Motorsport · IndyCar Series · 2026

Date & time

1 Mar 2026, 18:00

Round

1

Venue

Streets of St. Petersburg

Location

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season officially kicks off today with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit—carved out of the city’s downtown streets and the runways of Albert Whitted Airport—is a grueling season opener that punishes even the smallest lapse in concentration. The high-speed runway sections contrast sharply with the tight, technical turns between concrete barriers, making it a masterclass in car control and bravery. The narrative of the weekend is dominated by high-profile team shifts and the championship defense of Alex Palou, who enters as the reigning race winner. All eyes are on Will Power, who makes his much-anticipated competitive debut for Andretti Global after a historic career with Team Penske. Power, a master of this circuit with nine career poles, will lead the field to green from the NTT P1 Award position after a blistering performance in Saturday's qualifying. He is joined on the front row by Colton Herta, setting up an all-Andretti front row. With the new hybrid units now fully integrated, the strategy surrounding energy deployment through the heavy braking zones of Turns 1 and 10 will likely decide who lifts the first trophy of 2026.