INDYCAR released Sept. 13 an update on the 2026 schedule, confirming that a race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will not be part of next season’s schedule.
“For more than a year, we have been working diligently to bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “While extensive progress was made alongside the venue’s operating group and our potential promoter, ultimately the significant impact of next year’s World Cup proved too challenging to ensure a successful event given the available summer dates. While we absolutely want to race in Mexico, we also want to ensure everyone involved feels the conditions are in place to plan a world-class and highly engaging race weekend. We will keep working to bring our racing to Mexico and hope for an event to be on the schedule as soon as the right opportunity presents itself.”
NTT INDYCAR SERIES star driver Pato O’Ward also offered his perspective on today’s update and will continue to support efforts moving forward:
“No one wants a race in Mexico more than me,” O’Ward said. “But we want to create an incredible event that is built to last. That requires the right date and the right year for fans and sponsors to fully get behind our sport. I’m motivated to carry this effort forward and take part in a future race in my home country.”
Caution free races, cheating scandals, firings gave way to some outstanding racing in the second half of the year. While turmoil reigned off track and the racing improved, there was one constant throughout the season- Alex Palou. Palou won the title by nearly 200 points after winning five of the first six races, and six of the first 10.
After a first lap caution at the St. Pete opener end3ed after lap 6, we did not see another yellow flag for 408 laps. the next caution came on lap 70 of the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course in race number five. As if to make up for lost time, the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 featured seven cautions for 45 laps. No race went caution free the rest of the year, and the racing coincidentally got much better.
The Indianapolis 500 saw another rules infraction scandal involving Team Penske when it was discovered that the cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power had unapproved modifications to the attenuator. Their cars were moved to the rear of the starting grid, and three top Penske officials were dismissed from the team.
After the race the second-place car of Marcus Ericsson and the sixth place car of Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood were disqualified and place 31st and 32nd in the finishing order. The car of Callum Ilott was moved to 33rd from12th place, all three cars failing post race inspection.
At Detroit another team received a technical penalty. After that, there were no more infractions announced the rest of the year.
IndyCar is looking to have an independent technical inspection team beginning in 2026, and i hope we have seen the last of violations on the scale we saw this year.
After Palou won the first two races of the year, and Kyle Kirkwood won the third event at Long Beach, no one batted an eye.It appeared to be a typical season on the horizon. But Palou won at Barber and swept May at Indianapolis. Still the season was young, and surely Palou would cool off.
Hopes were high for a championship battle after Kirkwood won at Detroit and Gateway, but Palou came back to win Road America, and he had Mid Ohio in his grasp until a late race error in turn 9 handed the victory to Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon.
Palou won the second race at Iowa and then took the checkered flag at Laguna Serca for his final win of the season. A third place at Portland clinched his third consecutive title with two races left.
Palou’s season- eight wins, tying him for the fourth highest single season total in history, six poles, 14 top fives, 15 top 10s, and 13 podiums (8 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third).
Notable
Some things that stood out in 2025:
Rookie Robert Shwartzman winning the pole at the Indianapolis 500 for new team PREMA.
Christian Rasmussen winning his first career race for ECR at Milwaukee.
Louis Foster winning Rookie of the Year honors over Robert Shwartzman by two points in a race that wasn’t decided until the final lap, of the season.
Pato O’Ward’s strong second half of the season in which he won twice and took command of second place in the standings.
Best races, in order- Nashville, Milwaukee, Gateway, Iowa 2.
Worst races, in order- Thermal, Laguna Seca, Barber.
I want to thank all who followed along this season. I appreciate all of you. I will be on site for the IMSA race at IMS, and I will be doing some historic features the rest of the year.
The IndyCar series is not going quietly into its winter hibernation quietly. Five major stories broke between Tuesday and Wednesday. Here is a recap of all that happened.
Rinus VeeKay announced that he had declined an renewal offer from Dale Coyne Racing. VeeKay had a solid year in car 18, finishing 14th in points. He had two top fives and seven top 10s for an entry that in 2024 finished 25th in the standings with several different drivers and missed the Indianapolis 500.
I don’t think VeeKay would have left if there was not something better awaiting him. Speculation is that he will replace David malukas in car4 at A. j. Foyt Racing. But firs twe need to hear that Malukas will be somewhere else next year.
