IndyCar Revises Driver License Standards

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IndyCar announced today new2 eligibility standards for participation in the NTT IndyCar Series. The new standards are an attempt to ensure rides go to drivers with qualifications and driving ability rather than anyone who can write a large enough check to get into a car.

I like that IndyNXT has a prioritize4d path to IndyCar. The top rung of the ladder series has needed more value, and these rules help provide it. The issue, as always, is seat availability.

The standards still allow for drivers from other major series to join the series [providing they have enough experience.

My concern is for teams like Dale Coyne Racing, who rely on large checks from a driver to fund their program for a season. Will Coyne need to sell a full charter or a part of one? How much time would that buy the team?

These standards will likely undergo some tweaking as they are put into practice.

Here are the new standards from iIdyCar:

I will have my Laguna Seca preview posted tomorrow morning.

Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey Fast Facts

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From IndyCar:

Race weekend: Friday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 6
Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an 11-turn, 2.238-mile permanent road course in Monterey, California
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey: 95 laps / 212.61 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1: 35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes; INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2: 30 laps / 67.14 miles / 50 minutes (each race)
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 350 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the Portland event may be used during Friday’s practice sessions.
X: @WeatherTechRcwy, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @weathertechraceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @WeatherTechRaceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.weathertechraceway.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com
INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2025 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESAlex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Race 1: Caio Collet (No. 76 HMD Motorsports)
Race 2: Caio Collet (No. 76 HMD Motorsports)
2025 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1:08.3413, 117.891 mph
2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners:Race 1: Caio Collet (No. 76 HMD Motorsports), 1:13.2566, 109.981 mph
Race 2: Caio Collet (No. 76 HMD Motorsports), 1:13.3283, 109.873 mph
Qualifying records: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Christian Lundgaard, 1:06.4610, 121.226 mph, Sept. 9, 2023
INDY NXT by Firestone Christian Rasmussen, 1:11.7225, 112.333 mph, Sept. 9, 2023
FOX Sports telecasts:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES:
 Practice 1, 5 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Practice 2, 1 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Final Practice, 8 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Pre-Race Show, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, FOX (live);
Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, 3 p.m. ET Sunday, 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. A Spanish-language telecast will be available on FOX Deportes. | 

INDY NXT by Firestone: 
Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Practice 2, 6:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
Qualifying, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Race 1, 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Race 2, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, 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 driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Michael Young, Alex Wollf and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey race (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, NTT P1 Award Qualifying (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 190, 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 190, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, Sept. 4
1-1:25 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, FS2 (Live)
2-3:20 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (40 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 12 minutes each), FS2 (Live)3:35-4 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS2 (Live)
Saturday, Sept. 5
10:05-11:25 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (40 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 12 minutes each), FS2 (Live)
Noon-12:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 10 minutes each / Fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 1, second fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 2), FS2 (Live)
1:35 p.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS2 (Live)
3:31 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 “Drivers, Start Your Engines”
3:38 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS2 (Live)5:
10-5:40 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS2 (Live)
Sunday, Sept. 6
9:31 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 “Drivers, Start Your Engines”
9:38 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (30 laps / 67.14 miles / 50 minutes), FS1 (Live)
11:30 a.m. – FOX on air
11:58 a.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, Start Your Engines”
12:05 p.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), FOX (Live)
Race Notes:Alex Palou became the second driver to win four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES championships when he clinched his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES crown on Aug. 30 at the Milwaukee Mile.The Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey will be the 29th INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca but just the sixth since 2004. Teo Fabi won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 1983. Alex Palou has won the last two races at the track in 2024 and 2025.Scott Dixon and Alex Palou are the only former winners entered in this year’s race. 
Team Penske has won six times at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Penske’s winning drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988, 1990), Rick Mears (1989), Paul Tracy (1993, 1994) and Helio Castroneves (2000). Chip Ganassi Racing also has six wins with Alex Palou (2022, 2024, 2025), Scott Dixon (2023), Alex Zanardi (1996) and Jimmy Vasser (1997). Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has three wins with Bryan Herta (1998, 1999) and Max Papis (2001).
Twenty-two drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Scott Dixon has eight starts, most among the entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps at the track: Alex Palou 250, Kyle Kirkwood 24, Will Power 23, Dixon 22, Pato O’Ward 15, Felix Rosenqvist 11, Nolan Siegel 11, Alexander Rossi 10 and Josef Newgarden 10.
Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time this weekend. Collet swept the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader last season at Laguna Seca.Milestones: 
Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 375th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 275th consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 236th consecutive start and the 250th start of his career…Dixon can also extend his series record to 437 career starts with a start on Sunday
INDY NXT by Firestone notes: The INDY NXT by Firestone title fight heads west for a doubleheader championship finale as the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey hits the track on Saturday and Sunday. There are six drivers mathematically eligible for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone championship: Nikita Johnson, Enzo Fittipaldi, Tymek Kucharczyk, Max Taylor, Lochie Hughes and Alessandro de Tullio. Johnson, a rookie from St. Petersburg, Florida, leads Fittipaldi, a rookie from Brazil and grandson of former INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, by three points entering the weekend. Poland’s Kucharczyk is 29 points behind the lead with Taylor 77 points back. The ultra-competitive 2026 season has seen nine winners in 15 races and 12 different drivers finish on the podium.The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader will be the series’ 33rd and 34th races at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Laguna Seca include Bryan Herta, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Tony Kanaan, Cristiano da Matta, Scott Dixon, Townsend Bell, Spencer Pigot, Rinus VeeKay, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Rasmussen and Louis Foster. Current NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Caio Collet swept the Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader in 2025. 

