Meyer Shank Racing Dashes to 1-2 in Opening IMSA Practice at Indy

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 19, 2025) – The 2025 surge continued Friday for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian, this time in sports cars at Indianapolis.
Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian placed its two Acura ARX-06 prototypes atop the overall and GTP class time sheets Friday in the opening practice for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
SEE: Practice Results
Former NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Tom Blomqvist posted the quickest time of the 90-minute session on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course, 1 minute, 16.209 seconds in the No. 60 entry. He will share that prototype machine with fellow INDYCAR SERIES veteran Colin Braun in the six-hour race that starts at 11:40 a.m. ET Sunday.
“The length of the race and traffic management will be key for us,” Braun said.
“We had a chance to do some testing at IMS, and this group continues to jell.”
Nick Yelloly was second at 1:16.477 in the team’s No. 93 entry shared with Renger van der Zande and Kaku Ohta.
“From the run we’ve been on recently, there’s no reason we can’t fight at the front again,” Yelloly said.
MSR has earned two victories this season, with the No. 93 triumphing on the Streets of Detroit and the No. 60 winning the Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen, both in June. Van der Zande and Yelloly are tied for fourth in the GTP point standings, with Blomqvist and Braun sixth.
That success mirrors the team’s improvement this season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, where drivers Felix Rosenqvist (sixth) and Marcus Armstrong (eighth) both finished in the top 10 of the final standings.
Jack Aitken ended up third in the GTP practice at 1:16.532 in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R.
The reigning winners of the six-hour endurance race, the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL entry of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, ended up seventh at 1:16.773 with Dries Vanthoor behind the wheel.
There should be tight competition for the pole in GTP qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, as slightly more than eight-tenths of a second was all that separated the 12 GTP cars in the field.
Mikkel Jensen led LMP2 practice with a best lap of 1:17.407 in the No. 11 TDS Racing Oreca LMP2 07. One of his teammates is former INDYCAR SERIES driver and INDY NXT by Firestone race winner Hunter McElrea. The No. 11 team has won the LMP2 class in this event the last two years.Qualifying for the LMP2 class starts at 4:05 p.m. ET Saturday.
In the GT Daytona Pro class, Davide Rigon was quickest at 1:24.419 in the No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3. The GTD PRO class qualifies at 3:40 p.m. ET Saturday.
Valentin Hasse-Clot was quickest in the GT Daytona class with his lap of 1:24.403 in the No. 19 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Interestingly, Hasse-Clot’s time was quicker than the best lap in the factory-supported GT Daytona Pro class. GTD qualifying starts at 3:15 p.m. ET Saturday.
The Michelin Pilot Challenge series will conduct a two-hour race at 12:40 p.m. ET Saturday with its two classes, both on track Friday for two practice sessions
.Michael Cooper was quickest overall in the Grand Sport class with his best lap of 1:29.552 in the No. 44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4.
Tyler Gonzalez led the Touring Car class at 1:31.471 in the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Cupra Leon VZ.
Michelin Pilot Challenge qualifying starts at 8 a.m. ET Saturday.
Racing began Friday in the single-make series competing this weekend at the Racing Capital of the World.
Pole sitter Danny Formal and co-driver Hampus Ericsson, the younger brother of 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Marcus Ericsson, won the first of two 50-minute Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America races in the No. 1 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan. WTR finished 1-2 in the race, as the team of Trent Hindman and Jackson Lee, son of FOX Sports INDYCAR announcer Kevin Lee, placed second in the No. 69 Huracan.
The second race is at 5:10 p.m. ET Saturday.
Zachary Vanier drove his No. 9 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to victory by .486 of a second over the No. 78 Topp Racing Porsche of Ryan Yardley in the first of two 40-minute Porsche Carrera Cup North America races. The second race is at 10:45 a.m. ET Saturday
.Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. 

Today at IMS

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From IMS. Information about the first day of TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks Weekend

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025) – Information about TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks track activity Friday, Sept. 19 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
8 a.m.: Public Gates Open
8:20-9:20 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice #1
9:35-10:05 a.m.: Porsche Carrera Cup North America Qualifying
10:20-10:35 a.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Qualifying #1
10:40-10:55 a.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Qualifying #2
11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Practice #11:45-2:45 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice #2
3-3:40 p.m.: Porsche Carrera Cup North America Race #1
4-4:50 p.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race #1
5 p.m.: Public Gates Close
TICKETS: $20 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access, are $100.
PUBLIC GATES OPEN (8 a.m.-5 p.m.): 1, 2, 4, 6S, 7S
PARKING: Free parking (including ADA) is available in the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited. Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $10 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $25. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $10 and Gate 1 for $25. Motorcycle parking is free in Gate 1 (Parcel B).CASHLESS OPERATIONS: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.
MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23, and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission.