The VeeKay news served as Tuesday’s appetizer. Shortly thereafter, Will Power announced he was leaving Team Penske after 17 years. There will likely never be another driver spending 17 years with the same team, let alone the same sponsor. The outpouring of love and respect from fans and the paddock for Power was great to see. It took me several years to warm up to him, but I came to respect him as a person and admire him as a driver.
Power is a generational talent along with the likes of Scott Dixon. Dixon grabbed more of the spotlight because of his numerous wins and championships, but Power belongs in the same conversation. It is hard to argue against 45 race wins and 71 poles.
Colton Herta grabbed the spotlight next when Cadillac F1 named him as their test driver beginning in 2026. Herta will also drive full time in F2 in order to gain the Superlicense points he needs to drive in F1. I always enjoyed watching Herta in IndyCar, and his absence leaves a huge talent void on the grid. Herta is pursuing his dream to drive in F1,and I hope he gets the opportunity in a coupleof years.
Andretti Global wasted little time replacing Herta, signing Will Power to a multi year deal. Power gives the team a second Indianapolis 500 winner, and Power’s addition actually makes the team stronger. Power wiull push Kyle Kirkwood to new heights.
Yesterday morning IndyCar and Green Savoree Promotions held a news conference to introduce the new home of the former Toronto race in Markham, Ontario, Markham is a suburb of Toronto, scheduled for August 14-16, 2026. Exhibition Place is not available because of the World Cup taking place in June and July. The track had been getting squeezed by development, and I wasn’t sure how much longer IndyCar would be able to race there.
The venue has a five year deal with the series. It will feature another two sided pit lane, the third one for street courses. Detroit and the new race at Arlington, Texas also use that set up.
The track layout of the 2.12 mile, 12 turn circuit is more expansive than the two other relatively new circuits at Detroit and Texas.
The schedule as of today:
3/1: St. Petersburg
3/15: Arlington
4/19: Long Beach
5/9: Sonsio Grand Prix
5/24: Indy 500
5/31: Detroit
8/16: Markham
Ten more dates need to be determined. I expect at least two more venues new to the recent era schedule.
Will Power has a new home at Andretti Global. Power had been with Team Penske since 2009. That relationship started with a one race deal to replace Helio Castroneves. After 17 years, 42 wins including the 2018 Indianapolis 500, and 71 pole positions, Power embarks on a new IndyCar adventure.
The new driver of car 26, replacing Colton Herta who was announced earlier today as a test driver for Cadillac F1, immediately makes Andretti a strong title contender for 2026, and strengthens the Honda driver lineup.
It will take me a couple of races next year to remember that power is not in car 12, and Herta is not in the 26.
Below is the official press release from Andretti Global:
The INDYCAR veteran brings over 20 years of record-breaking open-wheel experience to the Andretti organization, holding the series’ record for most pole positions (71) and ranking fourth on the all-time INDYCAR win list with 45 career victories. In over 300 starts, Power has led over 5,000 laps and currently sits in fourth on both the all-time INDYCAR podium (108) and top five (142) lists. The Australian cemented his place in motorsports history with his 2018 win at the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 and two INDYCAR Championship titles in 2014 and 2022.
Power will join confirmed teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson to complete the 2026 Andretti INDYCAR lineup.
JILL GREGORY, COO, TWG MOTORSPORTS AND PRESIDENT, ANDRETTI GLOBAL
“First, I want to thank Colton Herta for all the great memories and success he brought to Andretti Global during his time with the team. We’re incredibly proud of him and wish him the best in his new F1 journey.
“We couldn’t think of a better driver than Will Power to fill Colton’s shoes here at Andretti and take the wheel of the No. 26 Honda. Will is a fierce competitor whose record speaks for itself. Additionally, he’s a great personality and we feel he’ll be a strong fit for the team culturally as well.”
