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Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Favorites and Sleepers: Detroit
INDYCAR Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood won the last street-circuit race of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13. Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing won the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on March 2. Palou's teammate Scott Dixon is the defending winner of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Given Honda's dominance on street courses, scoring 10 wins in the last 11 tries since the start of the 2023 season, this could signify a Chip Ganassi Racing vs. Andretti Global battle for Sunday's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Pato O'Ward's 2024 St. Petersburg win, driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, was the lone exception. Kirkwood, Dixon, Palou, Felix Rosenqvist, Scott McLaughlin and Christian Lundgaard are the six drivers to finish in the top 10 at both street course races this season. How many will remain on that list after an action-packed weekend around the 1.645 mile, nine-turn street circuit? Favorites Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet) McLaughlin finished seventh in 2023 and 20th last year in Detroit but placed fourth in St. Petersburg on March 2 and sixth on April 13 at Long Beach this season. He has three top-six finishes in the last four races on the season, too. Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Over Dixon's last 16 street course starts, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has four wins and nine top-six results, including a victory here last year and runner-up in this year's St. Petersburg season opener and eighth in Long Beach. He also finished fourth at Detroit in 2023. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Palou has one finish worse than eighth in his last 17 street course starts. He has nine podium finishes and 14 top-six results on these tracks during that span, including a victory March 2 in St. Petersburg and runner-up April 13 at Long Beach. Palou won at Detroit in 2023 but placed 16th last year. On the season, Palou has five wins and a runner-up finish in six starts. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) Power finished fifth in Long Beach, runner-up and sixth, respectively, at Detroit, and produced seven top-seven finishes in his last 11 street course starts. He has four top-six finishes in the last five races. Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda) All three of Kirkwood's NTT INDYCAR SERIES victories came on street courses for Andretti Global. He led 53 of 85 laps in his Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach triumph in 2023 and 46 of 90 in April, both from the pole. Kirkwood also earned his second career victory in August 2023 on the streets of Nashville. He finished fifth in St. Petersburg this season and sixth and fourth, respectively, in his last two Detroit starts. Sleepers Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) Lundgaard finished eighth and third, respectively, on street courses races this season. His only NTT P1 Award and victory occurred in July 2023 on the streets of Toronto. This car has placed fifth in the last two Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix races. Lundgaard was 11th for Arrow McLaren last season. Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet) Rossi finished fifth at Detroit the last two years driving for Arrow McLaren and was 10th in the season opener at St. Petersburg. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Siemens Honda) Three of Ericsson's four career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victories have come on street circuits. All three came at different venues, St. Petersburg, Nashville and Belle Isle. While he hasn't won on this Detroit circuit, finishing ninth in June 2023 for Chip Ganassi Racing and runner-up last year for Andretti Global, watch out. At the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, Ericsson finished sixth. Ericsson has qualified seventh and fifth in the pair of street races this season, too. Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Honda) Rosenqvist came from ninth in the 2023 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear to finish third and was eighth last June. This season, Rosenqvist finished seventh at St. Petersburg and fourth in Long Beach. He has five top-10 finishes in six races this season. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda) Armstrong had four top-11 finishes in five street-course starts in 2023. Last season, he finished 12th in Long Beach, third in Detroit and fifth at Toronto. This year, he moved to Meyer Shank Racing and qualified fourth in St. Petersburg and seventh at Long Beach. If he can stay out of trouble, Armstrong could surprise everyone this weekend. recommended
Fox Sports
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Paddock Buzz: David Malukas Earns Sweet Redemption with Third
INDYCAR Just one year removed from being sidelined with a severe wrist injury that left David Malukas without a ride for last year's Indianapolis 500, he returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway not only as a driver but as a contender. Malukas finished third driving the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises in Sunday's 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. 'Last year, there was a chance I would never be back in the INDYCAR paddock again,' Malukas said. 