The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series officially kicks off this weekend on the sun-drenched streets of Florida. After an offseason dominated by legal drama and team realignments, the engines are finally firing for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Here is everything you need to know for the season opener.
🏁 The Main Event: Race Details
The 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit—which famously utilizes a runway from Albert Whitted Airport—will once again host the curtain-raiser.
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Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026
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Green Flag: 12:29 PM ET
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Laps: 100 (180 miles)
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Broadcast: FOX
🏎️ Key Storylines to Watch
1. Palou’s “Clean Slate”
Defending series champion Alex Palou enters the weekend with a massive weight off his shoulders. Just today (Friday), it was confirmed that Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing reached a final settlement with McLaren over his 2023 breach of contract. With a $12 million ruling behind him, the Spaniard is now laser-focused on chasing a fifth title—and a fourth consecutive championship—an unprecedented feat in the modern era.
2. The PREMA Absence
In a not-so-shocking turn of events just days before the opener, PREMA Racing announced they would miss the St. Petersburg round. Reports cite financial challenges and the departure of the founding Rosin family. This leaves a 25-car grid for the weekend.
3. New Rubber: Firestone ENLITEN™
This weekend marks the debut of Firestone’s new ENLITEN™ technology. These tires are designed to be more sustainable while maintaining the high-performance grip required for the bumpy Florida streets. How they degrade over a 100-lap stint could be the deciding factor in pit strategy.
4. Arrow McLaren’s Engineering Boost
Looking to bridge the gap to Ganassi, Arrow McLaren has hired veteran engineer Olivier Boisson. Known for his street-course prowess at Andretti, Boisson’s influence on Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard will be under the microscope this weekend.
📅 Weekend Schedule (ET)
Friday February 27
8:30 am USF2000 Practice
10:00 am USF2000 Qualifying, Stream: YouTube
11:30 am USF2000 Race 1, Stream: YouTube
12:30 pm Indy NXT, TV: FS2
1:30 pm NTT IndyCar Series Practice, TV: FS2 McLaughlin fastest, Speeds
Saturday February 28
8:30 am Indy NXT Practice, TV: FS1
9:30 am NTT IndyCar Series Practice, TV: FS1
3:30 pm Indy NXT Qualifying, TV: FS2 Pole: Max Taylor, Starting Grid
4:30 pm NTT IndyCar Series Qualifying, TV: FS2 Pole: Scott McLaughlin, Starting Grid
Sunday March 1
9:00 am NTT IndyCar Series Warmup, TV: FS1
10:00 am Indy NXT Race, TV: FS1 Winner: Nikita Johnson, Results
12:00 pm NTT IndyCar Series Race, TV: FOX Winner: Alex Palou, Results
3:00 pm USF2000 Race 2, Stream: YouTube
