IndyCar Calendar

The NTT IndyCar Series represents the pinnacle of open-wheel racing in North America, where drivers compete across ovals, street circuits, and permanent road courses. With speeds exceeding 230 mph and powerful twin-turbocharged engines, the series delivers intense wheel-to-wheel racing and demands exceptional versatility from its competitors.

What is IndyCar?

IndyCar features the most diverse racing competition in motorsport, requiring drivers to master three distinct disciplines within a single championship. The series showcases open-wheel cars powered by 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines from Honda and Chevrolet, producing over 750 horsepower. Each vehicle incorporates advanced aerodynamic packages and the Aeroscreen safety system, which protects drivers while maintaining the traditional open-wheel design. Firestone develops specific tire compounds for different track types, ensuring optimal performance across all racing conditions.

2026 Season Structure

The 2026 season features 18 races spanning March through September, making it the longest calendar in over a decade. The championship includes six oval races, six street courses, and six permanent road courses. The season opens March 1st at St. Petersburg and concludes September 6th at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Notable additions include Phoenix Raceway's return after an eight-year absence, plus new street races in Arlington, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Markham, Ontario. The Indianapolis 500 remains the centerpiece event on May 24th, while the Milwaukee Mile hosts a doubleheader and Nashville Superspeedway features a night race.

Weekend Format and Qualifying

Road and street course events utilize a split-group practice format. The first practice session includes a 40-minute segment for all cars, followed by two 12-minute runs with the field divided into groups. The second practice mirrors this structure. Pre-race warm-up sessions run for 30 minutes.

Most road and street course qualifying follows a knockout format with three segments, culminating in the Firestone Fast Six where the fastest qualifiers compete in single-car, single-lap runs for pole position. The Indianapolis 500 features a unique multi-day qualifying process, including elimination rounds on Day 1 to set positions 16-33, followed by Day 2's Fast 15, Top 12, and final Firestone Fast Six sessions to determine pole.

Championship and Scoring

Points are awarded based on race results, pole positions, and laps led, rewarding both consistency and strong performance throughout each race weekend. The champion must excel across all three track types, demonstrating the versatility that defines IndyCar competition. Success requires adapting to high-speed ovals where pack racing and sustained speeds above 230 mph test nerve and precision, technical road courses with complex corner sequences and elevation changes, and demanding street circuits where drivers navigate concrete barriers with minimal margin for error.

Technical Regulations and Safety

The 2026 season introduces updated tire usage requirements for street courses, mandating two uses of Firestone's alternate compound and one use of the primary compound, with drivers completing at least two green-flag laps on each set. New superspeedway flaps have been mandated for the Indianapolis 500, positioned atop the rear tire ramps to deploy during spins and reduce the likelihood of cars becoming airborne. INDYCAR Officiating, a new independent body, oversees all competition officiating and technical inspections.

Teams and Drivers

The 2026 grid features defending champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Álex Palou at Chip Ganassi Racing, alongside established competitors like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Pato O'Ward. Significant driver movements include Will Power's transfer to Andretti Global, David Malukas joining Team Penske, and former Formula One drivers Mick Schumacher at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Romain Grosjean continuing with Dale Coyne Racing. The series attracts international talent and develops new competitors through the Road to Indy ladder system.