WILL POWER, DRIVER, ANDRETTI GLOBAL
“I just want to say how excited I am to be joining Andretti Global. I can’t thank Dan [Towriss], Jill [Gregory] and the team enough for this opportunity. Colton is someone that I’ve been massively impressed with for a while. He has a lot of natural ability, and I think he’s going to do a great job over in Europe. I’m excited to watch him and will work to step in and do everyone on the 26 team proud.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting all the Andretti team and getting to work in 2026. They have some very smart people, and I know it will be enjoyable to get to winning. I’m also looking forward to driving for Honda. They’ve been a tough competitor, and I look forward to working with the entire HRC team. Also, I have tremendous respect for Kyle [Kirkwood] and Marcus [Ericsson]. I’ve had some great battles racing against them, and I think we’re going to make a great combination as teammates. This is a whole new chapter for me. I have to say that sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh start is very energizing. I can’t wait.”
Andretti Global IndyCar driver Colton Herta has been named the test driver for Cadillac F1 as they make their Formula 1 debut in 2026.Herta will also drive in full time in F2 on a team yet to be named.
Herta drove seven seasons in IndyCar starting in 2018 with Harding-Steinbrenner and then Andretti. He is the youngest driver to win an IndyCar race, winning the race at COTA in 2019. His last win came at Nashville in 2024.
Herta told IndyCar.com, “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a test driver,” Herta said. “This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working toward for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up.
“My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step toward that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.”
Herta finished the 2025 IndyCar season seventh in points. He won pols at Detroit and Toronto.
For his career, Herta won nine times, earned 16 poles, and led more than 1,000 laps.
It hurts for the series to lose a 25 year old driver, especially one I am a fan of. It is hard to believe he has driven for seven years.
Andretti Global has not named a replacement for 26 yet, but I expect an announcement soon. The new driver will expected to join the
NTT INDYCAR SERIES scheduled for a return stop to Canada on August 14-16, 2026
MARKHAM, Ontario (Sept. 3, 2025) – Green Savoree Toronto ULC, the City of Markham and INDYCAR announced today that the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy will have a new home in 2026 under a multi-year agreement. Led by the organizer and promoter Green Savoree Toronto ULC, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will race on an exciting new street circuit built in the City of Markham on August 14-16, 2026. Markham, Ontario is adjacent to Toronto’s northeastern municipal boundary and in York Region, which is experiencing significant growth at a population of already more than 1.25 million residents. The race will be held in Markham Centre, the city’s dynamic downtown core, and home to many Canadian corporate headquarters, the York University Markham Campus, and the acclaimed Markham Pan Am Centre — a key venue during the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. “We are excited to welcome the exhilarating experience of INDYCAR SERIES racing hitting our streets in 2026,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “We are proud to welcome this world-class event to our community. I want to thank Green Savoree Toronto, Penske Entertainment Corp., NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Ontario Honda Dealers Association and the Province of Ontario for their trust in our city. Markham is ready to build on its strong sports legacy and offer a new home where this celebrated summer tradition can thrive. I am extremely proud of our team at the City of Markham for bringing this initiative across the finish line in just a matter of months.” With excellent regional access via two major 400-series highways, Unionville GO Station, and the VIVA Rapid Transit system, the new Markham circuit is ideally situated to welcome fans from across Southern Ontario and beyond. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will be the largest sports and cultural celebration in York Region’s history. The event is expected to draw more than 140,000 attendees over the three-day weekend and generate tens of millions in economic activity through sport tourism, hospitality and event services. “The Indy is one of North America’s premier motorsport events and has been a cornerstone of Ontario’s events calendar for nearly forty years,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. “Sport tourism is a major economic driver for our province, and I am thrilled that this iconic event will continue to call Ontario home; thank you to the City of Markham for opening your doors to help start this new chapter. This event will continue to drive tourism, boost our economy, and strengthen Ontario’s reputation as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.” The temporary track will be built in the eastern precinct of Markham’s downtown, between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, Unionville GO tracks and Highway 407. Renowned track designer Tony Cotman of NZR Consulting has led the design process of the temporary circuit which features a 12-turn, 3.52-kilometre (2.19-mile) layout including a double-sided pit lane, thrilling straightaways and technically challenging sectors. The City of Markham has begun early works on the track and festival site in coordination with Metrolinx and other area partners. “Green Savoree Toronto is announcing today a multi-year agreement with the City of Markham to be the new home of this Ontario motorsports tradition. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Mayor Frank Scarpitti, his team at the City of Markham and INDYCAR,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. “The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will build on the legacy of this great Ontario event which started in 1986. We look forward to welcoming all our fans, the drivers and race teams out to this terrific new venue in Markham Centre next August.” 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 presented by Gainbridge, 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. “We could not be more pleased to see the rich history of NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing continue in Ontario,” Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Markham is a growing, diverse and dynamic city and will provide a terrific showcase for our exhilarating wheel-to-wheel racing. I would like to thank Mayor Frank Scarpitti for this thrilling new partnership and Jeff Atkinson and the team at Green Savoree Toronto for their leadership. It is crucial for INDYCAR to continue to reach our fans in Canada and we simply cannot wait for this new chapter to begin next year.” Ongoing event updates an ticket pricing when available will be available at hondaindy.com. ADDITIONAL QUOTES: “When Markham was presented to the dealer group by Jeff (Atkinson) and the Green Savoree Toronto team as the race’s new home, the response from the Ontario Honda Dealers was overwhelmingly positive to renew as title sponsor. We look forward to continuing to participate in the growth of this motorsports tradition and bringing Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday now to Markham!” – Chris Gauthier, President of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association “Markham was my first home and where my racing dreams took root. So, it’s extra special to know the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will be there starting with the 2026 season. Ontario has some incredibly passionate open-wheel racing fans and I can’t wait to see them lining the streets for an epic event.”– James Hinchcliffe, FOX Sports commentator, former INDYCAR driver and Markham native
About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 370,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in the York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Visit our newsroom or subscribe to Markham Now for the latest information on City programs, services and events. About NTT INDYCAR SERIES:The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series. It features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including championship contenders Josef Newgarden (USA), Alex Palou (Spain) and Pato O’Ward (Mexico) – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDYCAR, INDY NXT by Firestone, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com. About Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham:Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 12-turn, 3.52-kilometre (2.19-mile) temporary circuit using the downtown streets of Markham. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. Since 2010, event fundraising has raised over $1 million for charity. As one of Ontario’s largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 formerly known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens and more. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Feb. 27 – March 1, 2026), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland. For more information, visithondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at @IndyToronto or follow the event on X at @Ontario_Indy and Instagram at@OntarioIndy using #indyON. About Green Savoree Racing Promotions:Green Savoree Racing Promotions (GSRP) is an Indianapolis-based motorsports event ownership and management company whose subsidiaries own, operate and promote race properties in Lexington, Ohio, home of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, Portland, Ore., St. Petersburg, Fla. and Greater Toronto Area in Markham, Ontario. These events provide a festival experience and showcase some of the most exciting racing series in the world including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, IMSA, MotoAmerica, INDY NXT by Firestone, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire open-wheel development series and more. In working together since 1993, co-owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree have won four INDYCAR championships, three Indianapolis 500 races and the 12 Hours of Sebring as team principals, and established the first INDYCAR street race in 2004. More information about the company, its subsidiaries, and these events is available on the event websites at gpstpete.com, hondaindy.com, midohio.com and RacePortland.com.
Some final thoughts on the final IndyCar race of 2025:
I honestly don’t remember seeing a better non-Indy 500 race. The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix had all the elements of a great race- side by side duels for the lead, an ever-changing front of the field, drama, disappointment, chaos, and 27 drivers with little to lose. The order of the top four spots are in doubt until the checkered flag.
If having Alex Palou winning the championship with two races to go creates what we have seen at Milwaukee and Nashville the last two weeks, let him clinch early every year.
I said after Milwaukee that Nashville had a tough act to follow. Now, Milwaukee, the ball is in your court for 2026.
Here is my breakdown of the race, the event, and the FOX broadcast.
The Race
Kudos to IndyCar and Firestone for hitting an aero and tire combination that was perfect. The racing was as good as I’ve ever seen. There were side by side battles, but nothing like the pack racing of the mid 2010s.
I just watched the race, and I studied the David Maukas/Louis Foster incident. While I agree with the blocking call on Foster, I trhink Malukas has some share of the incident. He came straight down on Foster. Malukas should have shown some patience, especially dealing with a rookie. I understand his urgency to try to get to O’Ward, who was leading, but patience is usually rewarded.
