Tag: NTT Indycar Series

IMS Testing Today; Last Chance to See IndyCars in 2025

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Photo: Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing’s new driver for 2026

It’s a short field, but it could have some long-term effects on the 2026 grid. Six teams will run seven drivers from 9-5 today, with a one-hour lunch break at noon. Turn 2 mounds are open for viewing.

Today’s lineup:

A.J. Foyt Enterprises: Caio Collet
Andretti Global: Lochie Hughes
Dale Coyne Racing: Dennis Hauger
ECR: Christian Rasmussen, Alexander Rossi
Juncos Hollinger Racing: James Roe
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Mick Schumacher

Caio Collet may be in the running for the second seat at Foyt. Is Mick Schumacher a serious candidate for the 30 car?

Andretti has no seats available, and Juncos Hollinger is still searching for drivers. Roe may have an opportunity there.

I will be on site this morning, and will have an up date after the morning session.

 NTT INDYCAR SERIES To Participate in Team Test Monday, Oct. 13 on IMS Road Course 

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 NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams will participate in a team test and driver evaluations Monday, Oct. 13 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.Testing will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit,
.WHO: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Teams/Drivers Scheduled To Participate (subject to change):
A.J. Foyt Enterprises: Caio Collet
Andretti Global: Lochie Hughes
Dale Coyne Racing: Dennis Hauger
ECR: Christian Rasmussen, Alexander Rossi
Juncos Hollinger Racing: James Roe
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Mick Schumacher
WHAT: Team Test and Driver Evaluations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
WHEN: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 13
WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Turn 2 Viewing Mounds will be open for public viewing

INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series Set To Return in January 2026

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From IndyCar:

  All-new qualifying series format to feature newly released INDY NXT Dallara IL-15

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025) – iRacing, INDYCAR and Thrustmaster are pleased to announce the return of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series for the 2025-26 season.
Once again, the world’s top virtual INDYCAR drivers will compete for a $50,000 prize pool on a mix of top INDYCAR ovals, road courses and street circuits. The return of the championship will be paired with an all-new qualifying series format that features the Dallara IL-15, used in the real-world INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s development series.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the INDYCAR iRacing Pro Series back later this year with the help of our new series partners at Thrustmaster,” said iRacing President Tony Gardner.
“This series produced some of our most exciting eSports racing last year, and it’s an important part of our ever-expanding relationship with INDYCAR. Our new Qualifying Series format, using the Dallara IL-15 from INDY NXT by Firestone, adds another level of realism to the championship as drivers walk the same path that real-world INDYCAR stars do to reach the highest level. We’re looking forward to getting the season started!”
Said Ben Hendricks, INDYCAR senior manager of sponsorship sales and strategy: “This is an engaging and fun opportunity for some of the world’s best virtual drivers to showcase their skills against the backdrop of the most competitive and dynamic racing series on the planet. It also serves to underscore the immersive and comprehensive nature of our partnership with iRacing, as we look forward to the launch of our official game in 2026.”
The return of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series is the latest major development in the partnership between iRacing and INDYCAR. Earlier this year, the two sides confirmed that iRacing Studios will produce a dedicated INDYCAR game in 2026 on console and PC.
INDYCAR-relevant releases on iRacing this year have included Portland International Raceway in March and the Dallara IL-15 in September, and more content will be produced in time for next year’s INDYCAR title.
The inaugural INDYCAR iRacing Pro Series ran in the fall of 2024, with many of the top tracks in the real-world NTT INDYCAR SERIES represented. Diogo Pinto claimed the championship after a consistent season that included a win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
The INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Qualifying Series will kick off later this October, while the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series will begin in January 2026. Pro Series races will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET Thursdays via iRacing social channels and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES YouTube channel and website.
More information on both series schedules will be released in the coming weeks.For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iRacing.com. 
 
 

Schumacher Will Test with Rahal at IMS in October

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From RLL:

Formula One And Sports Car Veteran Mick Schumacher To Participate In An IndyCar Test With Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing At IMS

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (September 26, 2025) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Mick Schumacher, 26, who currently competes in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Alpine, will participate in an INDYCAR test with the team on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on October 13. Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time Formula One champion, Michael Schumacher, has made 44 starts in Formula One with a best finish of sixth place and earned four podiums in WEC to date.

Schumacher, who was born in Switzerland, most recently drove an open-wheel race car as the Mercedes F1 reserve driver while competing in WEC in 2024 and participated in tests at Silverstone, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Circuit Paul Ricard. The test at IMS will enable Schumacher to familiarize himself with the technical specifications of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with an eye toward possible participation in the future.

During the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 8-9, RLL drivers Graham Rahal, Louis Foster and Devlin DeFrancesco qualified second, third and fifth, respectively with Rahal leading a race high 49 of 85 laps before earning the team’s best finish of sixth place. This baseline should provide Schumacher with a good starting point.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing competition, featuring stars from across the globe competing at speeds faster than 370 kph (230 mph). Along with hosting the world-famous Indianapolis 500, the series boasts a mix of oval, temporary street circuit and permanent road course races across North America. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is sanctioned by INDYCAR, the governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series and part of the Penske Entertainment family.

