St. Pete: New Year, Same Result

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Here we go again. The calendar flipped, and Alex Palou still leads the IndyCar series points. Palou opicked up weher he left off in2025, when he led the championship from start to finish.

Palou repeated his victory in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg virtually the same wat he did last year. Palou stayed out the longest before his first pit stop, which allowed him to build up a lead e only lost briefly after his second stop.

Scott McLaughlin dominated the first third of the race from pole, but Palou quickly moved to second from his fourth starting spot, and from that point forward it was just a matter of time before Palou would assume his usual position.

Palou has won nine of the previous 18 races dating back to St. Pete last year. We are witnessing a generational talent along the lines of Scott Dixon, A. J. Foyt, and Mario Andretti. While it may be boring to see him in Victory Circle every week, we need to enjoy and appreciate his talent.

Quick Thoughts

While Palou was on his typical Sunday stroll, a terrific battle for second happened behind him between Kyle Kirkwood, Scott McLaughlin, and Christian Lundgaard. Kirkwood’s tires eventually faded, and the Andretti driver had to settle for fourth. McLaughlin and Lundgaard continued their fight to the end of the race.

Rookies Dennis Hauger played it smart today and ended with a top 10 finish. The rookie driving for Dale Coyne started third after an impressive qualifying effort. he dropped back at the start, choosing wisely to not battle with the three former race winners as the race began.

Hauger’s fellow rookies did not fare as well. Mick Schumacher’s debut ended in less than a lap as he was involved in a crash. Caio Collet struggled all day and finished 17th on the lead lap.

Difficult Debuts– Will Power ‘s first race for Andretti Global did not end well. Power had wall contact as the same suspension issue which plagued the team all weekend reappeared. He returned 30 laps down and ended22nd.

His replacement at Penske, David Malukas, had a promising day ruined when he flat spotted a tire after running in the top five. Malukas finished 13th.

Biggest Movers–

Josef Newgarden moved up to seventh after starting 23rd. The result is a hopeful sign that Newgarden may have a better season than he did in 2025.

Rinus VeeKay moved up 10 spots to finish ninth.

Team results

Four teams had two cars in the top 10 Team Penske, Andretti Global, McLaren, and Dale Coyne.

This weekend was a great one for Dale Coyne Racing, and I hope we see more results like this from them.

While St. Pete isn’t always the nost thrilling event on the schedule, Palou’s 12.4948 margin of victory is a record for the season opener.

Before you hand Palou the title, keep in mind the packed opening schedule, I think he will experience a challenge at Phoenix.

Thanks for following along this weekend. I will have a wra pup tomorrow morning.

Results

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Race Day at St. Pete; 2026 Starts Today

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Today’s Schedule Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg:

Warmup and IndyNXT race on FS1; IndyCar race on FOX.

The waiting and wondering is over. The 2026 NTT IndyCar series begins just after noon today. There were many storylines coming into the weekend- Alex Palou’s quest for four titles in a row, Team Penske looking to rebound from a subpar 2025, Will power’s move to Andretti- and more were added yesterday as a result of qualifying.
How will Dennis Hauger race after a spectacular qualifying run? Is Josef Newgarden in for another difficult year? Is Meyer Shank racing in for a very good season?

Tire strategy is key in today’s race with the two mandated stints on alternate tires. Some teams may not have an idea of what to do until after the morning warmup. If it comes down to tie calls, Plou has the upper hand, but with Tim Cindric calling the shots for McLaughlin, don’t count them out, either.

Today is just one race, bu some teams are poised to enter the conversation. We will have a better idea at the end of this month where things are headed, but today let’s enjoy the race.

I’ll be back with the starting tire selections ariund 11 am Eastern.

McLaughlin Pole Overshadowed by Hauger, Coyne Showing

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Some notes on qualifying:

Scott McLaughlin continued the fast pace he has shown all weekend and captured the pole for tomorrow’s Firestone Grand of St. Petersburg, but the buzz is all about rookie Dennis Hauger and the performance of Dale Coyne Racing.