Weather Tech Raceway to Officially Rename Iconic Corkscrew in Honor of Alex Zanardi

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From Weather Tech Raceway Communications:

The once in a lifetime dedication of the “Zanardi Corkscrew” happens Friday, Sept. 4th and commemorates the 30th anniversary of “The Pass,” and celebrates the life and legacy of Alex Zanardi


MONTEREY, CA. (Sept. 1, 2026) – One of the most famous turns in all of motorsports will carry the name of one of the sport’s most unforgettable competitors, and fans are invited to attend the ceremony.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will officially dedicate and name “Zanardi Corkscrew” on Friday, September 4th at 9:15 am. Honoring the late Alex Zanardi and commemorating the 30th anniversary of his extraordinary pass that became one of the defining moments of his remarkable career.

The ceremony will bring together special guests from throughout Zanardi’s career including Chip Ganassi, Max Papis, Doug Boles, and other INDYCAR legends, as the motorsports community reflects on the moment that forever connected Alex to Laguna Seca. Plans for a commemorative marker recognizing the Zanardi Corkscrew will be unveiled during the ceremony, permanently linking Zanardi’s name with the most famous landmark in motorsports.

The dedication also recognizes Zanardi’s extraordinary contributions to motorsports and the lasting impact he made on competitors and fans around the world. On September 8, 1996, during the final lap of the CART season finale at Laguna Seca, Zanardi, driving the #4 Target Chip Ganassi Honda Reynard made a daring move on Bryan Herta entering the Corkscrew. It was the final lap of the 1996 season and resulted in a win.

The breathtaking maneuver became known simply as “The Pass.” Thirty years later, it remains one of the most recognized moments in the history of Laguna Seca and American open-wheel racing. The image of Zanardi attacking the Corkscrew with characteristic determination and fearlessness has become inseparable from the legacy of the circuit itself.

“I met Alex in his Rookie INDYCAR year with Chip,” said Bruce Canepa. “We will always remember his fearless racing style, his determination and, perhaps most of all, that infectious smile that made him so beloved throughout the motorsports community.”

But Zanardi’s legacy extends far beyond a single corner or a single race. A two-time CART champion and winner of 15 CART races, Zanardi became one of the most popular drivers of his generation through his talent, personality and unmistakable passion for competition.

Following the devastating 2001 accident at the Lausitzring that resulted in the loss of both of his legs, Zanardi made an extraordinary return to racing and later became a champion handcyclist and Paralympic gold medalist. His perseverance, competitive spirit and ability to inspire others transcended motorsports, earning admiration around the world.

The Corkscrew is one of motorsports’ most recognizable and technically demanding turns, dropping dramatically in elevation as drivers crest the blind Turn 8 before plunging downhill through Turn 8A. For generations of racers and fans, it has been the signature feature of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Beginning September 4, it will also serve as a permanent tribute to a racer whose courage, determination and indomitable spirit left an enduring mark on the sport.

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca sets the stage for a thrilling Labor Day weekend on the legendary Monterey Peninsula circuit. The weekend brings today’s stars of open-wheel racing to the same track where Zanardi created one of the sport’s most enduring moments 30 years ago.

The season finale will feature the stars and cars of INDYCAR and INDYNXT, Porsche Sprint Challenge, the Indy Autonomous Challenge, and the Historic INDYCAR Exhibition, along with a full weekend of racing, fan experiences and special events. It promises a fitting celebration of the sport’s remarkable history and its next chapter — beginning with a tribute to a driver whose legacy will now forever be part of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Tickets, hospitality and camping are available at WeatherTechRaceway.com.
About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned motorsport facility located in Monterey, California, operated and managed by Friends of Laguna Seca, a 501c(3) non-profit. Nestled among scenic hills, it has a rich history of hosting premier racing events, making it a favorite destination for motorsport enthusiasts from around the world. The 2.238-mile raceway features 11 challenging turns and approximately 180 feet of elevation change, including the world-famous Corkscrew, providing a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans. Friends of Laguna Seca is committed to delivering top-tier racing and entertainment experiences year after year. Find out how you can get involved at FriendsOfLagunaSeca.org.

O’Ward Doubles Up in Milwaukee

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Just as David Malukas lit the torch to burn the broom, Pato O’Ward snuffed out the flame and drove past Malukas on the final restart to win both races at the Milwaukee Mile on Sunday.

I just watched the replay of Race 1 (second race of the day). here are some quick thoughts.

The history books had a huge rewrite after the race.

