IndyCar
Indianapolis 500 Preview
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 26, 2024) The Indianapolis 500 is never short on storylines and that is the case again for the 108th running but Mother Nature will certainly be one of them as a line of storms is anticipated to roll through central Indiana midday.
One of the biggest storylines is Helio Castroneves’ ‘Drive for Five’. The 4-time Indy 500 winner (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) is going for a record fifth win, which would move him out of a tie with 4-time winners AJ Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991) and the late Al Unser Sr (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987). It should be noted that Castroneves posted the second-fastest lap during ‘Carb Day’ final practice at 226.939 mph.
“We’re pretty darn close,” said Castroneves after Friday’s practice. “The Cliffs machine and Sirius XM car looks really, really strong. But at the end of the day, we just got to make sure that we read the race and go to that number five.”
Castroneves is joined by seven other drivers who have drank the milk in victory lane including two-time winner Takuma Sato (2017 & 2020), 6-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Scott Dixon (2008), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016), Will Power (2018), Marcus Ericsson (2022) and Josef Newgarden (2023).
Six rookies are in the starting lineup including 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson, who will attempt to do the ‘Double’, racing in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch are the other drivers who have attempted the double. Only Stewart finished all 1100 laps.
Joining Larson in the rookie lineup are Tom Blomqvist of Meyer Shank Racing, Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing Rookies Marcus Armstrong, driver of the No. 11 Ridgeline Honda; Kyffin Simpson, driver of the No. 4 Journie Rewards Honda and Linus Lundqvist, driver of the No. 8 American Legion Honda.
10 rookies have won in the 107-year history of the race, only three since 1967: Arie Luyendyk (1990), Buddy Lazier (1996) and Rossi (2016).
Ray Haroun won the inaugural race in 1911 and Newgarden is the defending race winner.
There have been four different winner in the first four NTT INDYCAR SERIES Races. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg), Dixon (Streets of Long Beach), Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park) and Palou (IMS Road Course).
McLaughlin start on the pole position after posting the fastest four-lap average for a pole-sitter, 234.220 mph. Twenty-one drivers have won the race from the pole, the most recent was Simon Pagenaud in 2019.
Team Penske has the most 500 wins – 19, followed by Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Global with five. AJ Foyt Enterprises and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have won twice and Meyer Shank Racing has one win.
Palou can join Will Power and Pagenaud as the only drivers to ‘sweep’ the month of May by winning on the 2.5-mile oval and IMS road course.
Sunday Schedule
- 10:30 a.m. – Cars to the Grid
- 11:47 a.m. – Driver Introductions
- 12:14 p.m. – Indy 500 Pre-race Ceremonies
- 12:28 p.m. – “Drivers To Your Cars”
- 12:38 p.m. – Command to Start Engines
- 12:45 p.m. – 108th Indianapolis 500 (200 laps/500 miles) NBC & INDYCAR Radio Network
Editor’s Note (11:45 a.m.): A Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Speedway, IN forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to suspend pre-race ceremonies.
2:30 p.m. Update: Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials have reopened the gates and are allowing fans back into the facility. Track drying is expected to begin shortly and is expected to take about 2-hours. The Speedway has also made the decision to lift the television blackout locally for race fans who were unable to stay at the track. Kyle Larson is going to stay and race in the Indy 500.
3:30 p.m. Update: NTT INDYCAR SERIES officials are estimating a 4:44 p.m. ET Green Flag.
3:34 p.m. Update: Hendrick Motorsports makes it official that Kyle Larson will start the race.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 3, 2026) – Four-time IndyCar Champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti is returning to the cockpit to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.
Franchitti will drive the No. 1 Dollar Tree Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in a partnership between TRICON Garage (TRICON), Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Club. (LEGACY MC) for the Scotsman’s first NASCAR race in 17-years.
“The thought of racing a NASCAR truck on a street circuit is really intriguing to me,” said Franchitti, who is an advisor and driver coach at Chip Ganassi Racing. “The different surfaces, the fact that part of it is on an airport, then you go into the streets, the different bumps all those things you got to try and master. This was just the chance to race on a circuit that I love, and a chance to do something fun.”
Franchitti has remained deeply involved in motorsports as a broadcast analyst and as an advisor and driver coach at Chip Ganassi Racing, following a brutal crash at Houston in 2013. Franchitti began competing in historic car events in 2019 allowing him to still fulfill his love of driving. Teaming up with his friend and fellow racing Champion made it all that much more intriguing.
