| 2026 IndyCar season |
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| Races | 18 |
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| Start date | March 1 |
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| End date | September 6 |
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Kyle Kirkwood (left) is the current championship leader. Four-time champion
Álex Palou (right) is currently in second place, twenty-six points behind.
The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series is the 115th official championship season of American open-wheel racing and the 31st season under IndyCar Series sanction. Its showcase event is the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Álex Palou entered the season as the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and a four-time series champion, including defending three-peat champion.
Background and series news
- On September 12, 2024, IndyCar announced that the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company had signed an extension to remain as the series' sole tire supplier until at least the 2030 season.[1]
- On July 31, 2025, Fox Sports parent company Fox Corporation announced that it had acquired a one-third stake in IndyCar parent company Penske Entertainment. As part of the acquisition, Fox Sports' TV contract was extended to 2030.[2][3]
- On December 11, 2025, IndyCar announced a new three-person independent officiating board, named IndyCar Officiating Inc. Two members – Ray Evernham and Raj Nair – were voted on to the panel by IndyCar team owners, while the third member – Ronan Morgan – was appointed by the FIA.[4]
- On February 12, 2026, it was announced Chevrolet and Honda had signed a multi-year contract extension which keeps them in the series when it switches to 2.4-liter twin-turbo hybrid V6 engines in 2028. Each manufacturer will receive a single charter entry as part of the agreement.[5]
Confirmed entries
The following teams, entries, and drivers are competing in the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.[6] All teams use a Dallara DW12 chassis with 2018 universal aero kit and Firestone tires.
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Status
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Eligible for Rookie of the Year
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| RY
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Rookie of the Year
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Driver changes
Preseason
- On September 2, 2025, Team Penske confirmed reports that Will Power would depart the team, having driven for the team since the 2009 season.[38]
- On September 2, Rinus VeeKay confirmed that he would not return to Dale Coyne Racing in 2026.[39]
- On September 3, Cadillac Formula 1 Team announced that Colton Herta had been signed as the team's test driver for 2026, taking him out of IndyCar after seven seasons driving for Andretti Global.[40][41]
- On September 3, Andretti Global confirmed reports that Will Power would join the team, driving the No. 26 entry vacated by Herta.[9]
- On September 18, Team Penske announced that David Malukas would join the team on a multi-year deal beginning in 2026, driving the No. 12 entry vacated by Power.[37]
- On September 23, Dale Coyne Racing confirmed reports that 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger would join the team for the 2026 season.[20]
- On October 14, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that Rinus VeeKay would join the team for 2026, serving as the team's lead driver.[26]
- On October 29, Marco Andretti announced his retirement from motor racing and the Indianapolis 500.[42]
- On November 6, A. J. Foyt Enterprises announced it had signed 2025 Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet for the 2026 season, replacing Malukas in the No. 4 car.[7]
- On November 13, Arrow McLaren announced that Ryan Hunter-Reay would join the team for the 2026 Indianapolis 500.[15]
- On November 24, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that World Endurance Championship and ex-Formula One driver Mick Schumacher would pilot the No. 47 car, replacing the No. 30 car driven by Devlin DeFrancesco.[33]
- On February 13, 2026, Dale Coyne Racing announced that Romain Grosjean would be returning to the IndyCar Series after competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship the previous year.[19]
Team changes
- On September 23, 2025, with the confirmation of Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing announced that it had formed a technical alliance with Andretti Global for the 2026 season.[20]
- On January 29, 2026, Team Penske revealed that Tim Cindric is returning to the team as the strategist for Scott McLaughlin, having been released from his role as the team's IndyCar president in May 2025, following penalties during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.[43]
- During the off-season, Ed Carpenter Racing shifted away from its former denomination and started to be officially known by the acronym ECR, in light of further changes in its ownership structure involving Ted Gelov, who had become a co-owner in 2025.[23][44]
- On February 25, 2026, it was confirmed via IndyCar's entry list and grid space allocations that PREMA Racing would miss at least the opening round at St. Petersburg, amidst reports of the founding Rosin family departing the organization and other financial challenges.[45]
Schedule
The schedule was released on September 16, 2025.[46] Start times were released on December 18, with all races being broadcast on Fox.[47] The Freedom 250 was then added on January 30, 2026.[48]
| Icon
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Legend
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Oval/Speedway
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Road course
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Street circuit
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| Rd.
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Date
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Race name
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Track
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Location
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Time (ET)
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| 1
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March 1
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Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
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S Streets of St. Petersburg
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St. Petersburg, Florida
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12:00 p.m.
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| 2
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March 7
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Good Ranchers 250
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O Phoenix Raceway
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Avondale, Arizona
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3:00 p.m.