Rookie Hauger, the 2025 IndyNXT champion who won several poles last year, will start third tomorrow in his first IndyCar race. His teammate Romain Grosjean will star sixth. Hauger is on loan to Coyne from Andretti Global, who has formed a technical alliance with Coyne. Grosjean officially got the second Coyne ride just 10 days ago.

McLaughlin led Friday’s practice and was seventh overall this morning. The pole was McLaughlin’s third at St. Pete, and he has one win. In 2025 a tire strategy call cost him the race.

Marcus Ericsson will start second, two hundredths of a second behind McLaughlin. Both front row starters have won this race, and both are coming off less than ideal seasons. Tomorrow’s race could be one of redemption for someone.

2025 St. Pete winner and series champion Alex Palou will start fourth.

David Malukas had a nice debut with Team Penske earning the fifth spot on the grid.

Newgarden’s Woes Continue

Josef Ne4wgarden hoped his win at Nashville in the 2025 season finale would provide a boost to the start of 2026. Yesterday he had an incident in practice, and he failed tom get out of the first round when his brakes locked upon his final lap. I look for him to move uo through the field tomorrow.

Results

Practice 2 at St. Pete

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Yellow cars had a difficult time in the first segment of practice this morning. Will Power found the wall in turn 10, causing heavy damage to the right front of his car. Christian Rasmussen then crashed between turns 2 and 3 and suffered damage.

Christian Lundgaard led this morning’s practice. his time 1:01.657 was a half second slower than Scott McLaughlin’s fast time from yesterday.

Another huge crowd is on site today for the NASCAR Truck race, which started just a few minutes ago, and is currently under caution.

As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on the new practice format. I can see a benefit of the split groups to help the teams get a feel for a qualifying round, but I think IndyCar needs to provide a separate result sheet for each segment of the practice hour. An overall time sheet is misleading.

I’ll be back after qualifying with a quick summary and then I will have a more detailed wrap up later this evening.

Results

Saturday at St. Pete

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Today’s Schedule:

All times Eastern.

TimeSeriesSession
7:00 AMGates Open 
7:30 AM – 8:15 AMMazda MX-5 CupRace 1
8:35 AM – 9:15 AMINDY NXT by FirestonePractice 2 FS1
9:35 AM – 11:00 AMNTT INDYCAR SERIESPractice 2 FS1
11:00 AM – 11:45 AMINDY NXT by FirestoneAutograph Session – American Legion in Firestone Fan Experience
11:35 AMNASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck SeriesDriver Introductions
12:23 PMOnlyBulls Green Flag 150 at St. PetersburgNASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series – Race (80 Laps) FOX
3:45 PM – 4:15 PMINDY NXT by FirestoneQualifying FS2
4:35 PM – 6:00 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESQualifying FS2

Good morning from St. Pete. Today IndyCar and Indy NXT comprise the bun around a NASCAR Truck sandwich.

I am sort of okay with the two series sharing a weekend, but I think IndyCar is better served having a standalone opening weeken

The weather has cleared and it appears the threat of rain is gone for the weekend.

Scott Dixon’s car can be repaired, so the teams will not have to go to a backup.

Mazda MX-5 Cup just finished their first race of the weekend. Bobby Gossett won. Earl bamber finished 8th and Sebastien Bourdais came home 11th. This series concludes the weekend program with race 2 at 4 pm tomorrow.

I’ll be back after IndyCar practice. The format remains the same as yesterday, butthe group morder is rversed.

Today’s practice groups.

AQualifying groups will be out later.

St. Pete Day 1 Wrap Up

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Scott McLaughlin has always been fast at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and today was no exception. McLaughlin turned the fastest lap in the opening practice session during a Friday practice which had several red flags.

