IndyCar - Bommarito Automotive Group 500

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 returns to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, for its 10th annual running as a primetime NTT IndyCar Series event. This 2026 edition, presented by Axalta and Valvoline, brings 260 laps of IndyCar racing to the unique 1.25-mile oval just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. The weekend features a tripleheader format with INDY NXT by Firestone and USAC Silver Crown races alongside the main IndyCar event.

Race Weekend Format

The 2026 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 weekend offers multiple days of racing action. The event includes "Free Friday," which gives fans the opportunity to walk the oval and enjoy a campground concert. Practice and qualifying sessions for both the NTT IndyCar Series and INDY NXT by Firestone take place on Saturday, with IndyCar teams running opening practice, qualifying, high-line practice, and a final full-field practice under the lights.

Sunday hosts race day activities, beginning with USAC Silver Crown practice and qualifying, followed by their "OUTFRONT Route 66 Classic" race. The INDY NXT by Firestone feature race precedes the main event, with IndyCar drivers participating in an autograph session at the American Legion booth in the midway. The NTT IndyCar Series race covers 260 laps for a total of 325 miles and airs live on FOX during primetime.

World Wide Technology Raceway Circuit

World Wide Technology Raceway features an egg-shaped oval configuration that creates unique racing conditions. The 1.25-mile track has asymmetrical corners with different banking in each turn. Turns 1 and 2 carry 11 degrees of banking, while Turns 3 and 4 have 9 degrees of banking. The backstretch runs parallel to Illinois Route 203, which makes Turns 1 and 2 a tighter radius than Turns 3 and 4.

The facility covers over 380 acres and serves as the largest outdoor entertainment venue in the St. Louis region. Beyond the main oval, the complex includes a quarter-mile drag strip, a 2.0-mile infield road course, an older 1.6-mile course, and a karting facility. The racing surface received a multimillion-dollar repaving project in 2017 to improve track conditions for IndyCar competition.

Expected Participants

The 2026 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will feature the full NTT IndyCar Series field. Top teams including Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren, Andretti Global, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing compete in the series. Leading drivers from recent seasons typically return each year to challenge for victory on the Madison oval.

Josef Newgarden holds the record for most wins at World Wide Technology Raceway with five victories. Scott Dixon has made the most starts at the track among active drivers. The competitive field demonstrates the high level of talent in the NTT IndyCar Series, with multiple race winners and championship contenders expected to compete for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 trophy.

IndyCar Technical Specifications

Chassis and Engines

NTT IndyCar Series cars use spec racing components to promote close competition and control costs. All teams use the Dallara IR-18 chassis with a common aero kit. Power comes from 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines that produce over 700 horsepower. Honda and Chevrolet supply engines and compete for the Manufacturers' Championship throughout the season.

Hybrid Energy Recovery System

The 2026 season continues the use of the hybrid energy recovery system that IndyCar introduced in recent years. This system sits between the engine and transmission and adds 60 horsepower to the existing V6 engine output. The hybrid unit captures energy from braking and stores it in supercapacitors for quick deployment.

Drivers can deploy this stored energy to gain or defend track position, which supplements the traditional push-to-pass system. For oval races like the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, IndyCar mandates specific hybrid energy deployment parameters. Teams receive unlimited activation up to a maximum of 150 kilojoules per lap.

Tires and Safety Equipment

Firestone provides all tires for both the NTT IndyCar Series and INDY NXT by Firestone. Teams at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 receive ten new sets of tires for the weekend, with an additional set available for those participating in the high-line practice session. Recent safety developments include new superspeedway flaps that deploy during a spin to reduce lift and prevent cars from becoming airborne.

INDY NXT by Firestone Series

The INDY NXT by Firestone series serves as the development ladder for IndyCar and features rising stars competing on the same weekend as the main event. These cars use the Dallara IL-15 chassis and an Advanced Engine Research 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. The series includes paddle shifters and push-to-pass technology to prepare drivers for advancement to the NTT IndyCar Series.

Racing History at World Wide Technology Raceway

IndyCar racing at World Wide Technology Raceway began in 1997 when the track hosted the Motorola 300 CART series race. Paul Tracy won that first event, which took place the day before the Indianapolis 500. CART continued racing at the venue through 2000, and the Indy Racing League held events from 2001 to 2003.

After more than a decade without IndyCar racing, the series returned to the Madison facility in 2017 with the establishment of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The partnership with Bommarito Automotive Group helped bring IndyCar back to the St. Louis market. The track has now hosted multiple IndyCar Series races since the series resumed competition there.

Team Penske has earned nine victories at World Wide Technology Raceway throughout the venue's history. Other winners at the track include Paul Tracy, Gil de Ferran, Helio Castroneves, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power, and Scott Dixon. The track's unique configuration has produced competitive racing and multiple different winners over the years.

Notable Aspects of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500

The 2026 race marks the 10th running of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 since the event's establishment. World Wide Technology Raceway currently stands as the only motorsports venue in America to host NASCAR, IndyCar, and NHRA national events. This distinction highlights the facility's versatility and importance to American motorsports.

The track's egg-shaped oval with asymmetrical corners and varying banking creates unique challenges for drivers and engineers. This configuration produces close racing and requires specific setup choices that differ from other oval tracks on the IndyCar calendar. The primetime television slot on FOX brings the race to a national audience and showcases IndyCar racing under the lights.

The venue sits on land that was once dormant swampland, earning it the nickname "The Swamp" during its early days. Former Indy Lights driver Curtis Francois purchased the facility in 2011 after it had closed and implemented improvements that helped attract IndyCar and NASCAR Cup Series racing back to the venue. These upgrades transformed World Wide Technology Raceway into a modern motorsports complex.

What Makes This Event Special

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway offers fans a complete weekend of racing across multiple series. The tripleheader format provides action from USAC Silver Crown, INDY NXT by Firestone, and the NTT IndyCar Series. Free Friday activities give fans early access to the track and special experiences before the competitive sessions begin.

The location in Madison, Illinois, serves the greater St. Louis metropolitan area and brings IndyCar racing to the Midwest market. The primetime broadcast window allows fans across the country to watch the race during evening hours. The 260-lap format tests driver skill, team strategy, and equipment durability on the demanding oval circuit.

The combination of on-track action, fan accessibility, and the unique characteristics of World Wide Technology Raceway makes the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 a significant event on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule. The 2026 edition continues the tradition of bringing world-class open-wheel racing to Illinois and showcasing the speed and competition that defines the IndyCar series.