The greatest month of the year is here as IndyCar rocks up to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the greatest race in the world, the world renowned Indianapolis 500 mile race! Before we get going on the oval, we first pay a trip to the Road Course layout and the 12th Indy Grand Prix! Let’s get you ready with everything you need to know!
The IMS Road Course has been used by IndyCar yearly since 2014, which was the last time we had a standing start. The 2.439 mile course features 14 corners and is the fastest road course on the circuit with top speeds in excess of 170 miles per hour (273km/h). It’s a really fun circuit for drivers as besides the brickyard fame it remains a high speed flowing circuit which still challenges drivers with tyres and commitment.
Why this race matters
Apart from being on the famed Indy Speedway, this race is important for a number of reasons. Momentum is a strong factor in sports, and what better way to enter the Indy 500 than with victory behind you? Conversely if you struggle this weekend it may set the tone for a long month of may that lays ahead. Of course this isn’t a 1:1 comparison for the 500 but it never hurts to do well here. Additionally, this year looks pretty close, every point matters and so performance and execution will aid in putting yourself in position to capitalize when the opportunities arise.
Who should we watch for?
WILL POWER
The Andretti Global driver has won this race a record FIVE times and it could have easily been much higher had a few things gone slightly different. He has always been a threat around here but hasn’t won since 2021. Is this the weekend Power and Andretti breakthrough to victory?
ROCKET RINUS
Veekay’s lone career victory came at this race in 2021 driving for ECR, he’s always been a strong driver in the midfield and weekends like this prove to be a great opportunity for top results.
ALEX PALOU
The boring pick but the man is unbeaten in qualifying and the race here since 2023, and has won 3 consecutive races here. He could become the fifth driver since 1946 to win four consecutive IndyCar events at the same track.This is also the style of circuit Alex Palou performs best at, it may well be a case of “hello Palou” once again in 2026. Palou is also chasing more history: He has won three of 2026’s first five races and leads the IndyCar points standings by 17 points. He’ll look to add to his historic run this weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
TEAM PENSKE
It’s fitting that Roger Penske owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway, because IMS has long been a Team Penske playground. Team Penske’s Indy dominance, which includes 20 wins in the Indianapolis 500, also carries over to races on the 2.439-mile road course. Will Power scored five of Team Penske’s eight wins on the road course, with the other wins coming from Simon Pagenaud (2016, 2019) and Josef Newgarden (2020). Can a Team Penske driver start the Month of May off strong for “The Captain”?
CAN MICK SCHUMACHER DELIVER THE GOODS?
I have been saying since pre-season THIS is the weekend I have circled for Mick to get his IndyCar career going. I say this for two reasons.
One is that the last major F1 star to come to IndyCar in Romain Grosjean shocked the world by taking pole for Dale Coyne Racing! This weekend is the first time IndyCar is at a circuit that fairly closely resembles the European style circuits both Grosjean and Schumacher have been used to for several years. This is because not only is IMS a traditional road course, but unlike Barber, Indy has minimal banking and extreme elevation. For this reason is closely resembles a place like Silverstone where Mick has raced and won before, indeed he took his first F1 points in the 2022 British GP.
The other is RLL has been amazing at the IMS Road Course, just last year Graham Rahal qualified in the fast 6 and was contending for the victory for much of the race! A few years ago, all 3 RLL cars made the fast 6 around here! Assuming RLL bring the goods I see no reason Mick can’t be top 10 this weekend.
Fast Facts for the Sonsio GP
Team Penske has eight wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-Race 2, 2020-Race 3, 2021-Race 2). Chip Ganassi has five wins – with Scott Dixon in 2020-Race 1 and 2023-Race 2 and Alex Palou in 2023-Race 1, 2024 and 2025. Andretti Global and ECR are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Global won the Sonsio Grand Prix with Colton Herta in May 2022 and Gallagher Grand Prix with Alexander Rossi in August 2022, while ECR won in 2021-Race 1 with Rinus VeeKay.
Four drivers have competed in every IndyCar race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course: Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Graham Rahal.
Seven NTT P1 Award winners have won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course from the pole: Alex Palou won the last two Sonsio Grands Prix from the pole. Will Power won the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Sonsio Grands Prix and the second Harvest GP race in 2020 from the pole. Simon Pagenaud also won the Sonsio Grand Prix from the pole in 2016.
What you shouldn’t miss: At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 8
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice, FS2 (Live)
9:05-10:25 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS2 (Live)
Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, (two groups/12 minutes each), FOX One (Live)
1:05-2:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS1 (Live)
4:01 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 “Drivers, start your engines”
4:06 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 (35 laps/55 minutes), FS2 (Live)
5:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), FS2 (Live)
SATURDAY, MAY 9
11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)
2:31 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 “Drivers, start your engines”
2:36 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 (30 laps/50 minutes), FS1 (Live)
4:30 p.m. FOX on air
4:40 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
4:47 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)
written by Carlos Faria // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