Foster had been lapped by O’Ward, so I don’t understand why he was fighting Malukas so hard. I can understand trying to stay ahead of the leader, but once the leader puts a car a lap down, that driver needs to let the other leaders through.
The top 10 finishers had an average starting position of 11.6. Runner-up Palou was the highest starer in fourth, and fifth place Conor Daly the lowest starter in 24th.
Attendance was down from last year, which is puzzling considering the Titans were not playing at home as was the case in 2024. It was a better than both days at Iowa combined, but still lots of bare aluminum showed.
Tram service from the infield to the grandstands and back needws to improve in the event there is a huge crowd in the coming years. There two, maybe three trams running single cars which held 25-30 people, pulled by SUVs. The track needs to double up on the trailer cars, and have larger vehicles towing them so that fans do not have to wait so long for a ride.
The pickup/drop-off locations are quite remote, requiring a long walk to the grandstands. The outside location could be moved into the parking lot. I’m not sure if the infield station can be put anywhere other than where it is outside the paddock.
The event ran smoothly otherwise, and the fans there seemed to be having a good time. I hope the season finale stays at the Speedway, rather than moving back downtown.
FOX
I admit I was skeptical of how well FOX Sports would do televising IndyCar, and the first couple of broadcasts did nothing to lower my level of concern, but slowly and steadily the presentation improved weekly.
The network added graphics and improved the location of the in-car telemetry screen. They finally added a pit stop timer and made the drivers’ pictures more realistic. The Driver’s Eye is a great view.
I have always enjoyed Will Buxton, and he grew into the lead announcer role over the course of the season.
Jack Harvey relaxed and felt right at home covering the pits after a debut in which he was stiff and nervous. I think adding the grid run allowed him to get more comfortable. I think Jack will be even better next season.
It helped the broadcast that they brought James Hinchcliffe, Townsend Bell, Kevin Lee, and Georgia Henneberry over from NBC. They are consummate professionals, and they work well together.
Now we wait for Silly Season the 2026 schedule. I have a feeling there will be news tomorrow.
I will have a season review later in the week. Thanks to all who followed along this season.
It is a gross understatement to say Josef Newgarden has had a difficult 2025. Penalties, mechanical failures, and accidents kept him mired in the bottom half of the points all season long. The entire Penske team had been in the doldrums all year. On the final day of his most arduous season, Newgarden finally won a race.
The victory in front of his hometown fans was not an easy one in a race that had more twists and turns than the Minotaur’s labyrinth.
“It was not an easy race. I mean, I did not have the car where I wanted it to start right away,” Newgarden said.
“Like, okay, we’re nowhere where we need to be. Let’s just be patient. And we kind of did our thing, like we always do. We just assessed everybody. We hung in there and we went when we needed to go, and we got the car within a really good spot. Now we gotta race with the car, so let’s close the deal. “
Pole sitter Pato O’Ward looked like he would dominate the race. he had by far the fastest car early and had no trouble getting through lapped traffic. But on lap 126, O’Ward hit the wall coming off turn 2, and the lead was fair game for anyone. Nine drivers led the race after O’Ward dropped out.
Newgarden first took the lead on lap 147, and he did not lead again until he passed McLaughlin with 20 laps left to win and keep his 10 year winning streak alive.
The race featured position battles at the front all day. Alex Palou and O’Ward battled side by side for the lead early. David Malukas also challenged for the lead until he was taken out of the race in an incident with Louis Foster.
Scott McLaughlin and Kyffin Simpson engaged in a fierce fight for third place in the final 10 laps, with Mclaughlin getting past Simpson with a lap to go.
Notes
Louis Foster won the Rookie of the Year by two points over Robert Shwartzman. Shwartzman finished 14th and Foster ended the day in 20th. A blocking penalty on lap 220 cost Shwartzman the two spots he needed to win the honor.
Will Power will meet with Roger Penske tomorrow. He finished 21st today after a pit penalty.
Today’s race ended with the top three positions in doubt, the final podium spot not decided until the final lap. There were great battles throughout the field with a lot of side by side racing.
The IndyCar season concluded with two great oval races, yet next year’s schedule will likely have one less oval race.
That will wrap it up for me at Nashville. I will have more thoughts on the race tomorrow, and a report on Alex Palou’s press availability. Thanks for following along this weekend.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 