Race Preview- IMSA Battle on the Bricks

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Sports cars return to IMS fo0r the third consecutive year as the IMSA Weather Tech Championship presents a six hour race on the road course. The3 first event in 2023 was a sprint race- 2 hours, 40 ,imutes in length. In 20924 and this year the race will be a six hour endurance affair. In 2026, the shorter version returns as the six hour race moves to Road America.

I am not upset about the change for next season. I think the 160 minute version works better on this track. I felt the six hour race was a bit too long for the IMS configuration. Endurance races just work better on natural road courses.

The race is the seventh of eight on the IMSA schedule for the series, and the fourth of five endurance events. In addition to the overall champion, an endurance champion is also crowned.

The weekend begins with a single IMSA Weather Tech practice tomorrow at 11:15 am Eastern time. Friday also features the first races for Porsche Carrera Cup and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup.

Team Penske Porsches have won four of the previous races. Car 7, driven by Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, has won at Daytona, Sebring, and Long Beach. Car 6, with Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell sharing the3 cockpit, has a victory at Weather Tech raceway Laguna Seca.

The Acuras of Meyer Shank Racing each have won a race, the 93 winning at Detroit, and the 60 at Watkins Glen.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s BMW number 24 won the last race at Road America. The BMWs finished 1-2 in 2024 at IMS.

Campbell and Jaminet lead the standings with 2214 points, 75 points ahead of Nasr and Tandy.

In LMP2, Dane Cameron and P. J. Hyett in car 99 lead with 1,682 points.

GTD Pro leaders are Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims have 2,254 points in the number 3 Corvette. They have a 30 point lead over the number 81 Ferrari driven by Albert Costa.

Phillip Ellis and Russell Ward in the number 57 Mercedes lead the GTD category with 2,147 points, a 112 point advantage over Jack Hawksworth and Parker Thompson in the number 12 Lexus.

I look for the BMWs to do well again this weekend, but I would keep an eye on the Penske Porsches and the Acuras. All three teams have IndyCar ties.

‘Plan Ahead’ for Battle on the Bricks with IMS.com

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From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025) – Fans attending the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which features the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Michelin Pilot Challenge, are encouraged to “Plan Ahead” through IMS.com/PlanAhead, an interactive web page that serves as a home base for fans heading to the track this weekend.
The “Plan Ahead” page features detailed information about the entire fan experience at IMS, including directions, parking, schedule, gate regulations, digital ticket and parking guides, ADA accessibility and much more.All Speedway patrons should be aware of the following to ensure a successful day at the track:
Tickets: Tickets for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks are available for purchase at IMS.com
.Friday, Sept. 19: $20 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access, are $100.
Saturday, Sept. 20: $50 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access and gate admission, are $175.
Sunday, Sept. 21: $60 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access and gate admission, are $300.
Multiday tickets also are available for this event:Friday-Sunday General Admission: $120. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.Saturday-Sunday General Admission: $105. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
Friday-Sunday Hulman Terrace Club Reserved: $515. Includes private club access and gate admission.
Camping:A variety of overnight camping options are available for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, including infield camping. Visit IMS.com for options.
Public Parking:Parking for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is available in a variety of locations around the track. Parking can be purchased on site or in advance. Race fans can visit IMS.com to purchase available parking passes.Friday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.
Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $10 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $25. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $10 and Gate 1 for $25. Motorcycle parking is free in Gate 1 (Parcel B).Saturday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in Lot 6A and the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $20 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $50. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $20 and Gate 1 for $50. Motorcycle parking is free in Gate 1 (Parcel B).Sunday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in Lot 6A and the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $20 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $75. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $20 and Gate 1 for $75. Paid motorcycle parking is $20 in Gate 1 (Parcel B).
Cashless Operations: IMS is a cashless facility for all ticketing, parking, concessions and retail purchases. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.
Pedestrian Gate Entry: Gate hours: Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public pedestrian gates open (all three days): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7SFans attending IMS for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks will pass through magnetometers as part of the gate entry process.
Weekend Street Parking: Three-hour parking on Main Street in Speedway, between 10th Street and 16th Street, will be monitored and enforced from Sept. 19-21 during the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.
Additional Resources and Information:
No coolers larger than 18 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches can be brought into the facility, which will be strictly enforced. Fans will be allowed to bring one cooler and one standard backpack or book bag per person.
Drivers can learn the locations of work zones and highway restrictions by calling INDOT’s TrafficWise at 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or viewing an online map at 511.in.org or visiting @TrafficWise on X.
For more information regarding access to IMS, visit IMS.com. For additional information, follow on X the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice, the Speedway Police Department @SpeedwayPD or listen to radio stations WFNI-FM 107.5/WFNI-AM 1070 or WIBC-FM 93.1.
The Speedway Police Department can be reached for non-emergency services by dialing 311 on a cell phone. The goal of 311 is to provide an easy-to-remember number for non-emergency services while freeing up 911 lines for timely emergency response.