'I was a fan watching in Turn 1, and now one year later, I'm back here fighting for the win.' Malukas' 2024 season started with promise after signing with Arrow McLaren, but a mountain biking accident in February shattered those plans. The injury kept him off the grid longer than expected, leading to his release from the team. During the Month of May last year, he took a very different role—contributing to INDYCAR's content team while healing, uncertain if he'd ever return to competitive racing. Once medically cleared, Malukas secured a part-time opportunity with Meyer Shank Racing for the final 10 races of the 2024 season. His performances there reignited his career, ultimately earning him a full-time seat with AJ Foyt Racing in 2025. Entering the 2025 Indy 500, his season-best was only a 13th-place finish at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. His best Indy 500 result had been 16th place as a rookie driving for Dale Coyne Racing in 2022. But Sunday, he delivered the performance of his career, fighting among the leaders and holding strong to claim third. This third-place finish is a powerful symbol of Malukas' return and potential. From spectator to top-three finisher in just one year, Malukas is no longer a comeback story – he's a serious contender. Despite the result, Malukas admitted the result stung a bit. 'Bittersweet because you're just so close to greatness,' he said. 'Every driver wants to be there.' His inexperience in a late-race duel for victory might have cost him the win, as he noted his team had to make educated guesses on the car's setup for the final stint. Ultimately, it was Alex Palou and 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson who had the upper hand in the final laps. 'We did everything right,' Malukas said. 'The guys did an incredible job. It's just bad timing at the end there. They (Palou and Ericsson) got us, and we tried to get that setup to where it needed to be on that final run, but never have been in that situation before, so we kind of made a guess.' Newgarden's Three-Peat Bid Halted Josef Newgarden's bid for history at the '500' came to a premature and frustrating end, not through driver error or pit lane mishap, but due to a mechanical failure that forced him to retire on Lap 135. Starting deep in the field (32nd), Newgarden methodically worked his way forward, breaking into the top 10 by the midway point of the race. He worked his way to sixth by Lap 128. It was shaping up to be a classic Newgarden oval charge – poised, strategic, and quietly effective. But just one lap after a routine pit stop on Lap 133, something broke. He brought the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Chevrolet back to pit lane, climbed out and saw his hopes of becoming the first driver to win three straight Indy 500s come to a halt. 'It's tough to not have a shot at the end,' Newgarden said. 'It felt really good. Tried to be methodical today. It's a team sport. As tough as it is to take, still grateful to be out here today.' Larson's Day Ends in Crash Kyle Larson's ambitious attempt at the Indy/Charlotte 'Double' in 2025 ended in disappointment at Indianapolis, where a Lap 92 crash in Turn 2 derailed both his day and his bid to join Tony Stewart in motorsports history. Larson aimed to do what only Stewart accomplished in 2001 by completing all 1,100 miles in one day — 500 miles at Indy and 600 miles in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte. Stewart's feat remains the gold standard, with a sixth-place finish at Indy and third at Charlotte. On a restart, Larson suffered understeer behind Takuma Sato, then oversteer mid-corner in Turn 2 and lost control of the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The result was a multicar crash involving Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) and Sting Ray Robb (No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet). All three made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier. Robb's car then spun across the track and slammed the tire barrier inside Turn 2. 'It was a bit crazy there on the start,' Larson said. 'I got a bit tight behind Takuma, and then I got loose and kind of all over the place. I just hate that I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. Hate it for everybody that got caught up in it. Just bummed out.' Ferrucci Continues Top-10 Streak Santino Ferrucci's Indy 500 record remains unblemished — seven starts, seven top-10 finishes. With a seventh-place finish in the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet on Sunday, the AJ Foyt Racing driver continued to solidify his reputation as one of the most consistent and confident performers at the Brickyard. Ferrucci carved his way from 15th on the starting grid to a solid top-10 result. It's a performance that fits perfectly with his Indy 500 track record being always in the mix. 'Bittersweet because I knew we could have been in the top five,' he said. 'The goal is to win this race. I woke up this morning and wanted to win, told the guys let's win it. So, I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I couldn't get it done for us. Just faced a little bit more adversity than I anticipated.' Rough Start Sunday's race reminded everyone early that the margin for error at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is razor-thin, even before the green flag drops. After a 43-minute weather delay, the race was just moments from beginning when Scott McLaughlin, driving the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet, lost control on the final pace lap while warming up his tires and slammed into the inside pit wall entering Turn 1. The contact knocked his car out of the race before he ever took the green flag, relegating him to a 33rd-place finish, the lowest in the field. 'I don't know what happened; I really had no idea,' McLaughlin said. 'I didn't even get to see the green flag.' This was a crushing blow for last year's Indy 500 pole sitter, who entered the month with high expectations. He already had suffered a setback during practice for Top 12 Qualifying when a crash forced him into a backup car, eliminating his chance at a pole repeat and dropping him to 10th on the grid. Sunday's early exit added more woes in what's been a turbulent Month of May for the New Zealander. 'Worst moment of my life,' he said. 