By: Spencer Neff
April 27, 2026

Over the next two days, the 33 drivers entered for the May 24 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will be on track for testing at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Live streaming of the on-track action will be available on YouTube for Day 1 and Day 2

Before any on-track action begins, take a look at the storylines to keep an eye on during this week’s testing.

Ten Drivers get (re) acclimated to IMS

Tomorrow, oval veterans will be on-track from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. At 12:00 p.m, two hours will be allowed to drivers needing to complete their ROP (Rookie Orientation Program) or refresher program, In addition to full-time rookies Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet and Mick Schumacher, Jacob Abel will also need to retake his ROP after not making the field in 2025.

For these drivers, 10 laps at 205-210 mph, 15 laps at 210-215 mph and 15 laps over 215 mph. Drivers who have participated in an Indianapolis 500 but have not contested an oval event since last year’s race will need to complete the latter two portions of that agenda.

Drivers needing to complete that include Meyer Shank Racing’s Helio Castroneves, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Takuma Sato, Arrow McLaren’s Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Co-Owner/Driver Ed Carpenter, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s Jack Harvey, and HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing’s Katherine Legge.

Although he is not full-time in 2026, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s Conor Daly participated full-time last year and will be allowed on track with the oval veterans.

Following that session, all cars will be allowed on-track from 2-5 p.m. On Wednesday, all 33 entries will be allowed on-track from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.

Parts and Track Changes on Display

Following its yearly post-season testing back in an October 21, 2025 session. Firestone and INDYCAR would settle on a number of changes for the 2026 race.

Most notably, a new tire will be run during this year’s race. 2025 was the first Indianapolis 500 with the new hybrid system in place for each car. Passing deeper in a pack of cars, already one of the major issues in recent years, was exacerbated with the new technology.

The new tire will be run by the full-field this week after 2025 race winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing and two-time runner-up (2022 and 2024) tested new options.

2016 race winner Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing and two-time winner Sato (RLLR) would test damper (shock) and brake changes.

Team Penske enters 2026 race with new look

In 2024, Team Penske duplicated their 1988 front row sweep, including a new pole record by Scott McLaughlin (234.220 mph). On Race Day, McLaughlin led a race-high 66 laps but Josef Newgarden became the sixth driver to win consecutive 500s with a thrilling last-lap pass.

While the 2025 race started out well as 2018 race winner Will Power ended the day 10th behind McLaughlin and Newgarden in second and third following Day 1 of qualifying, Day 2 was not so kind.

During the “Fast 12” practice, McLaughlin suffered a violent airborne crash and would not run during the ensuing session.

Prior to Sunday qualifying, Newgarden’s and later Power’s entries were found to have unapproved modifications to thee car’s bodywork (rear attenuator) and were barred from qualifying. The next day, Newgarden and Power were moved to 32nd and 33rd on the grid.

Longtime Team Penske executives Tim Cindric, Kyle Moyer and Ron Rusewski were let go from the orginization in the aftermath.

Cindric has since returned as Race Strategist for McLaughlin, while Moyer became Director of Competition with Arrow McLaren and is now strategist for Christian Lundgaard. Rusewski would join Andretti Global as Team Principal.

On Race Day, McLaughlin crashed during the pace laps, Newgarden fell out after 135 laps with a fuel pressure issue and Power improved a race-high 17 spots to 16th.

Power has since moved to Andretti Global, while David Malukas took over the No. 12 car. A new-look Team Penske’s form during the next two days will be pivotal as the organization looks for its record-extending 21st Indianapolis 500 victory and 20th pole.

Header Image By Walt Kuhn/INDYCAR