IMSA - TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks

The TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2026 season. This IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event brings multi-class sports car racing back to the famous Brickyard. Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts this competition on its road course layout, a fast and technical circuit that combines the legendary oval with a challenging infield section.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

The TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks features the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as its main race. This series runs four distinct classes on the same track at the same time. The 2026 race spans 2 hours and 40 minutes, testing both driver skill and machine endurance. Teams compete for championship points across multiple racing categories.

Grand Touring Prototype Class

The GTP class serves as the premier category in IMSA competition. These advanced prototype race cars use a common hybrid powertrain system. The technology recovers kinetic energy during braking and deploys it for additional power. Manufacturers including Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini, and Porsche field entries in this class. The 2026 season features 11 GTP entries from teams like Porsche Penske Motorsport, Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing, and Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian.

LMP2 Category

Le Mans Prototype 2 cars run as closed-cockpit prototypes. Approved constructors develop these machines according to global specifications. LMP2 entries can also compete in series like the FIA World Endurance Championship. Drivers in this class must complete minimum stints of 60 minutes, with a maximum drive time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

GT Daytona Pro

GTD PRO cars follow FIA GT3 technical regulations. This class allows factory-backed teams and professional driver lineups. The cars feature race-prepared versions of production-based sports cars. Teams in GTD PRO must observe minimum drive times of 10 minutes per stint.

GT Daytona Class

The GTD category also uses FIA GT3 specifications. Manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche supply machinery for this class. Drivers face minimum stints of 45 minutes and maximum drive times of 1 hour and 55 minutes. The Heart of Racing team has confirmed its participation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Aston Martin entries.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

The circuit measures 2.439 miles (3.920 km) in length. IMSA uses a 14-turn configuration that first appeared in 2013. The layout incorporates portions of the famous oval, including the front stretch where the original bricks still mark the start/finish line. The infield section presents a technical challenge with a mix of slow and fast corners.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened its road course in 2000. The facility has since hosted multiple racing series. The Brickyard earned its nickname from the 3.2 million bricks that originally paved the entire track in 1909. Today, a 36-inch strip of those original bricks remains at the start/finish line as a tribute to history.

The venue capacity exceeds 257,000 permanent seats. Total capacity can reach up to 400,000 spectators. This makes Indianapolis Motor Speedway one of the largest sporting facilities anywhere. The complex can fit multiple stadiums within its oval perimeter.

Race Weekend Structure

The TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks spans three days. Support series join the WeatherTech Championship on track. The Mazda MX-5 Cup, Porsche Carrera Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge all compete during the weekend. Each series runs practice sessions, qualifying, and races. NBC, Peacock, IMSA.TV, and YouTube provide broadcast coverage of the main race.

The full 2026 WeatherTech Championship season features 45 confirmed entries. Michelin Endurance Cup rounds attract over 50 entries with additional teams joining for the longer races.

Technical Features

IMSA categorizes its cars into two main styles: Prototype and GT. Prototypes include GTP and LMP2 classes. GT cars encompass GTD PRO and GTD categories. The GTP hybrid system adds complexity to race strategy. Teams must manage energy deployment while maintaining competitive pace.

A Leader Light System helps spectators follow the action. LED panels on each car display its position within its class. Color coding identifies the class: red indicates GTD PRO, while other colors mark different categories. This system makes it easier to track multi-class racing.

Sports Car Racing at the Brickyard

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course first welcomed sports cars in 2012. The GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series held the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix that year. GRAND-AM later merged with the American Le Mans Series in 2014 to form the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Battle on the Bricks name appeared when IMSA returned to the venue.

Sports car racing in Indianapolis predates the IMS road course. Events took place at other local venues during the 1950s and 1960s. The modern IMSA series continues this tradition. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR's Brickyard 400, Formula One, and MotoGP over its long history. The TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks adds another chapter to this diverse racing heritage.

The first competitive event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was actually a gas-filled balloon race in June 1909. Motorcycle races followed in August 1909. Automobile racing came later that same month. This varied sporting history reflects the facility's adaptability across different forms of competition.

What to Expect in 2026

The 2026 TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks promises close multi-class racing. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course layout favors both raw speed and technical precision. GTP hybrids will battle for overall victory while GT3 machinery fights for class honors. BMW M Team WRT brings factory support to the GTP class. The Heart of Racing continues its Aston Martin program in GT competition.

IMSA racing demands strategy alongside speed. Teams must manage fuel consumption, tire wear, and driver changes. The 2-hour, 40-minute race format creates multiple strategy options. Weather conditions can influence tire choice and pit stop timing. Multi-class traffic adds another variable as faster prototypes navigate through GT cars.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway provides a unique venue for IMSA competition. Few circuits combine such high-speed sections with tight technical corners. The front stretch allows prototypes to reach top speed. The infield demands precise car control. This combination tests every aspect of car setup and driver ability.