'I know that's probably dramatic. I just put so much into this race.' Once the race went green, the trouble didn't stop. On the Lap 4 restart, Marco Andretti andRinus VeeKay made slight contact in Turn 1. Andretti, stuck high, got pinched and was forced into the outside SAFER Barrier, ending his day early. He finished 32nd in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda for Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. 'I guess I could have been patient, but once I was committed up there, I was already at the wall,' Andretti said. 'Whoever was next to me was crowding me, and I ran out of room.' Pit Road Problematic Pit road proved to be just as treacherous as the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval Sunday. In a race where pit stops can make or break a 500-mile effort, the 2025 Indy 500 saw more of the latter. Whether it was mechanical failures, brake issues, procedural errors or just bad luck, pit road played a decisive – and in many cases, destructive – role in shaping the final outcome. In his second '500' start, Larson's first pit stop on Lap 24 went sideways when he exited his pit stall in the wrong gear, dropping him from 17th to 31st. While he recovered somewhat later in the race, the mistake was an early reminder of how unforgiving pit road can be, especially for someone of Larson's caliber. Rookie Louis Foster was caught speeding on pit lane after his second stop in the No. 45 Desunda Tequila Honda, earning a costly penalty. He still finished as the top rookie, in 15th. Meanwhile, Colton Herta had a double dose of trouble. He experienced brake issues and was also penalized for speeding. Both issues severely compromised his day in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda and eliminated any chance at a top-tier result. He finished 17th. On Lap 73, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi came to pit road with what appeared to be a gearbox issue. Things worsened when a fire broke out on the left rear of his No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet. He was classified 31st, marking the worst finish of his Indy 500 career. 'Another opportunity gone,' Rossi said. Just eight laps later on Lap 81, VeeKay experienced what appeared to be a brake failure in his No. 18 askROI Honda. He did a half-spin, smacked the inside wall with the right rear and then hit again. 'I had no response from the brakes ... I was just a passenger,' VeeKay said. He finished 30th. On Lap 87, during a caution period pit cycle, pole winner Robert Shwartzman endured a terrifying moment when he locked both front tires and slid into his pit crew, thenhit the pit wall. No serious injuries were reported, but the No. 83 PREMA Racing car was retired, ending Shwartzman's day in 29th – the worst finish by a pole sitter since Scott Dixon (32nd in 2017). 'I was just a passenger,' Shwartzman said. 'Really scary.' On the same stop, Sato, who was leading the race and led 51 of the first 87 laps, overshot his pit box, costing him several positions. He finished 11th in the No. 75 AMADA Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. On Lap 169, Ryan Hunter-Reay also led when he stalled while pitting, dashing his late-race victory hopes. Hunter-Reay led 48 of 200 laps but finished 24th in the No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet. This is the 13th time in the last 15 years that the driver leading the most laps failed to win. Hunter-Reay's Races Backup Car Hunter-Reay's 2025 Indianapolis 500 story was one of resilience, brilliance and heartbreak. During the final two-hour Miller Lite Carb Day practice on Friday, Hunter-Reay's No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH Securities Chevrolet suffered a mechanical failure that led to a fire, forcing the team to abandon its primary car. With just over 48 hours until the green flag, the crew faced a monumental task. The backup car, which was rushed from the team's Indianapolis-area shop, was a pit stop practice car and had never turned a lap on track. Both DRR and Cusick Motorsports crews worked until 1 a.m. Saturday, while five crew members pulled an all-nighter to prep for a special 8:30 a.m. install-lap session Saturday morning to complete a systems check. Historic Cars Take Pre-Race Lap Forty years ago, Danny Sullivan took the No. 5 Miller American Special to victory lane for a victory in the 69th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in his famous 'spin and win.' Before Sunday's race, Sullivan was among the drivers in 13 historic cars to circle the 2.5-mile track. He was joined by: 2010 Target Chip Ganassi driven by Dario Franchitti 2000 Target G Force driven by Jeff Ward 1990 Domino Pizza Lola driven by Arie Luyendyk 1980 Pennzoil Special Chaparral driven by Zach Veach 1963 Willard Battery Agajanian Special driven by Mario Andretti 1960 Ken Paul Special Watson driven by Willy T. Ribbs 1955 Keck Epperly Streamline driven by Sebastian Saavedra 1955 John Zink Special Kurtis driven by Michel Jourdain Jr. 1950 Cummins Diesel Kurtis driven by Al Unser Jr. 1950 Wynn's Friction Proofing Kurtis Kraft driven by Donnie Beechler 1939 Maserati 8CTF driven by J. Douglas Boles 1935 Ford V-8 Miller driven by Lyn St. James Odds and Ends This is the third-time in history a driver swept the Month of May as Palou joins Will Power (2018) and Simon Pagenaud (2019) to win the Sonsio Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 in the same month. Palou is just the second driver in the last 17 years to win the '500' under the age of 32. He joins Rossi, who was 24 when he won the 100th Running in 2016. Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing have won the last four Indianapolis 500s. Ericsson (2022) and Palou (2025) won for CGR, with Newgarden (2023, 2024) for Team Penske. Palou is tied with Dan Wheldon for 31st on the all-time wins list with 16 each. Next up is Ralph Mulford, Sullivan and Tony Kanaan with 17. recommended
Fox Sports
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Inside Line: What Are You Watching This Week at Indy (Other Than Speed)?
