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2026 IndyCar Series Preview
The 2026 season of the IndyCar series is the 31st season under the current sanction and the 115th official championship, with the season starting in Florida in early March and ending in Tennessee in late August.
Firestone will continue as the supplier of tyres, having extended its contract in 2024 until 2030. Following the stake acquisition of Fox Corporation for one-third of Penske Entertainment, the Fox Sports TV contract was also extended until 2030.
Which Bookie is Best for IndyCar? To help answer this question, we have created an article that looks at The Ultimate Guide to Motorsport Betting Sites in the UK, so head over to that. We also have a Motor Racing Betting Advice article, which you may also find helpful.
If you are interested in other motor racing, then we have other blogs that may be of interest to you:
- NASCAR Cup Series Betting Guide
- Who will win the F1 Drivers' Championship
- Constructors Championship Betting Guide
The Top Motorsport Betting Sites 2025
Past IndyCar Series Champions
The most successful driver under the current sanctioning body (since 1996) is New Zealander Scott Dixon, who has won six championships, two ahead of British driver Dario Franchitti, who won four between 2007 & 2011.
Following his win in 2025, Spaniard Álex Palou has now joined Franchitti with four wins and has become the first back-to-back-to-back winner since Franchitti achieved this in 2011.
The only other three drivers to record multiple championships are American drivers Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002 & 2006), Josef Newgarden (2017 & 2019) and Australian Will Power (2014 & 2022).
If you look at everything as a whole, then A. J. Foyt is the most successful driver, having won seven championships, all came during the USAC era (1956-79).
If you are planning on having a bet on who will be the next champion, then make sure to visit our Best Betting Sites in the UK to find yourself a bookie.
| Year | Driver | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10. Álex Palou (28yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2024 | 10. Álex Palou (27yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2023 | 10. Álex Palou (26yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2022 | 12. Will Power (41yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2021 | 10. Álex Palou (24yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2020 | 9. Scott Dixon (40yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2019 | 2. Josef Newgarden (28yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2018 | 9. Scott Dixon (38yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2017 | 2. Josef Newgarden (26yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2016 | 22. Simon Pagenaud (32yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
As well to the driver championship, there are also other awards given out each season, the IndyCar Rookie of the Year was awarded to the first-year driver who has collected the most points, the 2026 season those who have not featured in more than four IndyCar races in a season or those who have featured in less than eight races in their career are considered as rookies.
Last Five IndyCar Rookie of the Year Winners
- 2025: Louis Foster
- 2024: Linus Lundqvist
- 2023: Marcus Armstrong
- 2022: Christian Lundgaard
- 2021: Scott McLaughlin
Start Your Engines: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Betting on Motor Racing
Past IndyCar Series Manufacturers Champions
When it comes to the IndyCar series, it is a straight battle between the Chevrolet and Honda manufacturers for this championship.
Chevrolet won six back-to-back championships between 2012 & 2017; however, Honda then won four championships on the bounce between 2018 & 2021 before Chevrolet ended that run in 2022 and backed that up in 2023 & 2024, but it was Honda again in 2025.
Since the start of the IndyCar Series in 1996, Chevrolet has led the way with ten championships compared to Honda's seven.
| Year | Manufacturer | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Honda | 1,550 |
| 2024 | Chevrolet | 1,475 |
| 2023 | Chevrolet | 1,437 |
| 2022 | Chevrolet | 1,510 |
| 2021 | Honda | 1,401 |
| 2020 | Honda | 1,122 |
| 2019 | Honda | 1,436 |
| 2018 | Honda | 1,467 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet | 1,489 |
| 2016 | Chevrolet | 1,992 |
2026 IndyCar Series Schedule
Confirmed changes for 2026 are the dropping of the Thermal Club, which has only survived two seasons, and the two races at the Iowa Speedway have been dropped.
A new street race in Arlington has been added, which means the series returns to Texas, and the Phoenix Raceway returns eight years after last hosting a race.
The race previously held at Exhibition Place has been moved to a street circuit in Markham with a five-year deal in place. The Milwaukee 250 has been switched from a single race to two races in two days.
Remember, we have a Motor Racing Betting Tips page where you can see predictions across various motorsports, and our Best Motor Racing Tipsters page details profitable tipsters on OLBG.