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1. The 17-race schedule includes new venues in Arlington, Texas and Markham, Ontario, Canada. For more information about the series or team, visit www.indycar.com and www.rahal.com.

QUOTEBOARD:

MICK SCHUMACHER: “I am very much looking forward to driving my first IndyCar test. A big thank you to the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team for giving me this opportunity. The same goes for driving this car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time, a race track with a big history and that my dad has driven on before. I am excited to see which special features it holds.

“I am very curious to understand the special features and characteristics of this race car, which is different from the cars I am used to driving, yet similar, and I remain very interested in gaining experience in the diverse world of motorsport. Great to be able to see what it is all about and how difficult it is, since I hear a lot about how tough it is physically. It is not a secret that I am big fan of single seater racing after all, so this first IndyCar test will be an experience to treasure, and I am very much looking forward to driving a car where I can see my wheels.”

BOBBY RAHAL, Co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “I have followed Mick’s career from afar as well as that of his father so the thought of seeing him in one of our race cars is very exciting. I think it’s going to be a great day for RLL and also for Mick, as he gets his first experience in an Indy car. Obviously, he’s got a great deal of talent and knowing that we’ve had pretty good setups for the IMS road course, it should give him a good baseline to start from.”

JAY FRYE, President of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “This is an amazing opportunity for RLL to test an elite talent like Mick and bring two legendary motorsports families together.”

About Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher, 26, was born and raised in Switzerland and is the son of seven-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher and his equestrian wife Corinna, as well as the nephew of former Formula One driver Ralf. He is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine.

Initially competing under the pseudonyms Mick Betsch and Mick Junior, Schumacher finished runner-up to Enaam Ahmed at the junior direct-drive Karting World Championship and Karting European Championship in 2014. Graduating to junior formula in 2015, Schumacher finished runner-up in both ADAC F4 and Italian F4 in 2016. After finishing third in the MRF Challenge Championship in 2016-2017, Schumacher moved to FIA European Formula 3, winning the championship with Prema in 2018. Progressing to FIA Formula 2 for 2019, Schumacher won the title in 2020 with Prema.

He became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019, and went on to participate in rookie testing for Alfa Romeo and Haas in F1 in 2020, before he signed with the latter as a full-time driver in 2021. He made his Formula One debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix alongside Nikita Mazepin, but Haas failed to score points during the season with the VF-21, with Schumacher earning a season-best finish of 12th in Hungary.

In 2022, Schumacher teamed with Kevin Magnussen and scored his maiden points finish at the British Grand Prix with eighth place, followed by a career-best sixth at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was also the official reserve driver for Ferrari in 2022. For 2023 and 2024, he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes, which included serving in the same capacity for McLaren and Williams. In 2024, he moved to the FIA World Endurance with Alpine and achieved his first podium finish at the 6 Hours of Fuji. To date in 2025, he has earned podium finishes at the 6 Hours of Imola and Spa-Francorchamps with two rounds remaining in the season in Fuji (September 28) and Bahrain (November 8).

Hauger Joins Coyne; DCR in Technical Partnership with Andretti

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New release from Dale Coyne Racing:

Dale Coyne Racing Welcomes Dennis Hauger, Enters Technical Partnership with Andretti Global
Dennis Hauger - INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix - By_ Travis Hinkle_Ref Image

INDIANAPOLIS, (September 23, 2025) – Dale Coyne Racing announced today that reigning INDY NXT by Firestone Champion Dennis Hauger will pilot one of the Dale Coyne Racing Honda’s for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. In addition to adding Hauger to the team’s driver lineup, Dale Coyne Racing has entered into a technical partnership with Andretti Global for the upcoming season. Coming off a Championship-winning rookie INDY NXT season, 22-year-old Norwegian driver Hauger secured six wins, five additional podiums, seven poles, 13 top-10 finishes and 301 laps led across 14 races. Additionally, Hauger set multiple qualifying records in 2025, recording the fastest laps in track history on the Streets of Detroit, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Milwaukee Mile. Hauger’s on-track success allowed him to clinch the 2025 INDY NXT Championship at the penultimate race of the season at The Milwaukee Mile. Prior to making his debut in North American open-wheel racing, Hauger advanced through the European racing ranks, capturing the Italian F4 Championship (2019), the FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021) and earning five wins and 13 podiums over three seasons competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022-2024). Hauger will take his first INDYCAR laps in offseason testing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with Dale Coyne Racing and will make his official on-track debut at the 2026 INDYCAR season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg, February 27 – March 1. DALE COYNE, OWNER, DALE COYNE RACING “This is a great opportunity for us here at DCR to bring on a talented driver and gain a strong technical partner in Andretti Global, Thanks to Dan and his belief in our sport and his dedication to elevating Dennis to the top of the ladder.” DENNIS HAUGER, DRIVER, DALE COYNE RACING “I’m excited to be joining Dale Coyne Racing for my rookie INDYCAR season. The progress the team has shown this year is really impressive, and it’s an honor to take my place on the grid with them in 2026. I want to thank Dale Coyne and everyone at the team for putting their trust in me. It’ll also be nice to see some familiar faces through the team’s technical partnership with Andretti Global. They’ve been a big part of my success since making the switch, so having their involvement in another rookie season for me will be great. I’m looking forward to contributing and starting this next chapter together.”

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.