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| 3
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March 15
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Java House Grand Prix of Arlington
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S Streets of Arlington
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Arlington, Texas
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12:30 p.m.
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| 4
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March 29
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Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
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R Barber Motorsports Park
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Birmingham, Alabama
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1:00 p.m.
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| 5
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April 19
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Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
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S Streets of Long Beach
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Long Beach, California
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5:30 p.m.
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| 6
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May 9
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Sonsio Grand Prix
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R Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
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Speedway, Indiana
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4:30 p.m.
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| 7
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May 24
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110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
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O Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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10:00 a.m.
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| 8
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May 31
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Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
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S Streets of Detroit
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Detroit, Michigan
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12:30 p.m.
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| 9
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June 7
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Bommarito Automotive Group 500
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O World Wide Technology Raceway
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Madison, Illinois
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9:00 p.m.
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| 10
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June 21
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XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
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R Road America
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Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
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2:00 p.m.
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| 11
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July 5
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Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
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R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
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Lexington, Ohio
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12:30 p.m.
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| 12
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July 19
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Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix
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O Nashville Superspeedway
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Lebanon, Tennessee
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TBD
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| 13
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August 9
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BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland
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R Portland International Raceway
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Portland, Oregon
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4:00 p.m.
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| 14
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August 16
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Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham
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S Streets of Markham
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Markham, Ontario
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12:00 p.m.
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| 15
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August 23
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Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
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S Streets of Washington
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Washington, D.C.
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TBD
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| 16
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August 29
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Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250
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O Milwaukee Mile
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West Allis, Wisconsin
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2:30 p.m.
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| 17
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August 30
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Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250
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1:00 p.m.
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| 18
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September 6
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IndyCar Grand Prix of Monterey
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R WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
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Monterey, California
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2:30 p.m.
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Schedule changes
- IndyCar returned to Phoenix Raceway after an eight-year absence, marking the championship's first race in Arizona since 2018.[49][50]
- The Grand Prix of Arlington debuted in March, held at a new street circuit around the Streets of Arlington. This marked the championship's return to Texas for the first time since 2023.[51]
- The Grand Prix of Alabama moves from early May to late March.[52]
- After having hosted the season finale since 2024, the Music City Grand Prix moves to July 19 and become round twelve of the season. The event will also become a night race and have its race length extended from 225 laps to 300 laps.[46]
- The race at World Wide Technology Raceway will also be a night race.[46]
- The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy race will move from Exhibition Place, where it has been held ever since 1986, except for 2008, 2020, and 2021, to a temporary street circuit in Markham, Ontario, under a five-year deal.[53]
- The Milwaukee Mile race weekend becomes a double-header event, as it had been when it returned to the schedule in 2024.[46]
- The Grand Prix of Monterey returns as the season finale, as it had been in 2019, 2022, and 2023. The race moves from late July to September 6.[46]
- The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix did not return in 2026 after two years on the calendar.[54]
- Iowa Speedway was also dropped from the calendar after four years on the IndyCar schedule.[46]
- The Freedom 250 will debut in August, a race held on the streets of Washington, D.C., following its addition to the IndyCar schedule in January.[55]
Results
- 1 Kyle Kirkwood, Álex Palou and Will Power tied for most laps led at Arlington. Kirkwood received the bonus points for most laps led by virtue of being the highest placed finisher, based on IndyCar rule 7.3.6.2.
Season report
Opening rounds
The 2026 IndyCar season started like the year before, with a pole position for Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.[58] He led Andretti's Marcus Ericsson throughout the first stint of the race, handling an early restart after a three-car collision caused by Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Sting Ray Robb on the opening lap. McLaughlin pitted on lap 35, with Ericsson following a lap later. Chip Ganassi Racing's defending champion Álex Palou crucially elected to stay out two laps longer to attempt an overcut. That strategy worked and it led to Palou taking the net race lead after his stop on lap 38, before cycling back to the front on lap 42. The only threat to his victory from that point on came through the final stint, where Palou ran hard tires while the others behind ran the quicker soft tires, but Palou consistently pulled away throughout the final part to win the race by almost 13 seconds. Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood looked set to take second before both McLaughlin and McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard overtook him on lap 94.[59][60]
The Good Ranchers 250 marked IndyCar's return to Phoenix for the first time since 2018. Team Penske's David Malukas earned his first career pole position after beating teammate Josef Newgarden in qualifying.[61] He controlled the opening part of the race, which saw an early caution on lap ten. On the restart, JHR's Rinus VeeKay made contact with Palou while attempting to pass him, sending the points leader into the wall and out of the race. Malukas held first place until the first pit cycle, where McLaren’s Pato O'Ward took over in front. ECR's Christian Rasmussen rose up the order during the next stint, and a timely second caution allowed him to dispatch then-leader Kirkwood with fresher tires. Andretti's Will Power attacked Rasmussen for the lead and the pair made contact, causing a puncture for Power and a third caution. Newgarden was among the drivers electing to pit and quickly moved from tenth to the lead. He took the win and the points lead ahead of Kirkwood and Malukas, while Rasmussen dropped to fourteenth with a damaged car.[62][63]
Points standings
- Ties are broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc.; then by finishing position in the previous race; then by random draw.