IndyCar Series 2025 Schedule
| Round | Race |
|---|---|
| Round 1 Sunday 1st March | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg |
| Round 2 Saturday 7th March | Grand Prix of Phoenix Phoenix Raceway |
| Round 3 Sunday 15th March | Grand Prix of Arlington Streets of Arlington |
| Round 4 Sunday 29th March | Alabama Indy Grand Prix Barber Motorsports Park |
| Round 5 Sunday 19th April | Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach |
| Round 6 Saturday 9th May | Sonsio Grand Prix Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course |
| Round 7 Sunday 24th May | Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Round 8 Sunday 31st May | Detroit Grand Prix Streets of Detroit |
| Round 9 Sunday 7th June | Bommarito Automotive Group 500 World Wide Technology Raceway |
| Round 10 Sunday 21st June | Grand Prix of Road America Road America |
| Round 11 Sunday 5th July | Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
| Round 12 Sunday 19th July | Music City Grand Prix Nashville Street Circuit |
| Round 13 Sunday 9th August | Grand Prix of Portland Portland International Raceway |
| Round 14 Sunday 16th August | Indy at Markham Markham Centre |
| Round 15 Saturday 29th August | Milwaukee 250 Race #1 Milwaukee Mile |
| Round 16 Sunday 30th August | Milwaukee 250 Race #2 Milwaukee Mile |
| Round 17 Sunday 6th September | Grand Prix of Monterey WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
IndyCar Series Driver Standings
Here are the driver standings for the 2026 IndyCar Series, which will be updated after each event. Pole sitters, except for the Indy 500, are awarded one point; drivers who lead at least one lap of a race are also awarded one point, and the driver who leads the most laps of a race is awarded two points.
| Pos. | Driver | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Álex Palou | 0 |
| 2 | Pato O'Ward | 0 |
| 3 | Scott Dixon | 0 |
| 4 | Kyle Kirkwood | 0 |
| 5 | Christian Lundgaard | 0 |
| 6 | Felix Rosenqvist | 0 |
| 7 | Colton Herta | 0 |
| 8 | Marcus Armstrong | 0 |
| 9 | Will Power | 0 |
| 10 | Scott McLaughlin | 0 |
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Round 1)
Where is the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The race will take place in St. Petersburg, Florida.
When is the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 1st March 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The 2025 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 100 laps, which were a total distance of 180 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 51 minutes, and 8 seconds at an average speed of 97 mph.
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Marcus Ericsson (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
Grand Prix of Phoenix (Round 2)
Where is the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The race will take place in Avondale, Arizona.
When is the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The race is scheduled for Saturday, 7th March 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The 2018 Grand Prix of Phoenix was won by Josef Newgarden for Team Penske and powered by Chevrolet. The 250 laps, which were a total distance of 256 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 0 seconds at an average speed of 147 mph.
Grand Prix of Phoenix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Phoenix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2017 | Simon Pagenaud (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2016 | Scott Dixon (Chevrolet) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2005 | Sam Hornish Jr. (Toyota) Team Penske |
| 2004 | Tony Kanaan (Honda) Andretti Green Racing |
Grand Prix of Arlington (Round 3)
Where is the Grand Prix of Arlington? The race will take place in Arlington, Texas.
When is the Grand Prix of Arlington? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 15th March 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Arlington? There are no previous winners of this race, with the Grand Prix of Arlington only being added to the schedule this year.
Alabama Indy Grand Prix (Round 4)
Where is the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The race will take place in Birmingham, Alabama.
When is the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 29th March 2026.
Who won the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The 2025 Alabama Indy Grand Prix was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 90 laps, which were a total distance of 214 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 33 seconds at an average speed of 117 mph.
Alabama Indy Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2022 | Pato O'Ward (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren SP |
| 2021 | Alex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
Grand Prix of Long Beach (Round 5)
Where is the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The race will take place in Long Beach, California.
When is the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 19th April 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The 2025 Grand Prix of Long Beach was won by Kyle Kirkwood for Andretti Global and powered by Honda. The 90 laps, which were a total distance of 177 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 51 seconds at an average speed of 100 mph.
Grand Prix of Long Beach Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
| 2024 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
| 2022 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
Sonsio Grand Prix (Round 6)
Where is the Sonsio Grand Prix? The race will take place in Speedway, Indiana.
When is the Sonsio Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Saturday, 9th May 2026.
Who won the Sonsio Grand Prix? The 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 85 laps, which were a total distance of 207 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 48 minutes, and 0 seconds at an average speed of 115 mph.
Sonsio Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Sonsio Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Autosport with Curb Agajanian |
| 2021 | Rinus VeeKay (Chevrolet) Ed Carpenter Racing |
Indianapolis 500 (Round 7)
Where is the Indianapolis 500? The race will take place in Speedway, Indiana.
When is the Indianapolis 500? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 24th May 2026.
Who won the Indianapolis 500? The 2025 Indianapolis 500 was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 200 laps, which were a total distance of 500 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 38 seconds at an average speed of 169 mph.
Indianapolis 500 Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Indianapolis 500.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2022 | Marcus Ericsson (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2021 | Hélio Castroneves (Honda) Meyer Shank Racing |
Detroit Grand Prix (Round 8)
Where is the Detroit Grand Prix? The race will take place in Detroit, Michigan.
