On September 12, 2024, IndyCar announced that the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company had signed an extension to remain as the series' sole tire supplier until at least the 2030 season.[1]
On July 31, 2025, Fox Sports parent company Fox Corporation announced that it had acquired a one-third stake in IndyCar parent company Penske Entertainment. As part of the acquisition, Fox Sports' TV contract was extended to 2030.[2][3]
On December 11, 2025, IndyCar announced a new three-person independent officiating board, named IndyCar Officiating Inc. Two members – Ray Evernham and Raj Nair – were voted on to the panel by IndyCar team owners, while the third member – Ronan Morgan – was appointed by the FIA.[4]
On February 12, 2026, it was announced Chevrolet and Honda had signed a multi-year contract extension which keeps them in the series when it switches to 2.4-liter twin-turbo hybrid V6 engines in 2028. Each manufacturer will receive a single charter entry as part of the agreement.[5]
On September 3, Andretti Global confirmed reports that Will Power would join the team, driving the No. 26 entry vacated by Herta.[9]
On September 18, Team Penske announced that David Malukas would join the team on a multi-year deal beginning in 2026, driving the No. 12 entry vacated by Power.[35]
On September 23, Dale Coyne Racing confirmed reports that 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger would join the team for the 2026 season.[20]
On October 14, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that Rinus VeeKay would join the team for 2026, serving as the team's lead driver.[25]
On October 29, Marco Andretti announced his retirement from motor racing and the Indianapolis 500.[40]
On November 6, A. J. Foyt Enterprises announced it had signed 2025 Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet for the 2026 season, replacing Malukas in the No. 4 car.[7]
On September 23, 2025, with the confirmation of Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing announced that it had formed a technical alliance with Andretti Global for the 2026 season.[20]
On January 29, 2026, Team Penske revealed that Tim Cindric is returning to the team as the strategist for Scott McLaughlin, having been released from his role as the team's IndyCar president in May 2025, following penalties during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.[41]
During the off-season, Ed Carpenter Racing shifted away from its former denomination and started to be officially known by the acronym ECR, in light of further changes in its ownership structure involving Ted Gelov, who had become a co-owner in 2025.[22][42]
On February 25, 2026, it was confirmed via IndyCar's entry list and grid space allocations that PREMA Racing would miss at least the opening round at St. Petersburg, amidst reports of the founding Rosin family departing the organization and other financial challenges.[43]
The schedule was released on September 16, 2025.[44] Start times were released on December 18, 2025, with all races being broadcast on Fox.[45] The Freedom 250 was then added on January 30, 2026.[46]
IndyCar will return to Phoenix Raceway after an eight-year absence, marking the championship's first race in Arizona since 2018.[47][48]
The Grand Prix of Arlington will debut in March, held at a new street circuit around the Streets of Arlington. This marks the championship's return to Texas for the first time since 2023.[49]
After having hosted the season finale since 2024, the Music City Grand Prix will move to July 19 and become round twelve of the season. The event will also become a night race and have its race length extended from 225 laps to 300 laps.[44]
The Milwaukee Mile race weekend will become a double-header event, as it had been when it returned to the schedule in 2024.[44]
The Grand Prix of Monterey will return as the season finale, as it had been in 2019, 2022, and 2023. The race will move from late July to September 6.[44]
At all races except the Indy 500, the pole position qualifier earns 1 point (unless qualifying is not held).[57] The twelve Indy 500 qualifiers who qualify for the fast 12 session receive points based on the results of that session, descending from 12 points for first place.[58]
Drivers who lead at least one race lap are awarded 1 point.[59] The driver who leads the most laps during a race scores an additional 2 points.[59]
Entrant-initiated engine change-outs before the engine reaches its required distance run results in the loss of 10 points.[60]
The top-two finishing full-season eligible entrants for a manufacturer in each race score points toward the engine manufacturer's championship. Points scored are the same as the driver's championship except for bonus points – a race win is worth five bonus points for a manufacturer, while a pole position is worth one bonus point (except at the Indianapolis 500). A full-season entry is eligible to score manufacturer points until it exceeds the maximum number of allowed engines per entry.
For Indianapolis 500 qualifying, the manufacturer that runs the fastest speed on Saturday receives one bonus point; while the manufacturer that qualifies on pole position receives two bonus points.
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Scott McLaughlin
Kyle Kirkwood
Álex Palou