Malukas Confirmed at Team Penske

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From Team Penske:

Team Penske announced today that it has signed David Malukas to a multiyear agreement to drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) season and beyond. The 23-year-old becomes just the second driver to race the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet made famous by two-time NICS Champion (2014, 2022) and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power.

“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet,” said Roger Penske. “We feel that Team Penske will provide David everything needed to take the next step in his career, and we are confident that he will continue the great legacy of the Verizon Chevrolet.”

A first generation Lithuanian American from Chicago, Malukas was drawn to the sport by watching his father, Henry, compete as a driver at the iconic Road America circuit. He began his karting career in 2013, scoring numerous wins and championships before moving on to the INDYCAR SERIES ladder system. Malukas won the INDY NXT presented by Firestone Rookie of the Year in 2019, setting the stage for his breakout season in 2021 when he won seven races and six pole positions to go with 16 podium finishes – a series record – in 20 starts on the way to a second-place finish in the standings.

Malukas made his NICS debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2022, tallying five top-five finishes and 16 top-10 finishes in 61 races in which he has competed through the 2025 season finale. His skill at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been noteworthy for a young driver; winning Rookie of the Year in the 2021 Indianapolis 500, taking the fastest lap of the race in 2022 and finishing second in 2025.

“Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young racecar driver, and I am honored to be one that gets to live out that dream,” said Malukas. “Will Power is one of the legends of our sport and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet is one of the most-recognized cars on the grid. These are big shoes to fill, but I look at it as an opportunity because I know that it is one of the best teams in the paddock.”

Malukas will make his Team Penske debut in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet at the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 1.

Musings on the 2026 IndyCar Schedule

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After a 2025 schedule which was my least favorite in a while. I feared the 2026 schedule would be even worse. Fortunately, I think it is a somewhat better lineup with many things to like. There are some disappointments as well.

Iowa is out, and Mexico City will not have a race. It is sad that the series didn’t try harder to make Iowa viable in 2025. Mexico City’s absence has been blamed on the World Cup, but I think the reason runs deeper than that. I think Liberty Media had something to do with IndyCar not running there.

Let’s start with what I don’t like and then end on a positive note.

The most glaring error is reinstalling Weather tech Raceway at Laguna Seca as the season finale. Why the series wants any road course as the final race of the year is a head scratcher. That is not the type of track to decide your champion. Laguna Seca has very few passing opportunities, the outcome is usually decided by qualifying, and the champion is crowned after 6 pm eastern time on a Sunday night.

The final belongs on an oval where the points leader has a chance to have a challenge to clinch the title. Nashville has been a great final venue the last two years. Milwaukee would be even better. There is an energy at The Mile which exudes the importance of a season finale with a championship on the line.

Even though Alex Palou had wrapped up the title the week before Milwaukee, there was still a lot of energy in the crowd. Imagine if that trace were to decide the champion.

After a rousing March with four races in five weeks, April has just one race with a three week gap on either side of it. Any momentum gained in March will be hard to sustain.

While the Nashville race immediately follows the World Cup final and has the potential to draw a huge audience, we have another three week gap following that race. Looks like another momentum killer.

I’m concerned that a Milwaukee double header will take some of the steam out of the crowd that we saw this year. I am not a fan of double headers as it means one less venue for the series.

The St.Pete opener will share the weekend with NASCAR Trucks. I don’t usually mind sharing weekends with the truck series, but I think it’s inappropriate to have them at IndyCar’s opening race. The Opener should be an IndyCar standalone event.

Some Good Stuff

I am thrilled to have the series return to Phoenix even though I wish it were a solo program. I am not going to complain too much, because we get to race at Phoenix! I’ll save my thoughts on this after thta weekend.

I am happy that there are no conflicts with Sebring or Le Mans in 2026. The world’s top drivers should be free to compete in all of the world’s top events.

Two new events– Arlington, Texas, and Markham, Ontario, join the schedule. It’s good to add new venues to the calendar, and it will be interesting to see how those weekends go. Texas has been in the planning stage for more than a year, but Markham has just 11 months to be ready.

