Tag: IndyNXT by Firestone

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Fast Facts  

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From IndyCar



Note: A digital copy of the 2026 INDYCAR Media Guide is available for download by clicking here. It is also available in the media guide section of the INDYCAR Content Site at http://content.indycar.com. A limited number of printed copies will be available beginning this weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Race weekend: Friday, Feb. 27 – Sunday, March 1
Track: Streets of St. Petersburg, 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit (clockwise) through downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, including a runway of Albert Whitted Airport
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: 50 seconds of total time
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 310 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and two sets of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend, with one new set used for qualifying. Another new set may be used during the race. Two carryover sets from the preseason test at Miami International Autodrome may be used during the prequalifying practices.

X: @GPSTPETE, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @gpstpete, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @GPSTPETE, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @IndyCar, #FirestoneGP, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR, @greensavoreeracingpromotions
Event website: www.gpstpete.com/INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com

2025 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESAlex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)INDY NXT by FirestoneDennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global)

2025 NTT P1 Award winner: Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet), 59.4624 seconds, 108.976 mph2025
INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Dennis Hauger (No. 28 Andretti Global), 1 minute, 3.8801 seconds, 101.440 mph
Qualifying records:NTT INDYCAR SERIESFelix Rosenqvist, 59.2706 seconds, 109.329 mph, March 9, 2024 (set in Round 2 of qualifying)INDY NXT by Firestone Dennis Hauger, 1 minute, 3.8801 seconds, 101.440 mph, March 1, 2025

FOX Sports telecast: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 1:35 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 9:35 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 4:35 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Warmup Show/Final Practice, 9 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1; Firestone Grand Prix of St, Petersburg, Noon 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. |
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 12:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 8:30 a,m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 3:45 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race, 10 a.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 Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young, Jake Query and Alex Hayden are the turn announcers. Alex Wollf and Ryan Myrehn are the pit reporters. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, 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 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA

.At-track schedule (All Times Local/Eastern Time):
Friday, Feb. 27
12:30-1:15 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2
1:35-3 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (two groups), FS2
Saturday, Feb. 28
8:35-9:15 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS1
9:35-11 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (two groups), FS1
3:45-4:15 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 10-minute session), FS2
4:35-6 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS2
Sunday, March 1
9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (45 laps / 81 miles / 55 minutes), FS1, FOX One and FOX Sports App (Live)
Noon – FOX Sports on air
12:22 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines.”
12:29 p.m. – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps / 181 miles), FOX, FOX Sports Deportes, FOX One and FOX Sports App (Live)

“WHAT TO LOOK FOR” AT ST. PETERSBURG:
Palou begins historic title chase: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou arrives at the season opener as the defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion for the fourth time in five seasons. The four-time series champion from Spain (2021, 2023-25) will look to make history by becoming the first driver since Sebastien Bourdais won four titles in a row for Newman/Haas Racing from 2004-07.
Dixon eyeing first St. Pete win: Scott Dixon has six NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships, which trails only the seven INDYCAR SERIES titles collected by A.J. Foyt. His 59 wins rank second on the all-time INDYCAR SERIES victory list, behind Foyt’s 67. However, the streets of St. Petersburg might be his kryptonite. It is one of five tracks on the schedule where Dixon is winless and the one where he has the most starts (21). Dixon has been successful on the streets of St. Petersburg. Dixon has five runner-up finishes at the circuit and has an average finish of 7.33 in his 21 previous starts. He has finished in the top 10 in his last 10 starts, including second in 2025.
Power plays poles at will: Will Power is the greatest qualifier in modern INDYCAR SERIES history, as his 71 career poles are the INDYCAR SERIES record. The tale of Power’s qualifying success is best told through the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he has won nine of the last 16 poles. The only drivers to score a pole in the last 10 years in St. Petersburg not named Will Power are Robert Wickens in 2018, Colton Herta in 2021, Romain Grosjean in 2023, Josef Newgarden in 2024 and Scott McLaughlin in 2022 and 2025.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be the 23rd INDYCAR SERIES race on the streets of St. Petersburg. Alex Palou won the 2025 race, while Scott McLaughlin won the NTT P1 Award. Paul Tracy won the inaugural INDYCAR SERIES race on Feb. 23, 2003, under CART sanction, while Sebastien Bourdais started from the pole that year.The St. Petersburg INDYCAR SERIES race has been held every year since 2003, except in 2004. No driver has competed in every St. Petersburg race, but Scott Dixon has started 21 consecutive races.Will Power (2010, 2014) and Josef Newgarden (2019, 2020) are the only entered drivers to win at St. Petersburg more than once. Seven past winners are entered: Power, Newgarden, Graham Rahal (2008), Scott McLaughlin (2022), Marcus Ericsson (2023), Pato O’Ward (2024) and Alex Palou (2025).Team Penske has won at St. Petersburg 11 times, including seven of the last 14 races with Helio Castroneves (2012), Will Power (2014), Juan Pablo Montoya (2015-16), Josef Newgarden (2019-2020) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).Four drivers have won the race from the pole – Helio Castroneves (2007), Will Power (2010), Colton Herta (2021) and Scott McLaughlin (2022). The St. Petersburg winner has qualified fourth in five of the last 21 races.

Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 420th INDYCAR SERIES start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record. Dixon has made 356 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, which is the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will make their NTT INDYCAR SERIES debuts at St. Petersburg. Both Collet and Hauger have raced at St. Pete in INDY NXT by Firestone.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:Season starter: INDY NXT by Firestone drops the green flag on a new season on the streets of St. Petersburg for the 14th time in series history. The 17-race 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone calendar brings the series to many of North America’s most revered tracks joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the streets of St. Petersburg, Streets of Arlington, Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, streets of Detroit, World Wide Technology Raceway, Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Nashville Superspeedway, Portland International Raceway, Milwaukee Mile and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.Local favorite: Nikita Johnson of Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR is one of five native Floridians competing this weekend in INDY NXT by Firestone. The 17-year-old from St. Petersburg made his series debut in his hometown event in 2025 and won races at St. Petersburg in the series that feed INDY NXT. Other Florida drivers in the field include second-year driver JM Correa and rookie drivers Alessandro de Tullio, Enzo Fittipaldi and Max Garcia. All four hail from Miami.International flair: This weekend’s race will feature drivers representing nine countries. A total of 13 drivers represent the United States. There are three drivers from Australia, two from Mexico and one each from Brazil, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Scotland.
Welcome back: For the third consecutive season, INDY NXT by Firestone welcomes a new team to the paddock. Former series champions AJ Foyt Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing return to the series in 2026, running a pair of full-time cars beginning at St. Petersburg. The Foyt team won the first INDYCAR-sanctioned development series title in 2002. Indianapolis 500 competitor Cusick Morgan Motorsports also debuts in the series with a two-car effort.St. Pete precursor? Since 2005, a driver who won at least one race at St. Petersburg has gone on to win the INDY NXT by Firestone title seven times, the most recent being Dennis Hauger, who won the race in 2025. 

 INDY NXT by Firestone Drivers Featured at Chris Griffis Memorial Test Monday at IMS

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  The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Testing and driver evaluations by INDY NXT by Firestone teams will take place from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit.
The annual open test is named in memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports who passed away suddenly in September 2011.
WHAT: Chris Griffis Memorial Test
WHO: INDY NXT by Firestone Teams and Drivers Scheduled to Participate (subject to change, (R) denotes series rookie):
ABEL Motorsports: Max Garcia (R), Colin Kaminsky, Jordan Missig, Myles Rowe
A.J. Foyt Enterprises: Nicholas Monteiro (R), Alessandro de Tullio (R)
Andretti Global: Lochie Hughes, Sebastian Murray, Josh Pierson, Max Taylor
Chip Ganassi Racing: Bryce Aron, Niels Koolen
Cusick Morgan Motorsports: Juan Manuel Correa, Nicholas Stati (R)
HMD Motorsports: Jack Beeton (R), Enzo Fittipaldi (R), Tymek Kucharczyk (R)
A full participation list will be available in the coming days on the INDYCAR and IMS content site.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 27
WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

Juncos Hollinger Returns to IndyNXT

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From Juncos Hollinger Racing:

Juncos Hollinger Racing is proud to confirm its return to the INDY NXT by Firestone series in 2026, reaffirming the team’s long-standing commitment to developing the next generation of top-level racing talent. This return marks a significant step in the team’s broader vision to build a strong foundation for success in INDYCAR.

