By: Spencer Neff
June 5, 2026
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Worldwide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois for their fourth race in five weekends. ‘
It is the 18th race in the 17 of 30 years INDYCAR has been racing on the 1.25-mile oval (2020 was a doubleheader). Sunday night is also the lone scheduled night race for 2026.
Before this weekend’s on-track action begins. here’s a look at this weekend’s pre-race stories
Headlines
Alex Palou extended his championship lead to 62 points after winning Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. WWTR is one of just a pair of tracks the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has raced on where Palou has not finished on the podium. His best finish in seven previous starts has been a fourth in 2024.
In 2025, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood earned his first career oval victory at WWTR. It is the only victory of Kirkwood’s six that did not occur on a street circuit.
A week removed from his runner-up finish to Palou, Kirkwood will look to give Andretti Global their first win since that race a year ago.
Off the track, several headlines are making their way throughout the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock.
Thursday morning, INDYCAR Technical Director Kevin “Rocket” Blanch announced his retirement following nearly thirty years in the series and Crew Chief with Panther Racing.
“I have been contemplating retirement from the INDYCAR technical side for a while,” Blanch
said.
“Last winter when INDYCAR Officiating was formed, I was asked to continue in my role
with an emphasis on completing a very hectic Month of May and the Indianapolis 500 and am
glad I did.”
Nick Allen, previously INDYCAR’s technical inspection manager, takes over Blanch’s role. Allen was hired by INDYCAR this past December after more than two decades a mechanic throughout the paddock.
INDYCAR officiating also provided information on their plans for improvements in transparency and reporting in rehgards to penalties going forward.
“One of the takeaways from the initial months of INDYCAR Officiating was a need for thorough
infraction communication and, in some cases, comparison to prior rulings to continue our goal of
transparency and consistency in rule implementation,” INDYCAR Independent Officiating Board Chairman Raj Nair said in the announcement.
“This post-event report will be clear in structure, process, and findings.
“The board would like to thank the entire INDYCAR Officiating team for implementing this
important step as we continue our mission. Working across the paddock with key stakeholders,
we believe this structure will lead to a very positive result for the sport.”
Post-Event Reports
INDYCAR Officiating post-event reports will summarize the officiating activity from each race
event and will include penalties imposed under the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook and
findings from technical inspections before and after qualifying and races. Post-event reports will
be posted and made public during the week following an event at
https://noticeboard.indycarofficiating.org.
Examples of content that will be summarized in the post-event report:
Race Recaps
In-race penalties imposed – for example, passing under yellow, emergency service
in a closed pit or pit lane speed violations
Incident reviews referred to the stewards and concluded with no further action
Practice Recaps
In-practice penalties imposed – for example, pit lane speed violations, causing a
yellow or red flag or entering the wrong pit box
Technical inspection findings from qualifying and races
What was inspected and the extent and subject matter
Explanation of any infraction and its resulting penalty-level classification
Summary of technical or procedural distinction, where relevant
Technical Penalty Guidelines
To ensure consistency across events, post-event reports will include the classification of
technical penalties based on the nature of the infraction via three levels:
Infraction Level 1
A single-dimensional non-compliance, such as a height or size measurement
outside tolerance, typically arising from wear, damage or assembly failure with no
finding of altered component location or improper conduct.
Infraction Level 2
A more significant compliance failure, such as an out-of-tolerance aerodynamic
angle, driver or car weight, fuel-system or safety equipment matter, where the
configuration is outside specification but does not involve modification of a spec
part.
Infraction Level 3
Modification of a spec part, regardless of which assembly or subsystem it belongs
to, or the installation of unapproved or altered components – a departure from the
car’s approved specification.
Associated penalties begin with point assessments and fines at Level 1 and rise to
disqualification and suspensions at Level 3. Specific monetary fines, point assessments and
other consequences imposed within a given infraction level remain at the sole discretion of
INDYCAR Officiating.
“We have moved quickly but meticulously in applying this next step in greater officiating
transparency,” Managing Director of INDYCAR Officiating Scott Elkins said.
“Our goals include increased consistency and clarity as these reports
look to provide an additional resource toward structure and process. We look forward to
implementing this next phase beginning at WWT Raceway.
Beyond INDYCAR officiating, Ed Carpenter Racing announced that Christian Rasmussen and the organization agreed to a contract extension, keeping last year’s Milwaukee Mile winner at ECR through 2027 and beyond.
“I’m excited to extend my partnership with ECR for 2027 and beyond,” Rasmussen said.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with the team so far and believe in the future of ECR. We have undergone a lot of changes over the last couple years, and it has been a privilege to witness them firsthand and to play a part in them. I’m confident that together we will continue to take ECR to its fullest potential.”
Rasmussen, who debuted with ECR in 2024, earned his first INDYCAR podium in last year’s race at WWTR.
“There are plenty of opportunities to make our mark in 2026, and we are confident that strong results are right in front of us,” Co-Owner and CEO Ed Carpenter added.
“Christian really made a breakthrough last season at WWT Raceway before getting his first win at the Milwaukee Mile, so this weekend is a great opportunity to get back to victory lane.”
Rasmussen also won the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone race at WWTR.
10th Annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline Fast Facts
Race weekend: Saturday, June 6 – Sunday, June 7
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline 260 laps / 325 miles
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 150 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Ten new sets for use during the event weekend. An extra set will be provided to teams participating in the high-line session before final practice. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets for use during the event weekend.
X: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Threads: @WWTRaceway, @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @WWTRaceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @WWT_Raceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.wwtraceway.com/
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2025 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Siemens Honda)
2025 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet), 49.9088 seconds, 180.329 mph (two laps)
One-lap qualifying lap record:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Will Power, 23.7206, 189.709 mph, Aug. 25, 2017
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); High-line and Final Practice, 8 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race, 9 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
INDYCAR Radio Powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young is the turn announcer. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The 10th Annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline race (8:30 p.m. ET Sunday), and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, FS1
3:35 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT P1 Award qualifying (single car/cumulative time of two laps), FS2
7-8 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES high-line session (two groups/two 10-minute sessions each), FS1
8-9 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS1
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
8 p.m. – FOX on air
8:20 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
8:25 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (260 laps/325 miles), FOX (Live)
Header Image By James Black/INDYCAR, Fast Facts By INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 