I like the split of six ovals, six road courses, and five street courses.

Gateway and Nashville will finish under the lights. Nashville has been extended to a 400-mile race.

In many ways the 2026 schedule is a typical calendar. There are some things to like, and some things that just do not seem to be right. We may change our minds on somethings as the season goes on, but I promise you, it will not be a dull ride

INDYCAR Announces 17-Race2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule

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From IndyCar. My thoughts later today.

  Dynamic, Hyper-Competitive Event Roster Built To Accelerate Sport’s Growth. All NTT INDYCAR SERIES Races Again To Air on FOX

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced an action-packed 17-race schedule for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, highlighted by multiple new events and several exciting showcases for the stars of racing’s most exhilarating and competitive series. This includes:
A supercharged set of races on three consecutive weekends to kick off the season, including new events at Phoenix Raceway and on the Streets of Arlington. A massive showcase at Nashville Superspeedway with FOX’s telecast of the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final serving as the historic lead-in. More prime-time racing under the lights on ovals, at both World Wide Technology Raceway and Nashville Superspeedway. A return of the season finale and the crowning of the 2026 champion to the renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
For the second consecutive season, all 17 races will be broadcast on FOX, with two additional appearances during the two days of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is once again the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcast on network television.In the first year of a multiyear partnership with FOX Sports, viewership of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season was up 27 percent from the previous season, generating the fastest growth curve of any major sport. An average of 1.36 million viewers watched the 17-race schedule that led to the history-making championship of Alex Palou, the first three-peat series title winner in 14 years.
“Our growth is industry-leading and will only accelerate faster as we continue our powerful partnership with FOX Sports and increase investment in our events,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said.
“The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule provides a dynamic showcase for our sport and its stars, blending fan-favorite race weekends with incredible showcases at exciting new venues. We cannot wait for 2026.”
Massive March
For the first time in the sport’s history, North America’s premier open-wheel series will compete on four dates during March. The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens Sunday, March 1 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It is the 16th time and fifth consecutive year INDYCAR has opened the season on the sun-splashed streets of St. Pete.Following the launch of the 2026 season on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES arrives at Phoenix Raceway as part of a buzzworthy weekend alongside NASCAR. The Saturday, March 7 race will be the 65th time the INDYCAR SERIES has raced on the historic oval and the first on the track’s reconfigured “dogleg” layout. The weekend will provide a joint-showcase with NASCAR in partnership with FOX Sports.
“We’re going to kickstart the season in fitting fashion, with four races in five weeks,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Our joint weekend in partnership with NASCAR and FOX at Phoenix Raceway will be a can’t-miss for motorsport fans across the country and a truly special celebration of fast, fearless racing across the motorsport landscape.”
The INDYCAR SERIES first raced at Phoenix in 1964. Past winners include a legendary list of champions such as A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Bobby Rahal, Rick Mears, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden.
A week later, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races on the new 14-turn, 2.73-mile Streets of Arlington circuit for the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington. A tentpole event during the 2026 championship, the weekend is a first-of-its-kind venture uniting three championship organizations: INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers.
The Sunday, March 15 race will anchor an action-packed all-star lineup of entertainment and engaging fan activations in what is expected to be racing’s next can’t-miss global spectacle.
Two weeks later, the month of March finishes on the series’ first natural terrain road course of 2026 with a return to beautiful Barber Motorsports Park for round four of the championship, Sunday, March 29. This is the 16th race for the series on the picturesque and physically demanding track.
Spring to Indianapolis
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule resumes Sunday, April 19 on the palm tree-lined Streets of Long Beach for the iconic Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. It will be the 42nd time the INDYCAR SERIES has raced on the iconic Southern California streets as the event enters its sixth decade.In 2025, a modern event record of more than 200,000 fans attended California’s “200 mph beach party” at the INDYCAR SERIES’ longest-running street circuit event on the calendar.
A few weeks later, the series moves into the traditional Month of May calendar at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. May at IMS begins with a race on the road course Saturday, May 9 before attention shifts to the famed 2.5-mile oval for two days of qualifying Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17 building toward the 110th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – the world’s largest single-day sporting event – on Sunday, May 24.
Summer’s Time INDYCAR’s traditional post-Memorial Day weekend visit to the Streets of Detroit starts a summer stretch of intense on-track action through the Fourth of July holiday.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, with racing on the 1.645-mile street circuit for the fourth straight year. The layout on the city’s vibrant and challenging streets has become a fan favorite and has featured the most on-track passes on a street course in nearly three years.
A week later, it’s back to Sunday prime-time oval racing at World Wide Technology Raceway for the 10th Annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline Sunday, June 7. The 2025 night race featured an event record 14 different leaders and tied the event record with 254 on-track passes for position.
A return to tradition-rich Road America and the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR is scheduled for Sunday, June 21. Last year’s race on the picturesque circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, had a race-record nine different leaders and the second-most passing numbers on record at the track.Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will continue the series’ tradition of a Fourth of July trackside celebration by hosting the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Sunday, July 5. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio matches Long Beach as it hosts INDYCAR SERIES racing for the 42nd year in 2026.
Prime-time Oval Racing Follows FIFA World Cup 26™ Final
The FIFA World Cup™ Final on FOX will provide a massive lead-in and showcase as the series begins the final six races of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Following FOX’s full telecast of the FIFA World Cup™ Final and Trophy ceremony Sunday, July 19, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take the green flag at Nashville Superspeedway. The expected start time of the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix will take the series’ stars and wheel-to-wheel action to a checkered flag finish under the lights on the 1.33-mile concrete oval. Next year’s race also will provide more thrilling action, with the race length set for 400 miles on the unique and demanding track.
The season’s schedule continues into August featuring a flurry of four races beginning at the hard-charging Portland International Raceway and the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 9. It will be the 32nd INDYCAR weekend in the scenic Pacific Northwest city.
A week later, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to Canada to race on the new Streets of Markham layout Sunday, Aug. 16. Recently announced, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham continues the series’ rich history of exciting wheel-to-wheel racing in the Toronto area. Major investments from the city are creating a 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout, which will include a double-sided pit lane, a high-speed straight and technically challenging sectors.
Markham, as part of the young and diverse York Region of Ontario, is experiencing significant growth at a population of more than 1.25 million. The 2026 race will mark the 38th year the series has competed in Ontario and 40th INDYCAR SERIES race in the province.
A popular doubleheader at the famed Milwaukee Mile will mark a crucial championship stretch Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30. In recent years, the 250-lap races have featured the most on-track passes on record at the oldest continuously operated motor speedway in the world.
The climactic ending of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and the presentation of the Astor Challenge Cup returns to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 6. The historic venue is known for its challenging corners, unique and demanding elevation changes and the world-famous Corkscrew.
It is more impressive than ever, having benefited from significant investment and fan-focused renovations through the leadership of “Friends of Laguna Seca,” a local non-profit that now manages the venue.
“Once again INDYCAR will have the most challenging schedule in all of motorsports with its nearly even mix of ovals, road courses and street circuits,” Boles said. “This championship format and diverse schedule test driver and team adaptability and truly celebrate the most complete driver and team at the end of the season.”
The INDYCAR Radio Network again will provide audio coverage of all NTT INDYCAR SERIES sessions via SiriusXM Channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
Start times for the 2026 events will be announced at a later date. The 2026 schedule for INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s developmental series, will be announced in the coming days.