| Position
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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8th
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9th
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10th
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11th
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12th
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13th
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14th
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15th
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16th
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17th
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18th
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19th
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20th
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21st
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22nd
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23rd
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24th
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25th+
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| Points
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50
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40
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35
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32
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30
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28
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26
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24
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22
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20
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19
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18
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17
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16
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15
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14
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13
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12
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11
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10
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9
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8
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7
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6
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5
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Driver standings
- At all races except the Indy 500, the pole position qualifier earns 1 point (unless qualifying is not held). The twelve Indy 500 qualifiers who qualify for the fast 12 session receive points based on the results of that session, descending from 12 points for first place.
- Drivers who lead at least one race lap are awarded 1 point. The driver who leads the most laps during a race scores an additional 2 points.
- Entrant-initiated engine change-outs before the engine reaches its required distance run results in the loss of 10 points.
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| Color
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Result
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| Gold
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Winner
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| Silver
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2nd-place finish
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| Bronze
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3rd-place finish
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| Green
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Top 5 finish
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| Light Blue
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Top 10 finish
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| Dark Blue
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Other flagged position
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| Purple
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Did not finish (DNF)
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| Red
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Did not qualify (DNQ)
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| Brown
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Withdrew (Wth)
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| Black
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Disqualified (DSQ)
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| White
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Did Not Start (DNS)
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| Race abandoned (C)
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| Blank
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Did not participate
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| In-line notation
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| Bold
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Pole position (1 point; except Indy)
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| Italics
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Ran fastest race lap
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| L
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Led race lap (1 point)
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| *
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Led most race laps (2 points)
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| 1–12
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Indy 500 "Fast Twelve" bonus points
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| c
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Qualifying canceled (no bonus point)
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| RY
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Rookie of the Year
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| R
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Rookie
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Entrant standings
Only full-time entries shown. Light-gray background indicates non-chartered entries that are ineligible for the Leader's Circle for the 2026 season.
Engine manufacturer standings
The top-two finishing full-season eligible entrants for a manufacturer in each race score points toward the engine manufacturer's championship. Points scored are the same as the driver's championship except for bonus points – a race win is worth five bonus points for a manufacturer, while a pole position is worth one bonus point (except at the Indianapolis 500). A full-season entry is eligible to score manufacturer points until it exceeds the maximum number of allowed engines per entry.
For Indianapolis 500 qualifying, the manufacturer that runs the fastest speed on Saturday receives one bonus point; while the manufacturer that qualifies on pole position receives two bonus points.
P–Pole position winner W–Race winner