INDYCAR Today's question: What are you watching during practice this week for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, other than the speed charts? Curt Cavin: Doesn't it have to be Josef Newgarden? If the intrigue of the '500' realizing a three-peat isn't enough to draw interest, how about paying close attention to a driver who needs a positive result for the first time in this NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. In the races since finishing third in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, Newgarden has an average finish of 15.5. That's not what a two-time series champion expects to have in a four-race stretch, and that figure is as good as it is because he battled back from an electronic issue at the start of last weekend's Sonsio Grand Prix to finish 12th. We're 30 percent of the way through the season and Newgarden is a staggering 152 points out of the lead. He almost certainly won't win the title, so winning Indy again will be the only thing that saves his season. Eric Smith: My eyes are on Rinus VeeKay this week. He's had an excellent start to his first season driving the No. 18 askROI Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. VeeKay is 10th in points, with three top-10 finishes in five races. The reason to watch him is because he's been fast around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but the car he's driving was the lone entry to not make last year's race. Nolan Siegel crashed in practice and during his final qualifying attempt. VeeKay, meanwhile, has a 3.8 average starting spot in five '500' attempts, with three front row starts in the last four years. He was also third fastest in the October test, his first time driving a DCR-powered entry, trailing only Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden. Can one driver really make that much of a difference here? Arni Sribhen: Seven drivers are looking to make their first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start of 2025 at the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. And while Kyle Larson will get a lion's share of the attention focused on the non-regular INDYCAR SERIES drivers, I'm curious to see how the other six part-timers adapt to driving their INDYCAR SERIES cars on the IMS oval for the first time with hybrid technology. Granted, Ed Carpenter and Jack Harvey both raced on ovals with the hybrid technology in 2024, but this is the first chance Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Takuma Sato and Ryan Hunter-Reay will get to turn a lot of laps at IMS (even with Tuesday's weather delay.) Will any have speed to challenge for the Fast 12 and/or Fast Six for the NTT P1 Award? Will they focus on race setup runs with an eye on Race Day? Will any have trouble in the week that could put them in jeopardy of missing the show? Only time will tell. Paul Kelly: I share the same focus as Arni, but my spotlight is tighter. I'm watching one of the part-timers, Helio Castroneves. It seems impossible that a four-time winner of the '500' can be flying under the radar, but I get that sense this week at IMS. There are so many other compelling storylines dueling for attention. We have Josef Newgarden going for an unprecedented third consecutive win in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' There's Kyle Larson attempting the 'Double' of racing the '500' and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, probably for the last time in the foreseeable future. There's Alex Palou's quest to continue steamrolling the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field this season by earning his first oval victory and a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy in one Sunday drive, almost assuring his place among the sport's immortals. But we still have Helio driving ahead to become the first five-time winner of the world's greatest race, and at age 50, he also would become the race's oldest winner. He has a very good chance to pull it off, as Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian is a stronger team than when he won for it in 2021. Plus, Castroneves was sixth on the speed chart Tuesday on the opening day of practice, so the pace is there. It would be no surprise if the drive for five ended up on the Victory Podium on May 25. recommended
Fox Sports
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Will Power Preparing Differently for '500' in Pivotal Year for Career
INDYCAR Qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge takes place this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Will Power said Tuesday he would be fine with never winning the pole for this event. 'I'd qualify last if I could get (another race win), man,' the 2018 victor said. Power can only imagine what a second win in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' might do for him. As it stands, his contract with Team Penske is set to expire at season's end, and for now, he is in limbo regarding the future. He expects to have options – current rivals have told him as much – but Roger Penske has been his boss since 2009, and the success they've had together has been nearly unmatched. Forty-one of Power's 44 career race wins and 64 of his record-setting 70 poles have come as a Team Penske driver. Power's association with Verizon is the longest-running driver-sponsor partnership in the sport, and it would seem odd to have the Aussie in any other colors. But business decisions are often made with the future in mind, and Power accepts that he is 44 years old. However, he continues to see himself as much of a championship contender as anyone can be in a season where Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou is dominating. Palou effectively has a two-race lead on the field. So, Power waits to see what Team Penske wants from him. 