianapolismotorspeedway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR

TikTok: @indianapolismotorspeedwy, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR

YouTube: @IMS, @INDYCAR

Event website: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: www.indycar.com | INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2025 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global)

Race 2: Dennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global)

2025 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES):

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1 minute, 9.3417 seconds, 126.625 mph

2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:

Race 1: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.7849, 117.410 mph

Race 2: Lochie Hughes (No. 26 Andretti Global) 1:14.8433, 117.317 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Ed Jones 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 9 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 1 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Warmup, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | INDY NXT By Firestone: Practice 1, 8 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, Noon ET Friday, FOX One App (live); Race 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Race 2, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.

INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Alex Wolff, Rob Blackman and Rich Nye are the pit reporters. The Sonsio Grand Prix race (4 p.m. ET Saturday), the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix doubleheader (3:55 p.m. ET Friday and 2:55 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, MAY 8

8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 (Live)

9:05-10:25 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS2 (Live)

Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each), FOX One (Live)

1:05-2:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS1 (Live)

4:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”

4:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS2 (Live)

5:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), FS2 (Live)

SATURDAY, MAY 9

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)

2:31 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”

2:36 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (30 laps/50 minutes), FS1 (Live)

4:30 p.m. FOX on air

4:40 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

4:47 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)

“WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT IMS:

  1. Palou chasing more history: Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing has won three of 2026’s first five races and leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings by 17 points. He’ll look to add to his historic INDYCAR SERIES run this weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Palou has won the past three Sonsio Grands Prix and could become the fifth driver since 1946 to win four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES events at the same track.
RACE WINNER TRACK SEASONS
Al Rogers Pikes Peak (Hill Climb) 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951
A.J. Foyt DuQuoin 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964*

* - No race held in 1962
Bobby Rahal Laguna Seca 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Al Unser Jr. Long Beach 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

* Note: A.J. Foyt (Five straight wins at Trenton 1963-64), Mario Andretti (Mont Tremblant, 1967-68) and Rick Mears (Atlanta, 1979, 1981-82) won four consecutive races at the same track.

  1. Penske’s Power Play: It’s fitting that Roger Penske owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway, because IMS has long been a Team Penske playground. Team Penske’s Indy dominance, which includes 20 wins in the Indianapolis 500, also carries over to races on the 2.439-mile road course. Will Power scored five of Team Penske’s eight wins on the road course, with the other wins coming from Simon Pagenaud (2016, 2019) and Josef Newgarden (2020). Can a Team Penske driver start the Month of May off strong for “The Captain”?

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

  • The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the 18th INDYCAR SERIES event conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Active race winners expected to compete are Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Will Power 5 2015, 2017, 2018 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-2); 2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Alex Palou 3 2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix), 2024, 2025
Scott Dixon 2 2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix); 2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Josef Newgarden 1 2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)
Alexander Rossi 1 2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Rinus VeeKay 1 2021 (Sonsio Grand Prix)
  • Seven NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course from the pole: Alex Palou won the last two Sonsio Grands Prix from the pole. Will Power won the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Sonsio Grands Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020 from the pole. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.
ACTIVE POLE WINNER POLES SEASONS
Will Power 5 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 (Sonsio Grand Prix and Harvest Grand Prix-2)
Alex Palou 2 2024, 2025
Felix Rosenqvist 2 2019, 2022 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Graham Rahal 1 2023 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Christian Lundgaard 1 2023 (Sonsio Grand Prix)
Pato O’Ward 1 2021 (Gallagher Grand Prix)
Rinus VeeKay 1 2020 (Harvest Grand Prix-1)
  • Four drivers have competed in every INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.
  • Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has five wins - with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1, 2024 and 2025. Andretti Global and ECR are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Global won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August 2022, while ECR won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay.
  • Three NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher - are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car on the IMS road course for the first time. Hauger won one of the two INDY NXT by Firestone races at the track in 2025.
  • Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 362nd consecutive start, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:

  • INDY NXT by Firestone will conduct a doubleheader weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend with a 35-lap race on Friday and a 30-lap race on Saturday. Teenagers have dominated the first quarter of the season with 17-year-old Nikita Johnson leading the points on the strength of two wins. Two other youngsters – 18-year-old Max Taylor and 19-year-old Alessandro de Tullio have also won this season.
  • A record 24-car field for the INDY NXT Grand Prix of Indianapolis doubleheader is expected at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There were 21 cars in 2024 and 2025. Two drivers who have won INDY NXT by Firestone races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are expected to compete. Andretti Global’s Lochie Hughes won one of the doubleheader races in 2025 and Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s Matteo Nannini won a race at IMS in 2023.
  • A busy day of activity will greet drivers this weekend as practice and group qualifying precede Race 1. Like all road and street circuits, the Indianapolis doubleheader grid will be decided by two 10-minute groups, but with a twist. Based on the best lap times from the practice session, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 10 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded Race 1 pole position. The drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, will occupy the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group will occupy the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). The second-best laps set by each driver in their group will apply to Race 2. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.
 

