Fraser MasefieldThe much-anticipated 2026 NTT IndyCar Season bursts back into life as this year’s protagonists resume hostilities around the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Defending his title and going for an unprecedented fourth successive title and fifth in six years is the brilliant Spaniard Alex Palou.
Palou is certainly the driver everyone is gunning for. He now has a huge target on his back.
Leading that charge may be veteran Kiwi and Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon, who won the first of his six titles way back in 2003 [IRL] and wants to be the man to prevent Palou doing likewise.
INDYCAR, two generations apart 🕰️ pic.twitter.com/ZeHHMQ25R6L
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 24, 2026
“I’m very excited for 2026 with the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda team,” Dixon said on IndyCar.com.
“We had a big deep dive into the data this offseason. There were lots of positives, and we found some things we could have executed a little bit better on.
“For us, it’s all in the details. As a team, we’ve got to keep the momentum going, and I think this year should be big for all of us at Chip Ganassi Racing.”
Amongst the other multiple title winners are American home favourite Josef Newgarden and Aussie Will Power, both boasting two titles apiece and on the hunt for more.
“Everything in INDYCAR comes down to execution.”
After a season of adversity, @josefnewgarden expects a return to form in 2026 👀
🎥: https://t.co/4CnhexFiRJ pic.twitter.com/fOfjGU5h6i
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 24, 2026
“I am the old guy,” Newgarden is quoted on IndyCar.com. “I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I’ve always had a strong sense of what I’ve wanted, and that part isn’t going to change.
“When I was young and now that I’m older, I’ll still have the same projection in my voice about what I think we need to be doing. That part will be similar.”
This season also sees some notable rookies making their first forays into this most entertaining of open wheel series, where street circuits vie for their place on the calendar alongside traditional circuits.
And where the famous oval amphitheatres attended by hundreds of thousands of fans.
Among those are Caio Collett, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher, son of the seven-time Formula One champion Michael.
“I’m very curious to see how it’s going to be with the other cars on track and feel that dirty air and the wash out that we’ll get from that,” commented Schumacher on the official Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing website.
“Lots to learn still. By no means am I at the point where I can say I’m very confident with everything but we’re chipping away at things. We’re making sure that we’re getting ready for St. Pete now and after that, we’ll worry about the rest.”
The opening race around the streets of St. Petersburg will be intriguing indeed, with six drivers in the field having already won races on the challenging 1.8-mile street circuit, including the aforementioned Power and Newgarden, who have won two apiece.
It can change in an instant at @GPSTPETE 🫣
2023’s first lap was pure chaos. pic.twitter.com/yD7braVvtW
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 24, 2026
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