IndyCar returns for 2026 and the drama has already begun in St Petersburg

When Scott McLaughlin starts on pole for this weekend’s opening round of the 2026 IndyCar championship, he’ll hope to be drawing a line under his underwhelming 2025 season.

The New Zealand hotshot switched from Supercars to IndyCar racing in 2020, making his debut at St Petersburg, Florida and becoming something of a sensation, tipped as a future title contender.

But then came a winless 2025, combined with a cheating scandal that engulfed his Penske team and brought the firing of its entire senior leadership team. As McLaughlin finished the season tenth, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou streaked to a fourth title, including his first oval victory in the series — at the Indy 500 no less.

So when McLaughlin cloaked the fastest qualifying time to take pole in this year’s St Petersburg season opener, his emptional response was no surprise.

“Everybody knows the slog we went through last year, so to start on this note is fantastic,” said McLaughlin. “Bloody good, bloody good.”

And that’s just the story of this Sunday’s polesitter. Before the wheel-to-wheel action even begins in this year’s championship, the IndyCar grid is fizzing with drama, tension, and anticipation.

Alongside McLaughlin sits Marcus Ericsson, cast out of Formula 1 after a dismal five seasons with Caterham and Sauber, only to find redemption in America, with Indy 500 victory in 2022. He’d hoped it would be a springboard to a title challenge, but has won only a single race since, and none in the three seasons since racing for Andretti.

After slumping to 20th in the championship last season, will his front row start in St Pete see him become a title contender in 2026 — a role many believe him to be capable of? As Ericsson said: “It’s a great start for our comeback year.”

If you thought those two had a point to prove, just cast your eyes back to third place and Dennis Hauger, making his IndyCar debut after winning the Indy NXT feeder series in 2025.

His team, Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) hasn’t won a race since 2018 — in St Petersburg — but had two drivers in the final Fast 12 qualifying session, thanks to Romain Grosjean, who joined IndyCar from F1 in 2021. He only had a reserve role last season and looked set to sit out this year too before a late call-up to DCR in February.

Grosjean will start sixth, behind fourth-placed Palou, fresh from a London court battle with McLaren, which he spurned after signing a contract to drive for the team in 2024.

Last year’s champion is looking for his fourth consecutive title — and fifth in total — in 2026, remaining with Chip Ganassi Racing, while the 2025 runner-up, McLaren’s fan-favourite Pato O’Ward, will be chasing him down from eighth on the grid.

And we’re only just getting to two-time champion Will Power who, this year, was replaced at Penske after 17 years at the team. Now at Andretti, 45-year-old Power is seeking to show that he still has the pace to run at the front — from 13th on the grid this Sunday.

Three places back is fellow 45-year-old veteran Scott Dixon, a six-time champion who’ll be looking to better his third-place in the title race last year; a task not made easier by being Palou’s team-mate.

Further back, and 21st on the grid at St Petersburg is another face joining from Formula 1: Mick Schumacher, who begins his rookie season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

With all cars running identical Dallara IR-18 chassis, powered by either Honda or Chevrolet 2.2-litre twin-turbocharged hybrid V6 engines, the racing is always close, always fierce and ever-unpredictable.

The action begins at 5pm GMT, with live coverage available on Sky Sports F1 in the UK.

What Is The NTT IndyCar Series?

America’s premier open-wheel racing series takes place on a mix of street circuits, speedways, road courses and ovals; the highlight being the Indy 500 in May, where victory carries almost as much prestige as winning the championship.

This mix of venues, including the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, means that adaptability is a key part of drivers’ DNA. Series success requires skill and bravery at each venue, with consistent results at each.

But while the competition might be cut-throat, the cars are no longer cutting edge, having been designed in 2010. They have been adapted, including with the distinctive Aeroscreen cockpit protection which was introduced in 2020, but a full replacement is not due until 2028.

Where Do They Race?

Aside from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there are several permanent tracks, as well as street circuits on the calendar.

The season starts with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which delivers an exciting, twisting circuit with overtaking opportunities, set against a backdrop of the calm St. Petersburg waterfront and infamous Dali Museum. The March 1 race is a fan-favourite.

Now in its 22nd consecutive running, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg transforms the downtown streets and the runway of Albert Whitted Airport into a 1.8-mile, 14-turn street-racing circuit. With an estimated 200,000 spectators, the Grand Prix brings global attention and excitement to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Phoenix Raceway, Long Beach, Nashville Speedway, Road America and the Portland International Raceway are all well-known stops on the schedule, with the Laguna Seca Raceway concluding the season in early September.

Perhaps the most talked about event on the calendar won’t be the Indy 500 this season, but instead the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C which was ordered by US President Donald Trump to mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.. The route will loop around the city as well as the National Mall and take place on August 23 this year.

This news was announced weeks after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted an AI-generated IndyCar with “ICE” branding on its social media.

Katy Fairman travelled to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as a guest of Firestone