The decision follows a temporary pause in early 2025, when the team chose to concentrate resources on its NTT INDYCAR SERIES program. That decision was taken during a critical period of growth and consolidation, with a clear intention to rejoin INDY NXT when timing and conditions were right. That moment is now.

Juncos Hollinger Racing has a proud history in junior open-wheel categories, having claimed multiple championships and played a key role in advancing the careers of numerous drivers who now compete at the highest levels of the sport.  As Juncos Racing, in what was then Indy Lights, the team secured two championships – in 2015 and 2017. In addition to these titles, Juncos recorded 18 wins, 18 pole positions, and 51 podium finishes between 2015 and 2021.

Returning to INDY NXT reinforces Juncos Hollinger Racing’s belief in long-term development and its commitment to playing an active role in shaping the future of North American open-wheel racing.

Dave O’Neill, Team Principal of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said:

“Our return to INDY NXT is a clear statement of intent – we’re committed to supporting INDYCAR’S future by developing the next generation of top-tier talent.

“Juncos Hollinger Racing has been part of INDY NXT before, but this time, we’re returning with purpose. Like every area of our program, we want to invest in the future of open-wheel racing. This is about progression – creating a meaningful, competitive platform where young drivers can grow, learn, and ultimately make their mark at the highest level of the sport. We look forward to revealing an exciting lineup that will carry our vision forward.”

Ricardo Juncos, Founder and Co-owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said:

“I’m very happy to announce our return to INDY NXT. Since 2015, we’ve enjoyed great success in this series, helping develop many talented drivers through our program. Now, after completing our fourth consecutive season in INDYCAR, we believe we can offer an even stronger pathway through our NXT team. By combining our proven track record in NXT with the experience we’ve gained in INDYCAR – not only on the sporting side, but also in technical development and R&D – we’re creating a significant advantage for our program. Our primary focus is to give our drivers every tool they need to rise to the pinnacle of INDYCAR.”

Further details about the team’s INDY NXT plans, including driver announcements and program structure, will be shared later in the INDYCAR off-season.

From earlier:

The Year of Palou-IndyCar Season Review

Pre Race Notes

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Congratulations to Myles Rowe who won the IndyNXT race today. Rowe passed points leader Dennis Hauger with about 15 laps left to win his first indy NXT race and his first oval victory,

According to pole sitters Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou, how the racing will be is still an unknown. Indy NXT looked very racy this morning, but we shall see.

The finish line corn is back! Replaced by a Hy Vee logo the past few years, the traditional ear of corn has returned to its rightful place at the start/finish line

Scott mcLaughlin and Kyle Kir4kwood go into today’s race with untested rebuilt cars. Kirkwood got some laps during his qualifying run, McLaughlin’s first laps will be in the race.

It is time for oval qualifying order to be set on practice times rather than points. Qualifying groups are set by time on road and street courses, so setting the order by practice times on ovals would make qualifying procedures uniform for every race.

If there is a race at Iowa next year, it will be a single event, not a doubleheader. With fewer than 12,000 tickets sold for the weekend and no promotional help from the track, this venue seems doomed to be off the IndyCar schedule in 2026. IndyCar needs to find a way to make it worth the track’s while to have this event. Perhaps give the track a percentage of the gate. Give Iowa Speedway free signage at races earlier in the year.

If need be, pair IndyCar with another series (shudder!).

Let’s go racing. I’ll be back after the race.

Iowa Saturday-Two Days in One

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Revised schedule: All times Central.

Gates open at 10 am.

Only Indy NXT qualifying has not carried over.

An install lap at 8:55 am begins the day.

IndyCar practice will consist of two groups doing high line practice for 15 minutes each followed by a 45 minute full field practice.

The Indy NXT grid is set by points standings. Dennis Hauger will start on pole.

The time between qualifying and the race may be a concern for anyone having an issue on their qualifying run.

I was wondering why this was a three day event to begin with.

I now television had a big say here, but IndyCar had an opportunity top move today’s race to a night contest.

Pre-Race Notes: Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway

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From Firetsone:

The Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend takes place at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet ” in Newton, Iowa, and features three races on the 0.875-mile oval; Two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, the “Synk 275” and “Farm to Finish 275” doubleheader, as well as an INDY NXT By Firestone race.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Firestone will supply approximately 1,800 Firestone Firehawk race tires for practice, qualifying, and the pair of 275-lap (245.85 miles) races. Notably, the race distance for both events has been extended by 25 laps from last year.