'I'm still as quick as ever,' he said before adding with a laugh, '(and) I'm getting better looking.' Statistics certainly support the former. Last year, Power tied teammate Scott McLaughlin and Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward for the most race wins, and only McLaughlin led more laps. Palou and Power were the only two drivers at the season's final race at Nashville Superspeedway with a realistic chance to win the championship, and it took Power's seat belts coming loose in the early laps to knock him out of contention. Since Power was involved in the first-lap accident in this year's season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, he has posted four consecutive top-six finishes. Only three drivers have scored more points in the past four races, and one of them, obviously, is Palou. O'Ward has scored six more points than Power in that stretch; Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard has scored two more. Power has made it clear he wants to be in this series next year, and it is his intent to be in a seat in 2027, as well. After that, who knows. For now, Power must wait to see what Team Penske offers him, if anything. He conceded Tuesday that other teams are waiting for that information, too. 'I have to wait, but it doesn't stop teams from (approaching),' he said. 'I can't help if someone comes up to me and says, 'We're very interested in you for next year.' It's like, 'OK, I can't say anything, but fine.' That happens.' Power said his contract situation has him as motivated as ever to excel. 'I've been locked in all year, very very locked in,' he said. 'In particular, I've been locked in to the '500' because I've struggled in (recent years). I've had bad races for like five years.' Beginning with the pandemic-impact race in 2020, Power has finished no higher than 14th, and his average finish in those five races was 21.2. He nearly failed to qualify in 2021, and last year he crashed out early for only the second time in his 17 races at IMS. Power joined McLaughlin and teammate Josef Newgarden as front-row qualifiers here last year, but Power couldn't race at the pace of the others. That's on his mind as this month begins to take shape. '(I'm) very motivated to understand why (last year went as it did) and to get the car right,' he said. 'I do understand the differences between (my car) and my teammates last year. 'My car was really good in clean air last year. I set it up that way because we qualified up front. I didn't realize every (pit) stop would be a yellow-flag stop. You just had all these restarts where we were in traffic. That was my problem. If I was out front or in the first two, I would have been very strong, so this year I'm very focused on heavy traffic (and) restarts. That's where I struggled.' Power said he worked on a chassis setup at last month's Open Test that was similar to what was used on McLaughlin's. He said he felt 'very good' in traffic, and he posted the third-fastest lap behind those of McLaughlin and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Takuma Sato, a two-time '500' winner. That's encouraging. Power was reminded that Simon Pagenaud was similarly in a contract year in 2019 when he won the '500' from the pole for Team Penske. In the post-race news conference, team owner Penske said his driver would 'absolutely' get a new contract, and he did for two years. Power wouldn't mind history repeating itself. 'Yeah, obviously, (winning the '500') puts you in a very good position, a very strong position,' he said. 'Either way, it's all good, man. There's a lot of good teams in the series, and it will be interesting to see what happens.' recommended
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
2026 St. Petersburg Event Date Set for Feb. 27-March 1
INDYCAR Next year's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is scheduled for Feb. 27-March 1, 2026, as the dates were approved unanimously via a resolution at the City of St. Petersburg (Florida) City Council meeting held May 1. 'The 2025 event was another tremendous success with record crowds across the three days,' said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of event organizers Green Savoree Racing Promotions. 'After consulting with the City of St. Petersburg staff and multiple stakeholders, INDYCAR and our Green Savoree Racing Promotions teams agree continuing this great downtown tradition on similar dates is optimal. We look forward to planning for and hosting the Grand Prix on the same weekend in 2026.' Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou won for the first time in his career on the streets of St. Petersburg at this year's race March 2. Tickets for the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will go on sale in the fall. recommended
