IndyCar
NTT IndyCar Series Winter Notebook
SPEEDWAY, IN (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – The calendar has flipped to 2020 and the NTT IndyCar Series is gearing up for Pre-season testing and the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is just over 2-months away.
Recapping the off-season changes must start with the change at top of the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In other off-season IndyCar News:
- Conor Daly is joining Ed Carpenter Racing, taking over on the road courses for the owner-driver, who will run the ovals and field three cars at the Indy 500.
- DragonSpeed Racing announced plans to run a six-race IndyCar program in 2020 beginning at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with Ben Hanley in the cockpit for the season-opener.
- Sebastien Bourdais and Dale Coyne Racing have parted ways with Spaniard Alex Palou joining the team in a partnership with Kazumichi Goh.
- Craig Hampson, the veteran engineer who worked with Bourdais at Coyne and at Newman Haas Racing, left Dale Coyne Racing to join Arrow McLaren SP.
- XPEL joins Josef Newgarden and Team Penske as primary sponsor of the No. 1 Dallara Chevrolet for two races in 2020.
- SuperCars Champion Scott McLaughlin tested a Team Penske IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway as several teams tested on the permanent road course.
- IndyCar is tweaking several rules according to RACER:
- Revising the rule prohibiting teams from working on damaged race cars during a red flag condition, adding expulsion if a team is found in violation.
- Revising the track limits at Circuit of The Americas’ Turn 19, installing a timing line at the exit of the high-speed corner to force drivers to stay inside the curbing.
- Revising the “Push-to-pass” system to remove the ability for teams to track its use during the race. No changes to the amount of horsepower boost, 40hp.
- Expanding the two-stage pit speed limiter used at Texas to the remaining overall on the schedule.
The NTT IndyCar Season kicks off March 13-15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Tickets are available at www.gpstpete.com.
WASHINGTON D.C. (August 22, 2026) – Alex Palou’s blistering lap of 56.8993 seconds in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda puts the four-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion on the pole position for Sunday’s Freedom 250 on the streets of Washington D.C.
“Incredible,” said Palou. “My car was on rails. Super-fun lap, super-fun car to drive. Couldn’t be happier. Looking forward to tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, man, 250 miles.”
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood lines up second after a lap of 57.4661 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda.
“P1 both first and second group, and the last one Alex Palou is just a legend and goes faster on his one-lap dash than he did the whole rest of the run, I think,” Kirkwood said. “He made us look silly out there.”
Scott McLaughlin spoiled the Honda party up front, putting the No. 3 PPG Chevrolet third on the grid after a fast lap of 57.4200.
Palou’s CGR teammates Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson did not fare as well as their teammate.
Dixon was on a lap that would have allowed him to transfer into the next round of qualifying, when Simpson hit the wall, triggering a red flag which cancelled Dixon’s lap. The No. 9 PNC Bank Honda will start 14th.
Bringing out the red flag penalized Simpson of his two fastest laps so the No. 8 Sunoco Honda will start last in 25th.
Coverage of the Freedom 250 starts at 11:30 a.m. on Fox and IndyCar Radio with the green flag waving in our nation’s capital at 1 p.m.
MARKHAM, ONTARIO (August 15, 2026) – The NTT IndyCar Series is making it’s first visit to a new street circuit in Markham, Ontario but a familiar face topped the speed charts after the first practice.
Four-time Series Champion Alex Palou turned the fastest lap around the 12-turn, 2.19-mile temporary street course, a 1-minute, 14.9915-seconds (100.811 mph) lap in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
A.J. Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collett was second quick with a 1-minute, 15.0454-seconds (100.739) in the No. 4 Chevrolet.
Louis Foster was third quick in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda at 1:15.0278 (100.702) followed by Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin 1:15.2981 (100.401). Will Power rounded out the Top 5 at 1:15.3152 (100.378).
Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammates were not as strong. Six-time Series Champion Scott Dixon was 20th at 1:16.4583 (98.877) in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. Kyffin Simpson was 24th at 1.17.3893 (97.688) in the No. 8 Sunoco Honda. Simpson made contact with the wall at Turn 6, causing damage to the rear suspension. Simpson limped to pits for repair and returned to action later in the session.
Practice 2 is set for 2:30 p.m. as delayed track construction forced officials to cancel Friday’s activities and condense Saturday’s schedule. NTT P1 Pole Qualifying is set for 6:30 p.m. ET
MARKHAM, ONTARIO (August 14, 2026) – Issues with the completion of the temporary street circuit in Markham Ontario has forced the NTT INDYCAR SERIES first practice to be moved to Saturday as all of Friday’s on-track activity had to be scrubbed from the schedule.
“INDYCAR is incredibly disappointed that our promoter was not able to complete the track build on time, despite significant support from our team on site,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Ontario has always been a magnificent market for our sport and the number of spectators that attended today is a shining example of that. New events can always pose logistical challenges and we join in the frustration of our loyal fans and apologize.”
Green Savoree Promotions also issued a statement.
“Ensuring the safety of the drivers and the completion of the certification process of competing on a brand-new racetrack delayed all on-track activities today. Today’s sessions have been rescheduled to Saturday, August 15, to allow for further track preparations.”
“We greatly appreciate all the fans who made it out to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham today and chose to spend the day with us. The attendance and support were overwhelming.”
The revamped schedule calls for the first practice to take place at 10:00 a.m. followed by a second practice at 2:30 p.m. and P1 Pole Qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
Riggs rules New Hampshire, Ankrum survives to claim final Chase berth
Alex Palou powers to IndyCar Freedom 250 Pole Position in D.C.
Spithaler Sprints to Mercer Win
Newlywed Reft Wins At PPMS
Logano Wins at Richmond as Chase Picture Takes Shape
Michael Norris wins his 5th Jook George Steel City Classic
Kvapil Hangs On To Win Pennzoil 250 in Top-Four Sweep by JR Motorsports
Troutman Gets First Win For Foster In Schaltenbrand Memorial At Lernerville; Cipriano, Flick, and Schneider Also Win.
Newlywed Reft Wins At PPMS
