By: Spencer Neff
February 25, 2026

The first practice of the 2026 is almost here and cars will be on track in less than 48 hours.

Before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign kicks off, here’s a look at some predictions for the upcoming season.

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg:

In 2022, Scott McLaughlin earned the first pole and victory of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career at the season-opening race in St. Petersburg.

Following a winless 2025, McLaughlin begins the new season in Victory Lane on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn Florida street course.

Good Ranchers 250 (Phoenix Raceway):

The last three races at the 1.022-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona have been won by the defending series champion.

Despite Series Champion Alex Palou’s recent success, Chevrolet may still have the upper hand across the board.

In the series’ first race there since 2018, Josef Newgarden and Team Penske, make it “back to back” at Phoenix.

Java House Grand Prix of Arlington:

A new street course brings with it a myriad of unknowns.

The 70-lap race on the 2.3-mile, 14-turn circuit on the streets of Arlington, Texas is one of the most anticipated events in recent memory.

Look for Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global to snag a fifth INDYCAR victory and fourth on a street course.

Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (Barber Motorsports Park): Alex Palou began a three-race win streak during a dominant month of May at Birmingham, Alabama’s 2.3-milee, 17-turn road course in 2025.

Expect more of the same from him and the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing team.

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach: Andretti Global has won five of the last seven runnings of the historic race on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn road course in California.

This year, new driver Will Power makes it six of eight in his third Long Beach victory.

Sonsio Grand Prix (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course): Another event that Palou has dominated as of late, including the last two from the pole. Here it goes to four entering the 500.

110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

In the 2024 “500”, Scott McLaughlin won pole and led 66 laps, the most of anyone. Last year, he crashed on the pace lap and was credited with a 30th-place finish.

For 2026, he gives Car Owner Roger Penske his 21st win in the race and becomes the first New Zealand-born driver to win. Pato O’Ward starts on pole but finishes second for a third time in five years.

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix– Kyle Kirkwood becomes the first driver to repeat on the 1.8-mile, 11-turn downtown configuration in his second victory of 2026.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (Worldwide Technology Raceway-Gateway)- A year removed from a race-ending airborne crash, Josef Newgarden continues his dominance on the 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois, his sixth.

XPEL Grand Prix at Road America: Palou’s reign over permanent road courses gets another trophy with a third victory on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: In 2025, a rare mistake from Alex Palou allowed teammate Scott Dixon to earn a seventh victory at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course in Lexington, Ohio. This year, Palou gets redemption after consecutive runner-up finishes at Mid-Ohio following his 2023 triumph.

Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (Nashville Superspeedway): Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward dominated from pole before a midrace crash ended his season in the finale.

This July, he earns a 10th career INDYCAR victory on the 1.33-mil concrete oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.

BitNiie.com Grand Prix of Portland (Portland International Raceway): A six-place grid penalty for an engine change relegated Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard from pole to seventh before his last of three runner-ups with his new team.

With no penalty, he earns Arrow McLaren’s second consecutive victory.

Ontario Honda Dealers INDY at Markham: A second new street course in 2026, the 2.19-mille, 12-turn circuit is the new home of the series annual trip north of the border.

Scott Dixon gets career victory #58, his 22nd consecutive season with a win and 24th overall.

Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C.,: Details of the new race in the capital city of the U.S. are yet to be announced but look for Andretti Global’s Will Power to continue their respective success on street courses.

Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 (doubleheader): As it did in 2024, the 1.032-mile oval in West Alis, Wisconsin hosts a doubleheader weekend.

This year, Team Penske doubles up with Josef Newgarden and new addition David Malukas winning, the latter making it consecutive years with first-time winners at Milwaukee.

Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca) : Palou gets the proverbial exclamation point on his championship season, his fourth in five seasons at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Salinas, California permanent road course.

2026 Champion: Chip Ganassi Racing makes it six championships in the 2020s with Alex Palou becoming the first driver in 19 years with four consecutive series championships.

Rookie of the Year:Joining INDYCAR on a technical alliance with Andretti Global following their dominant 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone, Dale Coyne Racing’s “Norwegian Nightmare” Dennis Hauger earns Rookie of the Year honors in the No. 19 car.

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR