The 2026 INDYCAR season will begin on Sunday with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, held on the streets of St. Pete, Florida. The race is scheduled to start at noon Eastern Time and will be broadcast live on FOX.
Recap of the 2025 St. Pete Winner
In the previous season, Alex Palou took the checkered flag at St. Pete, continuing his dominance by securing his fourth INDYCAR championship title, adding to his victories in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Description of the St. Petersburg INDYCAR Circuit
The circuit used in St. Petersburg covers 1.8 miles and features 14 turns—five left and nine right-handers. This unique track runs through downtown St. Petersburg and even includes a portion of the Albert Whitted Airport runway. Drivers navigate a long frontstretch leading into a tight right-hander at Turn 1 followed by a sharp left. These early corners have historically been challenging for competitors. Additionally, the course contains two lengthy straightaways paired with heavy braking zones, presenting prime opportunities for overtaking.
“The 1.8-mile, 14-turn (5 lefts, 9 rights) circuit incorporates streets of downtown St. Petersburg and a section of runway of Albert Whitted Airport. After the long frontstretch, there’s a tight right-hander into Turn 1 and then a quick left-hand turn. Plenty of drivers have gotten into trouble in these two turns over the years. There are two other long straights with heavy braking zones that afford opportunities to overtake.” – INDYCAR
Upcoming Races After St. Pete
The second race of the season is the Good Ranchers 250, which is part of the Desert Double event at Phoenix Raceway. This weekend features an INDYCAR and NASCAR crossover, with the Good Ranchers 250 scheduled for Saturday, March 7 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The NASCAR Straight Talk Wireless 500 race follows on Sunday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Broadcast and Streaming Options for the 2026 INDYCAR Season
All 2026 INDYCAR events will be televised live on the FOX network, including the prestigious 110th Indianapolis 500 taking place on May 24. Fans can also stream races live through FOX Sports platforms such as the FOX Sports website, FOX One, and the FOX Sports App.
For viewers without cable subscriptions, several streaming services offer access to FOX channels. These include YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV, providing flexible ways to watch the 2026 INDYCAR season.
Additionally, those with a quality antenna in a strong reception area can watch INDYCAR races via their local FOX station. To determine availability, viewers can consult the Federal Communications Commission TV reception maps for their region.
Where to Find Highlights from INDYCAR Races
For fans wanting to catch up on key moments throughout the season, FOX Sports regularly airs highlights covering the most exciting action from INDYCAR events.
Accessing the Complete 2026 INDYCAR Racing Schedule
The full dates and times for each race in the 2026 INDYCAR season can be found on dedicated schedule pages providing detailed information for fans planning their viewing.
