The 2026 IndyCar schedule has been confirmed, and there is a lot to speak about. There was a change in host venue for the finale, some new avenue programs, a return to Phoenix, and a few weekends the place they’ll companion with NASCAR.
Thermal and Iowa have been dropped, Milwaukee has expanded right into a doubleheader, and there’ll as soon as once more be 17 races making up the racing season. This is a take a look at the perfect, worst, and meh components of the 2026 schedule selections:
The nice
Grand Prix of Arlington rendering
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
IndyCar teaming up with NASCAR: IndyCar will open its 2026 season with back-to-back doubleheaders with NASCAR, which can solely assist each of them. The season-opener at St. Pete will likely be joined by the NASCAR Vans, which is bound to be a present. The subsequent week, IndyCar returns to Phoenix for the primary time since 2018, the place they are going to be a part of a Cup race weekend. This could solely be factor for race followers, and FOX Sports activities was essential in placing this collectively. And who is aware of, possibly somebody will likely be courageous sufficient to pattern the opposite collection on one in every of these joint weekends.
Thermal faraway from the calendar: Hey, they wished to strive one thing, however it’s time for Thermal to go, and it was by no means actually going to work. The monitor wasn’t very thrilling, and the truth that the common IndyCar fan could not afford to attend simply wasn’t look.Â
Fixing the beginning of the season: IndyCar did a terrific job front-loading the season with 4 races within the first 5 weeks, together with the primary three races going down in succession. In 2025, IndyCar held its St. Pete season-opener after which vanished for 3 weeks, which simply kills any momentum across the new yr. Now, there are nonetheless gaps, however it’s arduous to not have that once we’re speaking a couple of 17-race schedule. One race in April is not superb, however it’s value it to get a smoother begin to the brand new season.
Addition of Arlington avenue race: It is not TMS, however IndyCar will likely be again in Texas subsequent yr. This new avenue race (with a monstrous backstretch) has the Cowboys and Rangers as occasion companions, and is trying prefer it has quite a lot of momentum behind it. The circuit is over 2.7 miles lengthy, and folks appear genuinely excited concerning the format.Â
Nashville loses finale, however nonetheless will get an enormous win: I most well-liked Nashville because the finale, however there’s nonetheless a lot to be enthusiastic about with this race. The oval race has been prolonged to 400 miles, and it’ll instantly observe the World Cup on FOX, which may make for enormous lead-in viewership numbers for the primetime race beneath the lights.
The unhealthy
Will Energy, Workforce Penske
Photograph by: Perry Nelson / Lumen through Getty Photographs
East coast race followers should journey: Over a 3rd of the nation lives within the states categorized on the East Coast, and but, the place are the races on that aspect of the nation? There’s nothing within the Northeast, and St. Petersburg in Florida (which is not even on the Atlantic aspect of the state) cannot be the one one. There’s a big inhabitants that’s merely being ignored, and that is an enormous missed alternative. There are many venues to select from, together with ovals, street programs, and potential avenue course layouts.
IMS stays the one giant oval: The times of a mostly-oval IndyCar schedule are lengthy gone, however it’s nonetheless arduous to fathom {that a} collection revolving round an oval race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway would not go to some other giant ovals. Now, it would not should be Michigan, however tracks like Texas or Homestead can be incredible additions.
The unsurprising removing of Iowa: I like Iowa. It is a enjoyable monitor, even with the bizarre repave. And whereas it is removing from the schedule is disappointing, it is not surprising. The attendance this previous yr was dismal and the promotion was nonexistent. There was potential, as proven when Hy-Vee was selling it, however absolutely, Milwaukee will do exactly effective because it has now been awarded a doubleheader.
The ugly
Laguna Seca replaces Nashville as finale: This simply is not a title-decider. IndyCar tried to power it earlier than, and it wasn’t well-received. There is no power across the occasion and it lacks a real finale environment. Nashville suits the mould significantly better, and it would not assist that Laguna Seca is not precisely recognized for its barnburners.
Mexico deal would not come collectively: IndyCar has been attempting to get a race in Mexico since at the least 2016, however it at all times finally ends up being ‘possibly subsequent yr.’ Nevertheless, this one actually stings, as after being criticized when NASCAR beat them to a race in Mexico Metropolis, there was an enormous push to place one thing collectively in 2026, just for it to not come collectively. And now, there are quite a lot of followers who really feel like they had been clinging to false hope. Their reasoning is identical as NASCAR’s for not going again, and it is issues brought on by the World Cup, however nonetheless, followers stored listening to constructive issues a couple of potential deal for months, just for it to result in nothing.Â
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