“This all stemmed from a conversation with Jimmie,” said Franchitti. “The opportunity to race the truck, it was really him, it was the whole team that he has there [at LEGACY MC] that made it all happen. His relationship with Toyota, Dollar Tree coming on a sponsor — it’s all been through Jimmie and the team at LEGACY MC. If it goes well, great. If it doesn’t go well, I am going to be blaming Jimmie.”
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished drivers of his generation, Franchitti has a decorated résumé at the highest levels of open-wheel motorsports. The Scottish driver captured the IndyCar Series championship in 2007 followed by three consecutive championships from 2009 to 2011. His 31 career wins between IndyCar and CART, highlighted by Indianapolis 500 triumphs in 2007, 2010 and 2012, includes a victory at the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg street course on March 27, 2011, in a dominant performance leading 94 out of 100 laps.
“Dario and I had been talking for a long time about the chance to race together, so when he approached me about St. Petersburg, I knew I had to get to work,” explained Johnson. “I called him back a day later with an incredible opportunity to join a championship-winning team with Toyota and the great people at TRICON.”
It will be role reversal to a degree for the duo as Franchitti mentored Johnson when the 7-time NASCAR Champion went IndyCar racing with CGR in 2021 & 2022.
“It’s been a lot of fun getting him integrated into the team and spending more time together, going through the process of getting him back to racing,” said Johnson. “I’m so excited it all came together and thankful that Dollar Tree is going to support. I am looking forward to sitting on the pit box alongside the team and sharing this experience with Dario.”
The NCTS Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled for Saturday February 28 at 12 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on FOX and radio coverage on SiriusXM and the NASCAR Racing Network.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 30, 2026) – The NTT IndyCar Series is adding a street race in Washington D.C. after President Trump on Friday signed an executive order directing the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to designate a race route through Washington, D.C. and the National Mall for the purposes of conducting a race on August 21-23, 2026.
“INDYCAR racing is a source of pride and entertainment for our Nation, which is why I am pleased to announce the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.” said President Trump via the executive order. “This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. For over one hundred years, American INDYCAR racing has set the pace for motorsports. With speeds topping over 200 miles per hour, the cars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport.”
“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as INDYCAR prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” said Roger Penske. “This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation, and excellence that powers motorsports across America.”
“If you are really an INDYCAR fan, this is a huge opportunity that’s been given to us,” said Graham Rahal, driver Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. “Hasn’t been given to NASCAR, not to Formula 1, it’s been given to INDYCAR. So for us to go get the opportunity if it happens to race in Washington, I think it’s a damn good deal. It’s a big-time of year. We have a lot of potential sponsors that are looking at the sport right now. They’re really all rallying around this 250, the anniversary, what that can do for them.”
“There’s no better place to celebrate America’s independence than in our nation’s capital, and no better way to showcase that spirit than through INDYCAR – a sport built on speed, innovation, and competition,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Spots.“Bringing this race to Washington, D.C. during America’s 250th birthday is a powerful way to honor our past while celebrating what’s ahead, and all of us at FOX Sports couldn’t be more proud to showcase this event to the country.”
The street circuit event will be free to the general public and include vantage points of several majestic symbols of national pride and unity. Like all NTT IndyCar Series races, it will be televised to a live network audience via FOX Sports. More details about the course and the event will be shared during a kickoff gathering in the coming weeks.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 16, 2025) – The NTT IndyCar Series announced at 17-race schedule for the 2026 season, adding a race in Arlington, TX, (previously announced), returning to Phoenix, AZ as part of a NASCAR/IndyCar Weekend. Additional changes include Laguna Seca replacing Nashville as the season finale and Milwaukee goes back to being a double-header. Nashville moves to mid-season and will be a night race that Fox Sports will air following the soccer World Cup finale.
“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.”
“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.”
| Date | Venue | Television |
| Sunday, March 1 | Streets of St. Petersburg | FOX |
| Saturday, March 7 | Phoenix Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, March 15 | Streets of Arlington | FOX |
| Sunday, March 29 | Barber Motorsports Park | FOX |
| Sunday, April 19 | Streets of Long Beach | FOX |
| Saturday, May 9 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course | FOX |
| Sunday, May 24 | The 110th Indianapolis 500 | FOX |
| Sunday, May 31 | Streets of Detroit | FOX |
| Sunday, June 7 | World Wide Technology Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, June 21 | Road America | FOX |
| Sunday, July 5 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | FOX |
| Sunday, July 19 | Nashville Superspeedway | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 9 | Portland International Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 16 | Streets of Markham | FOX |
| Saturday, Aug. 29 | Milwaukee Mile Race 1 | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 30 | Milwaukee Mile Race 2 | FOX |
| Sunday, Sept. 6 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | FOX |
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