Qualifying for both races will take place Saturday, July 12, with the first race of the doubleheader, the “Synk 275”, set for later that afternoon, and the “Farm to Finish 275” to take place on Sunday, July 13.

Each NTT INDYCAR SERIES entry will receive the following Firestone Firehawk race tire allocation:

  • 13 sets of tires per entry
  • One additional set of non-race spec tires designated solely for use in highline practice

Notes from Cara Krstolic, Director of Race Tire Engineering and Manufacturing:

Following the June test at Iowa Speedway, we conducted a full analysis of the data collected, and in partnership with INDYCAR, made the decision to build a new right-front race tire. This tire features a slightly revised construction to better handle the extreme loads experienced during the test session. A similar construction has been used successfully at Iowa Speedway in previous races.

The left side tires are the same construction and compounds as the Indianapolis 500 with a smaller stagger from last year at Iowa to help drivers run multiple lines during the race.

The right-side tire compounds remain unchanged from last year, as they performed well in managing the heat generated by Iowa Speedway’s high speeds and temperatures.

INDY NXT by Firestone

Firestone is providing close to 300 race tires for practice, qualifying and Saturday afternoon’s 75-lap (67.05 miles or 55-minute) INDY NXT by Firestone race at Iowa Speedway.

Each INDY NXT by Firestone entry will receive the following race tire allocation:

  • 3 sets per entry

Notes from Cara Krstolic, Director of Race Tire Engineering and Manufacturing, on INDY NXT by Firestone tires:

The INDY NXT by Firestone oval tire for Iowa Speedway features a similar right-side tire design to last year but with a lighter tread gauge. Both right side tires will have the same compound specifications as in 2024 at Iowa. The left side tires have the same construction and compounds as last year.

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Fast Facts 

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From IndyCar:


 Race weekend: Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 1
Track: Streets of Detroit, a 1.645-mile, nine-turn temporary street course (counterclockwise)
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 100 laps/170 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 45 laps/55 minutes
Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | Trackside Media Guide (Interactive PDF)

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: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total Push to Pass time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: Five sets primary (hard/black sidewall) and five sets alternate (soft/green sidewall) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the race weekend. Two carryover sets from the Indianapolis event may be used in practice sessions before qualifying.

X: @DetroitGP, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCARI
nstagram: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
Threads: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR
Event website: www.DetroitGP.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com

2024 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)INDY NXT by FirestoneLouis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner: Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), 1:00.5475, 97.808 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph
Qualifying lap record:NTT INDYCAR SERIESColton Herta, 1:00.2304, 98.322 mph, June 1, 2024 (Set in Round 2 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by FirestoneLouis Foster, 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph, June 1, 2024

FOX Sports telecasts:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 
Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 9 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Warmup, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live); Race, 12:30 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.
| INDY NXT by Firestone: 
Practice 1, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2. 8 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1; Qualifying, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Race, 10:30 a.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 Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Nick Yeoman, Joel Sebastianelli and DJ Clark are the pit reporters.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (10:25 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, 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 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 30
2-2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, FS2 (live)
3:05-4:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes all car session followed by two 10-minute group sessions), FS2 (live)

SATURDAY, MAY 31
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #2, FS1(live)
9:05-10:05 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (limited guarantee of 45 minutes green flag), FS1 (live)
11:30 a.m.-noon INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session), FS1 (live)
12:20-1:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)

SUNDAY, JUNE 1
9:32-9:57 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1
10:31 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone command to start engines
10:36 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (45 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
12:30 p.m. FOX on air
12:45 p.m. Command to start engines
12:52 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/164.5 miles), FOX (live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be the third INDYCAR SERIES race held on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown Detroit street circuit and the 35th INDYCAR SERIES race held in the Motor City. A 2.5-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit hosted CART events from 1989-91 before the event moved to Belle Isle Park in 1992.Scott Dixon has four wins in Detroit, the most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver in the Detroit Grand Prix. Dixon won three times at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and on the streets of downtown Detroit last year. In addition to Dixon, other previous Detroit Grand Prix race winners entered include Alex Palou (2023), Will Power (2014 Race #1, 2016 Race #2, 2022), Pato O’Ward (2021 Race #2), Marcus Ericsson (2021 Race #1), Josef Newgarden (2019 Race #1) and Graham Rahal (2017 Race #1 and Race #2).

Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 346th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the all-time in INDYCAR SERIES starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record with a start Sunday.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season resumes with a downtown Detroit street circuit event. Dennis Hauger leads the point standings on the strength of three wins in the first four races, but the other race winner this season, Hauger’s Andretti Global teammate Lochie Hughes, is hot on the Norwegian’s heels for the title and the financial benefits to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group. 

Sonsio Grand Prix Schedule- Update

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All times Eastern

Friday, May 9

IndyCar practice 1 9:30-10:50 FS2

Indy NXT practice 11:05-11:55 FS2

1:10-2 IndyCar Practice 2 (35 minute guarantee) FS2

2:30-3 Indy NXT Qualifying FS2

4P35-6 IndyCar Qualifying FS1

7:06 IndyNXT Race 1 35 laps or 55 minutes FS!

Saturday, May 10

11:32-11:57 IndyCar Warm Up FS1

1:06 Indy NXT Race 2 35 laps or 55 minutes FS1

4:30 FOX on air FOX

4:52 Sonsio Grand Prix Green Flag 85 laps FOX

New FOX Sports Era To Showcase Another History-Making INDYCAR Season

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  Competition Updates Begin on Streets of St. Petersburg
for NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025) – A late-winter thaw is well underway for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as anticipation heats up for next week’s start to the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone seasons.
Championship campaigns begin in the Florida sunshine with a two-day group test Feb. 17-18 at Sebring International Raceway ahead of the Sunday, March 2 season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is expected to set the stage for what will be another thrilling season on track and on television.
FOX Sports launches its inaugural season of INDYCAR coverage with the season’s first practice in St. Pete on Friday, Feb. 28 on FS1. All 17 races for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will air on FOX, with two additional days during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying May 17-18 ahead of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge creating a series-record 19 network windows.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcasting on network television.
All INDYCAR programming also streams live on the FOX Sports app.
“This will be a season of unrivaled exposure for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” said INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles. “With phenomenal support of our sport across multiple massive platforms – including Super Bowl LIX – FOX Sports has proven to be a superb partner and promoter. With the season approaching, we know their unique style of engaging and innovative broadcasts will continue to raise the bar and drive an unparallelled growth opportunity for INDYCAR.”
With an eye on the fierce and intense competition of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, several updates will be featured in 2025:
More Time, More Action
To maximize the thrilling, wheel-to-wheel racing action for fans during the record number of FOX race broadcast windows, lap counts at several NTT INDYCAR SERIES races have been extended in 2025, creating added dynamics for race teams.

Race distances have been updated for:
Streets of Long Beach – 90 laps (+5 laps)
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – 90 laps (+10)
Iowa Speedway doubleheader – 275 laps (+25)
Streets of Toronto – 90 laps (+5
)Nashville Superspeedway – 225 laps (+19

)Hybrid Highlighted
2025 will feature the first full-season integration of the hybrid power unit, including the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for the first time. Hybrid assist – developed specifically for INDYCAR through a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort by Chevrolet and Honda – provides an added boost of 120 horsepower when used with traditional Push to Pass on road and street circuits. Used in tandem, a total of 800 horsepower is available to drivers for the first time in two decades.
New this season, use of the hybrid power unit will be allowed to start or restart the 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines on pit lane. As in 2024, hybrid assist will be allowed to restart a stalled race car on the racetrack on non-ovals.
After meticulous development, the INDYCAR hybrid power unit made its successful race debut July 7, 2024, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. From its full-field integration at the Milwaukee Mile Open Test on June 11 through the end of the 2024 season, 94,244 miles were completed with the system. Overall use and influence of hybrid assist increased race-over-race on road and street circuits and ovals. Twelve of the 14 on-track passing records broken during the 2024 season came after the introduction of the hybrid power unit.