IMSA Race Week at IMS- 53 Entries for Battle on the Bricks

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Sports cars take over the IMS road course this weekend for a six hour race on Sunday. While no current IndyCar drivers will participate, several former drivers from IndyCar and Indy Lights will take part.

Romain Grosjean will drive the number 63 Lamborghini in the GTP class, and Sebastien Bourdais is part of the team in the number 8 LMP2 entry.

Benjamin Pedersen drives the number 52 LMP2 car. Former American F1 driver Logan Sargent is one of his teammates.

Toby Sowery, who had a couple of IndyCar starts, is in the 04 LMP2 car, and Hunter McElrea drives the number 11 LMP2 entry.

Find the full entry list on the IMSA website Battle on the Bricks page. You will need to scroll down to race events.

https://www.imsa.com/events/2025-tirerack-com-battle-on-the-bricks/

The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is the penultimate event of the Weather Tech Sports Car Championship season. The final race is petit Lemans at Michelin Raceway near Atlanta on October 11.

Activity begins Thursday night with a Street Festival on Main Street in Speedway.

A new at track feature this year are pickleball courts. Four courts will be in the midway, and a fifth court will be in Pagoda Plaza. Corts are open from 9 am to 4 pm Friday and Saturday.

Team Penske Porsches have dominated the season to date, and there is no reason to doubt that they will have a good weekend at IMS.

This will be the final ye3ar for the race at its six hour length. In 2026, the race will return to the 2 hour, 40 minute sprint format. which I think better suits the facility.

I’ll be taking a look at each class this week, and i hear there may be some IndyCar news coming. I may have a thought or two about that.