NXT SERIES

 

www.indynxt.com

Indy NXT (pronounced "Indy Next"), previously Indy Lights, is an American developmental automobile racing series sanctioned by IndyCar, currently known as INDY NXT by Firestone for sponsorship reasons. Indy NXT is the highest step on the Road to Indy, a program of racing series leading up to the IndyCar Series.

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 9, 2026) – Tymek Kucharczyk was Mr. Consistency for the first five races of the INDY NXT by Firestone season. But now he’s a winner.

Series rookie Kucharczyk, the first Polish driver to compete in the INDYCAR development series, earned his first career victory by holding off Max Taylor to win Race 2 of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

SEE: Race Results

“What a special day,” Kucharczyk said. “To do it here, coming back to November in my first test in an INDY NXT car, now a winner here at Indy, it’s spectacular. I’m so grateful to my sponsors, to my team. It was a tough race. It was really, really hard to hold Max behind me. He was pushing me for the whole race.”

Kucharczyk was the only driver to record a top-five finish in the first five races this season, but his best was third place, three times. He finished fourth in Race 1 of this doubleheader in mixed conditions Friday.

But Kucharczyk climbed from fifth to the lead after the first two turns on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit, leading all 30 laps in the No. 71 HMD Motorsports car. He took the checkered flag .6273 of a second ahead of Taylor in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen machine of Andretti Global after a taut, race-long duel in the caution-free race.

Enzo Fittipaldi, who won Race 1 Friday, prevailed in an exciting three-way fight over the last 10 laps of the race for the final podium spot in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports machine. Lochie Hughes placed fourth in the No. 26 Andretti Global car, with Alessandro de Tullio rounding out the top five in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing entry.

Series leader Nikita Johnson placed sixth in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR car. Kucharczyk climbed to second in the standings with his win, 11 points behind Johnson.

There were two main flashpoints in the race, which took place under sunny skies in a contrast to the wet conditions at the finish Friday.

The first came at the green flag. Taylor started from pole and went side by side with Josh Pierson’s No. 29 Starchive Andretti entry of Andretti Global, with both cars going wide. Kucharczyk snuck through the opening for the lead, with Taylor clinging to second.

Kucharczyk maintained a gap of six- to seven-tenths of a second for the next 16 laps before the second main incident of the race. Kucharczyk locked his right front wheel braking for Turn 1 on Lap 17, creating a large flat spot on his Firestone Firehawk tire.

“Other than the lockup that I made midway through the race, it was a pretty flawless execution,” Kucharczyk said. “I don’t think we had probably the fastest car on the grid today, but the first lap helped me massively. Max was pushing really hard, so I had to save the Push to Pass at the end, as well. It’s all good. I made it happen, so super, super grateful.”

Taylor pulled to within .4807 of a second on Lap 23, and it appeared the flat spot on his tire may have started to sap speed from Kucharczyk. But the Pole managed his tires and saved enough Push to Pass engine boost to increase the gap to .7830 of a second on Lap 25. He maintained a steady gap to the checkered flag.

“That was everything,” Taylor said of his effort. “I thought we were going to catch him. I messed up on the start, I think. So, something to look over. But still good points, decent points this weekend, and a lot to take away and a lot to improve on if we want to win this championship.”

Taylor is third in the standings, three points behind Kucharczyk and 14 behind Johnson.

The next INDY NXT by Firestone race is the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, May 31 on the streets of Detroit.

 

 

NDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 8, 2026) – Enzo Fittipaldi charged from 10th on the starting grid and outdueled Lochie Hughes in changing weather conditions Friday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to earn his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory.

Fittipaldi, driving the No. 67 HMD Motorsports entry, became the fourth first-time winner in five races this season, joining fellow rookies Nikita Johnson, Max Taylor and Alessandro de Tullio as maiden winners in 2026 with his victory in Race 1 of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader.

SEE: Race Results

“Honestly, that was probably one of the best drives of my career,” Fittipaldi said. “I just can’t thank my team enough. We had a tricky qualifying. We knew we had the pace. Just so happy with the race today. We were flying there in the dry and in the wet. We started P10 and won the race. I didn’t expect this but knew the win was coming.”

