The Japan Times - IndyCar reveals 17-race 2026 season with March opening

Spain's Alex Palou, the reigning Indy 500 champion, will attempt to capture his fourth consecutive IndyCar season crown and fifth in six campaigns next year.

Dropped from this year's 17-race lineup were two events at Iowa and another at Thermal near Palm Springs, California.

Added to the lineup were events at Phoenix and Arlington, Texas, plus a second race at the Milwaukee Mile oval.

A Canadian street race usually contested in Toronto was moved to suburban Markham.

"The 2026 schedule provides a dynamic showcase for our sport and its stars, blending fan-favorite race weekends with incredible showcases at exciting new venues," said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment president and chief executive.

The March 1 season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, launches a busy early schedule with Phoenix Raceway on March 7, the Texas street race at Arlington on March 15 and Alabama's Barber Motorsports Park on March 29.

The Long Beach Grand Prix will be April 19 followed by a May 9 event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course ahead of the famed oval classic and May 31 street race at Detroit.

June 7 brings an oval race in suburban St. Louis and two weeks later the turns of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, followed by Mid-Ohio on July 5 and Nashville Superspeedway on July 19.

The final stretch includes Portland on August 9, Markham a week later, the Milwaukee double on August 29-30 and the season finale on September 6 at the Laguna Seca road course.

T.Maeda--JT