Practice Makes Perfect
Some NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions will have an updated look in 2025.
At select road and street circuits (Streets of St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Detroit and Toronto; Barber Motorsports Park, Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway), weekend tire allotments this season will include:
One additional set of Firestone Firehawk alternates (five total)
One less set of Firestone Firehawk primaries (five total)
Race teams will be allowed the freedom to use their weekend allotments as they see fit, reserving one set of new alternates, per the rulebook, for use during the race. Tire allotments for event weekends at The Thermal Club and Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course remain unchanged from last year.
Also on road and street circuits, split group practice sessions in Practice 1 will expand to all tracks except for Road America and its lengthy 4.014-mile layout. All cars will receive an initial 45-minute practice session before the start of two 10-minute segments, with groups split by odd and even numbered pit boxes.
As in qualifying, the clock in Segments One and Two will stop for the first red flag condition of each practice segment.
Popular high-line practice sessions will continue on all short ovals in 2025. The additional track time allows for drivers and teams to work in the upper groove of the racetrack, providing more grip ahead of the race.
Race Ready
An annual INDYCAR review also has led to adjustments to procedures and rules for the upcoming NTT INDYCAR SERIES season:
Ahead of a race start on ovals, there will be a mandatory “pair up” location with “one to go” to reduce the chance of incident and the need for waved-off starts.
Where feasible for oval restarts, INDYCAR will extend the beginning of the restart zone to give the leader wider discretion on the choice to accelerate. The ending location of oval restart zones will remain the same as in previous seasons.
A multistage pit lane speed limiter, as utilized at pit in at Road America and at pit out at World Wide Technology Raceway and Nashville Superspeedway, will be expanded to pit lane entry at WWT Raceway, Iowa Speedway and Nashville. The update prevents cars from overextending from the apron onto the racetrack after the pit-in commitment point.
The 2024 road and street circuit restart line, where drivers must remain in single file and are prohibited from passing until reaching the designated line in the last corner, remains intact for 2025
.Additional EM Motorsport light panels, first used in 2022, will be used at all circuits. The additional lights will enhance the forewarning of conditions, particularly around blind corners.
Also for safety, drivers will be alerted of local yellow conditions by a notification on driver cockpit dashes in addition to the light panels and traditional cloth flag notifications at marshal posts around each circuit.
Also noteworthy, alternate tires at Nashville Superspeedway again will be available for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Last season, the breathtaking championship race featured 653 on-track passes – the most on record for the series at the track
.“From the mid-year integration of the hybrid power unit to the on-track passing records and another championship decided at the final race, 2024 was truly a phenomenal year for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” INDYCAR Senior Vice President, Competition and Operations Mark Sibla said.
“This is a testament to the hard work by the teams, drivers and naturally our partners Chevrolet, Honda, Firestone and Shell. As our attention turns toward 2025, we will continue the series’ energy, momentum and incredibly close competition on the track. We are excited to get the new season started.”
Talented, Packed Field, Live Television Highlight INDY NXT by Firestone
For the first time, an entire INDY NXT by Firestone season will be featured on live television. Announced in December, 12 INDY NXT races will appear live on FOX Sports’ FS1, with two airing on FS2. Additionally, all practice and qualifying sessions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ development series will air on a combination of FS1 and FS2.
Which driver will receive the most attention from FOX’s cameras is anyone’s guess. After last season averaged the most starters (19.5) since 2009, the 2025 season is expected to match or exceed that number – in a field featuring drivers from 10 countries.
Chip Ganassi Racing will add even more intrigue to the championship as it fields cars in INDY NXT for the first time since 2007.Building on the series’ continued momentum, 2024 featured on-track passing records at four circuits, with qualifying records broken at six.
Sixteen of the 33 starters in last year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge were graduates of INDY NXT.
After the launch of a reimagined look in 2023, this is the fourth season that INDYCAR’s development series will feature continued integration with INDYCAR as the sanctioning body. In 2025,
INDY NXT chassis will showcase updated and stylized rear wing end plates featuring LED rain lights, matching the safety component available in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel series once again features a total purse of $1.4 million. The series champion will receive $850,000 to be applied to a rookie oval test, the Indy 500 Open Test and Rookie Orientation Program, an entry for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and an entry for an additional 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES event.
The 2025 championship team will receive a prize of $35,000.
“This will be a season of incredible and unprecedented exposure for INDY NXT by Firestone,” series director Richard Buck said.
“The continued integration of this series with INDYCAR has clearly raised the quantity and quality of INDY NXT. The championship has never been more fierce and difficult to win, but it will prove to be all the more gratifying for the driver advancing to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”
Coverage of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season debut Sunday, March 2 begins at noon ET on FOX. A Spanish-language version will be available on FOX Deportes.INDY NXT by Firestone’s season opener begins earlier that day at 10 a.m. on FS1.The award-winning INDYCAR Radio Network will provide coverage of both races with audio available on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.