Fittipaldi also added another chapter to his family’s history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His grandfather Emerson Fittipaldi won the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1993. His cousin Christian Fittipaldi teamed with Joao Barbosa to win the 2014 Brickyard Grand Prix sports car race at IMS, giving the family two wins on the iconic 2.5-mile oval and two on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

“It’s a huge amount of weight,” Fittipaldi said. “My family has a very successful history here in Indianapolis and the Indy 500. This legendary track, to get my first race win here in INDY NXT is very special. I’m just so happy and so stoked. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my whole team supporting me. They did a great job.”

Johnson finished third in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR entry after charging from 10th to fifth by Lap 19. He gained two more spots to earn his fourth podium finish in five starts this season, including two victories at St. Petersburg and Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park.

HMD Motorsports rookie Tymek Kucharczyk finished fourth in the No. 71 entry, while Max Taylor finished fifth in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen Andretti Global car after slipping from third during the wet portion of the race.

The race turned on weather. Hughes led the opening 12 laps from pole before rain started and intensified, bringing out a caution on Lap 11. A lap later, the field was red-flagged to allow teams to switch to wet Firestone Firehawk tires and make adjustments, as the INDYCAR development series does not include scheduled pit stops.

Fittipaldi had climbed from 10th to third before the stoppage, then quickly closed on Hughes after racing resumed on Lap 16. Fittipaldi and the Andretti Global driver dueled for several laps before Fittipaldi made the winning pass on Lap 25 exiting Turn 9, one of a race-record 284 on-track passes.

A late caution on Lap 28 for Bryce Aron’s No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry stopping in Turn 6 sealed the result, allowing Fittipaldi to cross the Yard of Bricks first on the next lap in the race that became a timed event because of the red flag.

Despite leading 25 of the 29 laps completed, Hughes settled for second in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry, a result he badly needed.

Hughes, a second-year driver, was the top returning points finisher after placing third as a rookie last year. He struggled at the start of this season, seventh in points entering this event with two fifth-place finishes as his best results.

“Considering the last few rounds that we had, this is a step in the right direction where we should be,” Hughes said. “When it really started raining, I had just a bit less grip than the cars around me. Nevertheless, a great result. A solid podium and a great start to the rest of the season.”

Pole sitter de Tullio endured a chaotic opening lap after locking his brakes entering Turn 1 and driving through the runoff area. Multiple incidents around the circuit shuffled the order further, including contact involving Myles Rowe, Salvador de Alba and Max Garcia in Turn 6, along with separate contact between Johnson and Kucharczyk in Turn 12.

De Tullio recovered to finish ninth in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing entry.

Fittipaldi’s win vaulted him from fourth to second in the standings, 23 points behind Johnson entering Saturday’s second race of the doubleheader. The 30-lap race is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

Taylor and de Tullio again will share the front row for Race 2, this time with Taylor starting from pole position.

 

 

INDYCAR SERIESNXT SERIES
 

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Date Venue
Sunday, March 1 Streets of St. Petersburg
Saturday, March 7 Phoenix Raceway
Sunday, March 15 Streets of Arlington
Sunday, March 29 Barber Motorsports Park
Sunday, April 19 Streets of Long Beach
Saturday, May 9 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Sunday, May 24 The 110th Indianapolis 500
Sunday, May 31 Streets of Detroit
Sunday, June 7 World Wide Technology Raceway
Sunday, June 21 Road America
Sunday, July 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Sunday, July 19 Nashville Superspeedway
Sunday, Aug. 9 Portland International Raceway
Sunday, Aug. 16 Streets of Markham
Saturday, Aug. 29 Milwaukee Mile Race 1
Sunday, Aug. 30 Milwaukee Mile Race 2
Sunday, Sept. 6 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
 

2026 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE

Date Venue
Sunday, March 1 Streets of St. Petersburg
Sunday, March 15 Streets of Arlington
Saturday, March 28 Barber Motorsports Park Race 1
Sunday, March 29 Barber Motorsports Park Race 2
Friday, May 8 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 1
Saturday, May 9 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 2
Sunday, May 31 Streets of Detroit
Sunday, June 7 World Wide Technology Raceway
Saturday, June 20 Road America Race 1
Sunday, June 21 Road America Race 2
Saturday, July 4 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Race 1
Sunday, July 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Race 2
Sunday, July 19 Nashville Superspeedway
Sunday, Aug. 9 Portland International Raceway
Sunday, Aug. 30 Milwaukee Mile
Saturday, Sept. 5 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1
Sunday, Sept. 6 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 2

 

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