INDYCAR: St. Petersburg Grand Prix Preview – Palou, Rookies & 2026 Season Kickoff
The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins this weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, promising a fresh start and a familiar face at the front. Twenty-five car-and-driver combinations will compete in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a race that has served as the season opener for five consecutive years and 13 times in the last 15.
Reigning champion Alex Palou, driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, enters the season as the clear favorite. His dominant performance last year, which included eight race wins and a championship margin of 196 points – the largest in the sport in decades – has set a high bar for competitors. Palou’s consistency was remarkable, finishing in the top three in 13 of 17 races.
However, the landscape of INDYCAR has shifted. Several drivers have changed teams, and a new class of rookies is eager to make their mark. The question isn’t simply whether Palou can repeat his success, but who can mount a serious challenge to his reign.
Palou’s Pursuit of History
Palou’s recent success places him in elite company. With four championships already under his belt (2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025), he’s aiming to become the first driver since Sébastien Bourdais (2004-2007) to win four consecutive titles. His four championships already place him alongside racing legends Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti.
The Spaniard’s 19 career race wins are rapidly approaching the 20-win milestone, a feat achieved by only 23 drivers in INDYCAR history. His eight wins last season were a testament to his speed and consistency, falling just short of the single-season records held by A.J. Foyt and Al Unser (10 wins each). If Palou can maintain his current trajectory, he’s poised to climb the all-time win charts quickly.
Who Can Challenge the Champion?
Several drivers are expected to contend for the championship. Scott Dixon, Palou’s teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing, brings a wealth of experience and remains a formidable competitor. Arrow McLaren teammates Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard are also considered strong contenders, hoping to build on their previous successes.
Team Penske’s drivers, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, are looking to rebound from challenging 2025 seasons. Newgarden, a two-time series champion, and McLaughlin, the 2022 St. Petersburg winner, will be eager to prove their championship potential. The addition of David Malukas to Team Penske adds another potential race winner to the mix.
The move of Colton Herta to Formula 2 has created an opportunity for Will Power, a two-time series champion, to join Andretti Global. Power’s experience and 45 career race wins make him an immediate threat, while teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson also possess the talent to compete for victories.
Rookies Ready to Race
The 2026 season welcomes three promising rookies to the INDYCAR SERIES. Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher, brings a wealth of experience from Formula 2 and the World Endurance Championship. He will pilot the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda.
Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet, who finished first and second in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship, will also make their series debuts. Hauger will drive for Dale Coyne Racing, while Collet joins AJ Foyt Racing. Both drivers demonstrated impressive speed and consistency in the feeder series, suggesting they have the potential to be competitive in INDYCAR.
The St. Petersburg Challenge
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presents a unique challenge for drivers. The 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit demands precision and adaptability. Several drivers have proven their ability to master the course, including Will Power and Josef Newgarden, who have each won the race twice. Scott McLaughlin, Ericsson, and O’Ward have also reached the top step of the podium in St. Petersburg, while Palou secured the victory last year.
The bumpy surface of the St. Petersburg circuit is often compared to Sebring International Raceway, where teams recently conducted a pre-season test. Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian set the fastest lap time during the test, signaling his potential to be a contender this season.
Weekend Schedule
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES action begins on with the season’s first practice session at 1:30 p.m. ET (airs live on FS2). features a second practice session at 9:30 a.m. (FS1) and qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 4:30 p.m. (FS2). The 100-lap Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will take place on at noon ET (FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).