The sense of urgency to complete the race, enhanced by sprinkles of rain at the beginning, made for some great moves and some exciting passing.

The completion oof Race 1 from Saturday quickly became an event dominated by Malukas, who clearly had the fastest car. But on the restart with 24 laps to go, an engine hiccup in the Verizon car allowed O’Ward to get past him and win by more than a second.

Malukas now has six second place finishes in his career without a victory. The consensus going into 2026 was that Malukas would surely win a race in his first year with Team Penske. I hope he takes solace in the fact that Simon Pagenaud did not win a race in his first year with Penske either. Pagenaud turned out to be oretty good.

O’Ward is the seventh driver to win two races in one day, and the first since Rick Mears, who won twice at Atlanta in 1981. Other drivers who have achieved this rare feat are Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, and Dan Gurney. That is not a bad club to be as member of.

More history came at the end of the final race of the day as Alex Palou won his fifth IndyCar title in six years and his fourth in a row. Palou joins Serbastien Bourdais as the only driver to win four consecutive championships. Only A. J. Foyt (7) and Scott Dixon (6) have more titles than Palou, But the Spaniard is just 29 years old, three years younger than Foyt was when he won his fifth title.

A third bit of history which FOX gave just a scant whiff of notice to was Rinus VeeKay finishing third for Juncos Hollinger Racing. I believe this is the first podium for the team, and deserved more than showing the team celebrating as they went off the air.

VeeKay was one of Sunday’s best drivers. He fell out of contention in the afternoon race after a slow pit stop. VeeKay had been in the top five most of that race. In the nightcap the driver from the Netherlands took third place from Scott McLaughlin with a brilliant move just three laps from the checkered flag.

FOX- A Tired Crew?

I don’t know, but I can assume that the FOX crew was just as tired as everyone else was by the end of the day Sunday. I though the telecast of the suspended race was one of their worst of the season.

The pit stop timer was an on again, off again thing, missing at the crucial stops of the le4aders. Many teams did a remarkable job of completing stops with no time elapsed.

I didn’t understand their obsession with Josef Newgarden, lingering in the bottom half of the top 10. We didn’t need to see his onboard camera for several laps. There was also an inset of 15th place Kyle Kirkwood which was unnecessary.

I look for an improved show from a refreshed broadcast team next Sunday.

I will have a full weekend wrap up tomorrow.

Quick Thoughts- Milwaukee Race 2

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Pato O’Ward le the race comeback to him after a pit stop bobble and won the Milwaukee Snap-On 250. This race was the one scheduled for today. At 5pm Central Time the conclusion of yesterday’s race will begin. O’Ward was leading when the red flagged.

It was a very entertaining race which featured a lot of passing-333 passes for position out of 728 total, including several for the lead. Several drivers had a shot at the win.

“This is the first time I ever won a race while leading another one at the same time,” Pato joked in the media availability after the race.

Who says Christian Lundgaard isn’t good on ovals? he was a threat all day and worked through traffic very well. I still wonder why McLaren thinks they could not win an Indianapolis 500 with Lundgaard.

Will Power’s frustration continues. He played the pit strategy correctly and was the effective leader waiting for Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon to pit. Unfortunately, his chances suffered a fatal blow when Race control caught =him speeding on pit lane. The drive through penalty put Power in 14th at the end of the race.

Kyle Kirkwood looked to n=be in good shape for a run near the end, but his car was not as good after his last stop. he finished sixth, and Kirkwood is now 97 points behind Alex Palou-one point short of the title being out nof reach.

Great run- Rinus VeeKay arguably had the fastest car in nthe first stint. He blasted to the front from the 12th starting spot and passed Palou on lap 100, but a slow pit stop took him out of the fight for the win. His seventh place finish puts him back into the top 10 after not finishing lkast weekend.

Scott McLaughlin drove a very long stint,but ended up finishing second. He made one less pit stop, but it didn’t work out. McLaughlin is in good shape for the next race as he pitted just before the red flag.

This will do it for me. I need to start the drive home in a few minutes. Thanks for following along this weekend. I will have more thoughts on the weekend and a review of the completed race 1 tomorrow.

Results

Race Day Times 2

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Today’s schedule: Times are Eastern.

Note that the running of Race 1 will end at 10:25 Eastern to prepare for the IndyNXT race. The field should easily get past the 126 lap mark to make the race official. However, according to information I received last night, IndyCar will not be satisfied with just an official race. Three hours after race 2, the series will run any remaining laps of race 1

I don’t understand the insistence of running every lap in a suspended race. If they’re doing it for the fans, I doubt many will be left by 5:39 local time to watch. They are certainly not doing the teams who need to leave for California any favors.

The IndyNXT race should be moved to after Race 2, and race 1 run to its conclusion. Push Rac 2 back a bit.

Saturday tickets are valid today. If the ticket is Saturday only for a reserved seat, the ticket is good for a general admission seat for Race 2.

There was a rainstorm overnight, but the forecast shows only slight chances for the rest of the day.

I will post updates as the schedule evolves. Let’s get theses rtaces in.