When is the Detroit Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 31st May 2026.
Who won the Detroit Grand Prix? The 2025 Detroit Grand Prix was won by Kyle Kirkwood for Andretti Global and powered by Honda. The 100 laps, which were a total distance of 165 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 20 seconds at an average speed of 82 mph.
Detroit Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Detroit Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
| 2024 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Patricio O'Ward (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren SP |
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (Round 9)
Where is the Bommarito Automotive Group 500? The race will take place in Madison, Illinois.
When is the Bommarito Automotive Group 500? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 7th June 2026.
Who won the Bommarito Automotive Group 500? The 2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 was won by Kyle Kirkwood for Andretti Global and powered by Honda. The 260 laps, which were a total distance of 325 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 26 seconds at an average speed of 136 mph.
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Grand Prix of Road America (Round 10)
Where is the Grand Prix of Road America? The race will take place in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
When is the Grand Prix of Road America? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 21st June 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Road America? The 2025 Grand Prix of Road America was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 55 laps, which were a total distance of 221 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 30 seconds at an average speed of 117 mph.
Grand Prix of Road America Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Road America.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (Round 11)
Where is the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio? The race will take place in Lexington, Ohio.
When is the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 5th July 2026.
Who won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio? The 2025 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio was won by Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 90 laps, which were a total distance of 203 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 41 seconds at an average speed of 111 mph.
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Pato O'Ward (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Music City Grand Prix (Round 12)
Where is the Music City Grand Prix? The race will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.
When is the Music City Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 19th July 2026.
Who won the Music City Grand Prix? The 2025 Music City Grand Prix was won by United States Josef Newgarden for Team Penske and powered by Honda. The 225 laps, which were a total distance of 299 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 50 seconds at an average speed of 156 mph.
Music City Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Music City Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | United States Josef Newgarden (Honda) Team Penske |
| 2024 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian |
| 2023 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
| 2022 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2021 | Marcus Ericsson (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
Grand Prix of Portland (Round 13)
Where is the Grand Prix of Portland? The race will take place in Portland, Oregon.
When is the Grand Prix of Portland? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 9th August 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Portland? The 2025 Grand Prix of Portland was won by Will Power for Team Penske and powered by Chevrolet. The 110 laps, which were a total distance of 216 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 6 seconds at an average speed of 107 mph.
Grand Prix of Portland Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Portland.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2024 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2021 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
Indy at Markham (Round 14)
Where is the Indy at Markham? The race will take place in Markham, Ontario.
When is the Indy at Markham? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 16th August 2026.
Who won the Indy at Markham? There are no previous winners of this race, with the Indy at Markham only being added to the schedule this year.
Milwaukee 250 Race #1 (Round 15)
Where is the Milwaukee 250 Race #1? The race will take place in West Allis, Wisconsin.
When is the Milwaukee 250 Race #1? The race is scheduled for Saturday, 29th August 2026.
Who won the Milwaukee 250 Race #1? The 2025 Milwaukee 250 Race #1 was won by Christian Rasmussen for Ed Carpenter Racing and powered by Chevrolet. The 250 laps, which were a total distance of 251 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 8 seconds at an average speed of 125 mph.
Milwaukee 250 Race #1 Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Milwaukee 250 Race #1.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Christian Rasmussen (Chevrolet) Ed Carpenter Racing |
| 2024 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2024 | Pato O'Ward (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren |
| 2015 | Sébastien Bourdais (Chevrolet) KVSH Racing |
| 2014 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Milwaukee 250 Race #2 (Round 16)
Where is the Milwaukee 250 Race #2? The race will take place in West Allis, Wisconsin.
When is the Milwaukee 250 Race #2? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 30th August 2026.
Who won the Milwaukee 250 Race #2? There are no previous winners of this race, with the Milwaukee 250 Race #2 only being added to the schedule this year.
Grand Prix of Monterey (Round 17)
Where is the Grand Prix of Monterey? The race will take place in Monterey, California.
When is the Grand Prix of Monterey? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 6th September 2026.
Who won the Grand Prix of Monterey? The 2025 Grand Prix of Monterey was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 95 laps, which were a total distance of 213 miles, were completed in 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 0 seconds at an average speed of 102 mph.
Grand Prix of Monterey Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Monterey.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Álex Palou (95) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Álex Palou (95) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Álex Palou (Chevrolet) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2021 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
Contributor Information
Andy Powell manages all of our Motor Racing content as a huge F1 and Speedway fan, giving up much of his weekend to watching the action unfold in qualifying and betting on the various potential outcomes, as well as managing the Motor Racing Tips and Tipsters in the competition. Ably assisting with the data collection as necessary is our Data Scientist on the expert team, Dan Tracey.
Dan Tracey
Your Data Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