In the first small group session, Josef Newgarden got loose,slid through the grass, and made slight wall contact. In the biggest incident of the day, Scott Dixon had a major head hit in turn 8. David Malukas tried toed to squeeze between the wall and Dixon’s disabled car. Malukas ran over some large pieces of debris.

Late in group 2 Louis Foster hit the wall in turn 14. Dennis Hauger lost a spring and also brought out a red flag.

In a press availability after practice, Newgarden said that tires are still an unknown factor, but he believes the red alternate might be the better tire this weekend. A warmer sunnier Sunday may change that thinking. Newgarden said no one knows how the Firestone tires will perform with the rubber from the truck race on the track for qualifying.

Results

Notes

The St. Pete Grand Prix does very little wrong, but one thing needs to be addressed. The Victory Circle behind the main grandstand has not added a new winner’s plaque since Colton Herta affixed his sign in 2022 for his 2021 win.

While Herta’s name completed the front side of the pillar, the other side has holes predrilled for subsequent winners, yet it stands barren.

Through 2022, the previous year’s winner attaching the plaque with his name on it to the wall was a part of the weekend schedule. It hasn’t been done for the last few years. Imagine IMS not attaching the winner to te the Borg Warner trophy. I hope Green Savoree restores this tradition soon.

Friday saw one of the largest Friday crowds I have ever seen at St. Pete. On my way to the the turn 10 grandstand for IndyCar practice, the stand looked completely full- for practice; on a Friday. It makesme think tomorrow and Sunday are going to be jam packed.

Thanks for following along today. I’ll be back in the morning with a preview of qualifying.

Shell Starship Returns to NTT INDYCAR SERIES for 2026 Season 

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From IndyCar:

 Energy-Efficient Class 8 Natural Gas Truck To Transport INDYCAR Administrative Trailer

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 27, 2026) – Shell and INDYCAR announced Feb. 27 that Shell Starship will return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES transportation fleet for the 2026 season, continuing its role as a visible demonstration of advanced, lower-emissions freight technology operating in a motorsports series.Shell Starship, powered by a Cummins X15NTM natural gas engine and lubricated with Shell Rotella® natural gas engine oil, will be the transport vehicle for the INDYCAR Administrative Trailer, traveling to nearly every race on the 2026 calendar.

“Shell Starship is more than a concept; it’s a working demonstration of what’s possible when advanced vehicle design, efficient powertrains and renewable fuels come together,” said Thomas Mueller, general manager of Commercial Road Transport at Shell.
“Returning to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2026 allows us to continue learning in real-world conditions while supporting a partner that shares our ambition to advance more sustainable mobility solutions.”

The return builds on a successful debut season in 2025, when Shell Starship joined the series following the Indianapolis 500 and became the first natural gas-powered Class 8 truck to operate within a national racing series fleet in North America. For the 2026 season, the anticipated plans for Starship are to increase the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) compared to the 2025 season.

“INDYCAR is continuously evaluating ways to grow on and off the track – including how we move people and equipment,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “The Shell Starship program helps us assess advanced vehicle technologies and renewable fuel solutions in a meaningful way and support our sustainability goals, demonstrating solutions that can scale beyond racing. Judging by how many times Shell Starship is photographed in the paddock, it is clear our fans enjoy the program, as well.”

In addition to its logistics role, Shell Starship will have multiple marquee moments throughout the 2026 season, including:Leading the truck parade at the Java House Grand Prix of ArlingtonParticipating in the 500 Festival Parade ahead of the Indianapolis 500.
A feature in INDYCAR video game titles for console and PC, produced by iRacing Studios
Shell Starship’s return builds on the broader collaboration between Shell and INDYCAR, including Shell’s role as Official Fuel of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the introduction of 100% renewable race fuel in 2023. By returning to INDYCAR in 2026, Shell Starship continues to demonstrate how advanced vehicle design, efficient powertrains and renewable fuels can support lower-carbon, real-world logistics, on race weekends and beyond.

For more information about Shell Starship and Shell’s work in transport decarbonization, visit shell.com/starship.