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Firestone extends long Term as exclusive tire supplier". IndyCar. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (July 31, 2025). "Fox Acquires One-Third Stake In Penske Entertainment, Owner Of Indycar Series". Deadline. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Brittle, Cian (August 5, 2025). "Why did Fox invest in IndyCar and what happens next?". BlackBook Motorsport. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (December 11, 2025). "IndyCar to introduce independent officiating system". Motorsport. Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (February 12, 2026). "Chevy and Honda confirm IndyCar contract extensions". Racer. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "2026 Indycar Teams & Drivers LISTS". Indy Speedway. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Horner, Scott (November 6, 2025). "Rookie joins A.J. Foyt Racing's 2026 IndyCar Series lineup to replace David Malukas". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ "Ferrucci To Stay with AJ Foyt Racing in 2025". IndyCar. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Richey, Lynzy (September 3, 2025). "Andretti Global Signs INDYCAR Veteran Will Power to 2026 Driver Lineup". Andretti Global. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (September 26, 2023). "Kirkwood extends deal with Andretti". Racer. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ Benyon, Jack (August 23, 2023). "Ericsson to leave Ganassi for IndyCar rival Andretti". The Race. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (May 27, 2022). "O'Ward signs contract extension with AMSP". Racer. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "Arrow McLaren signs Nolan Siegel to multiyear contract, set to race Laguna Seca onward". McLaren. June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Fryer, Jenna (July 2, 2024). "Arrow McLaren to replace Rossi with Lundgaard in yet another driver lineup change for IndyCar team". AP News. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Pruett, Marshall (November 13, 2025). "Hunter-Reay joins Arrow McLaren for 2026 Indy 500". Racer. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (October 30, 2024). "Chip Ganassi Racing finalizes its 2025 lineups for IndyCar and Indy NXT programs". Motorsport. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (September 18, 2024). "Ganassi's take on the charters: IndyCar "benefitting" from Penske's NASCAR experience". Motorsport. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Benyon, Jack (February 28, 2024). "Seven things we learned as McLaren escalates Palou claim to $30m". The Race. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "Romain Grosjean Returning To Dale Coyne Racing This Season". IndyCar. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ a b c Pockrass, Bob (September 24, 2025). "One & Done: Indy NXT Champ Dennis Hauger Ready for Jump to INDYCAR". Fox Sports. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ "Conor Daly, DRR To Compete in Indy 500 with New Partner Kingspan". IndyCar. March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Jack Harvey Back at Indy in 2026 with Dreyer & Reinbold, INVST". IndyCar. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "ECR". IndyCar. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ a b Brown, Nathan; Newell, Nat (September 25, 2024). "Alexander Rossi joins Ed Carpenter Racing; Carpenter only doing Indy 500". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Zion (January 20, 2026). "Ed Carpenter to return for 23rd straight Indy 500". IndyStar. The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "Rinus VeeKay Signs With Juncos Hollinger Racing for 2026 Season". IndyCar. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ "JHR Confirms Return of Sting Ray Robb". IndyCar. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Rutherford, Kevin (May 25, 2025). "Helio Castroneves Plans To Return for Another Indy 500: 'I Will. I'll Make It Happen'". Frontstretch. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (September 5, 2023). "Rosenqvist signs multiyear IndyCar deal with Meyer Shank Racing". Racer. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
- ^ Dejewski, Kevin (August 18, 2025). "MSR extends Marcus Armstrong contract for 2026 IndyCar season". Motorsport Week. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (November 13, 2023). "Rahal signs multi-year deal to remain with Rahal Letterman Lanigan". Autosport. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ Barnes, Joey (October 9, 2024). "Indy NXT champion Foster signs multi-year deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing". Motorsport. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "Formula One Veteran Mick Schumacher Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing For 2026 Indycar Season". Rahal Letterman Lanigan. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (March 17, 2026). "Sato returning to Indy with RLL". Racer. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ Brown, Nathan (June 1, 2024). "Days after 2nd Indy 500 win, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske announce multi-year contract extension". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (August 2, 2024). "IndyCar silly season update, August 2". Racer. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "David Malukas To Drive for Team Penske Beginning in 2026". IndyCar. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (September 2, 2025). "Penske announces Power departure". Racer. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (September 2, 2025). "VeeKay departs Dale Coyne Racing". Racer. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ "IndyCar star Colton Herta signed to Cadillac as test driver". Formula One. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ "Colton Herta Moving to F1 as Cadillac Test Driver in 2026". IndyCar. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ Horner, Scott. "Marco Andretti, grandson of Mario Andretti, announces retirement from Indianapolis 500, IndyCar racing". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Tim Cindric Back With Team Penske as Scott McLaughlin's Strategist". IndyCar. January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (February 23, 2026). "The changes you need to know about going into the new IndyCar season". Racer. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ Dejewski, Kevin (February 25, 2026). "PREMA confirmed to miss opening IndyCar round". Motorsport Week. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "INDYCAR Announces 17-Race 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule". IndyCar. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ^ "FOX Sports, INDYCAR Unveil 2026 Race Broadcast Start Times". IndyCar. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^ "Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. Coming in August". IndyCar. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall. "Phoenix, Mexico and a relocated Toronto all poised to feature on IndyCar's 2026 schedule". Racer. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^ Brown, Nathan (August 27, 2025). "IndyCar to pair with NASCAR, Barber date set, sources say. What we know on next year's schedule". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ "Unique Partnership Presents INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington". IndyCar. October 10, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ Cornelison, Justin (August 26, 2025). "Porsche announces 2026 one-make racing and track day calendars". Porsche Sprint Challenge. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Moves to City of Markham under a Multi-Year Agreement". Green Savoree Toronto. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ Pockrass, Bob (July 23, 2025). "Questions Linger For 2026 INDYCAR Schedule: Which Tracks Should Be Added?". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ Kapur, Sahil (January 30, 2026). "Trump orders up IndyCar race on the streets of Washington for 'America250 Grand Prix'". NBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ "Java House Becomes Title Sponsor of Grand Prix of Arlington". IndyCar. November 20, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Phoenix Raceway Announces Good Ranchers 250". IndyCar. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Paul (February 28, 2026). "Scott McLaughlin Starts Penske Rebound With St. Pete Pole". IndyCar Series. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Kelly, Paul (March 1, 2026). "Champ Alex Palou Opens with Dominant March to St. Pete Win". IndyCar Series. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
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Sources
External links