Season, Title Race Wide Open After Thrilling, Popular Early Dash

Three races in a three-week span. Three different race winners (drivers and teams). Three extraordinary events with audience numbers to match.

That’s the story of the early part of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ 2026 season, the busiest start to a new year in the sport’s history. The series went from Florida to Arizona to Texas to kick off the action, and there was much to like about it.

For starters, people are paying attention. All three races – the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway and the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington – had some of the largest attendance in recent memory, and FOX’s broadcast figures were excellent, as well.

All three races drew ratings in excess of 1.2 million viewers, combining to average 1,326,333 viewers. Last year, only five of INDYCAR’s 17 races exceeded 1 million, and the average for the first three races was 891,000. The year-over-year increase amounts to 48 percent. Sunday’s street race in Arlington peaked at 1,563,000 viewers.

The partnerships with NASCAR (at Phoenix) and the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers in Arlington have helped add to the show.

The on-track competition has been fierce, with different faces in victory lane. In St. Petersburg, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou won for a second year in a row, but seven drivers led. Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden earned the victory at Phoenix, and there were a record number of passes, highlighted by Christian Rasmussen’s daring charge through the field. In Arlington, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood delivered another street course win – the fifth of his career – but the newness of the circuit had everyone guessing.

Already this season, 10 of the 25 drivers have a top-five finish, part of the reason there are seven drivers within 46 points of the series lead. Last year there were only three after the third race as Palou was off to a quick start, winning five of the first six races and finishing second in the other. He won eight races in all, leading the standings wire to wire and winning his fourth title by a whopping 196 points.

So far, several teams are in the mix, and one of them fields Kirkwood, who has the series lead for the first time in his career.

Andretti Global, which saw its three drivers finish in the top four at Arlington, has a driver atop the standings for the first time since early in the 2024 season when Colton Herta led by a single point after three races. Team Penske also is better positioned than it was this time last year as its drivers rank fourth, fifth and sixth. Last year at this time they were eighth, ninth and 10th. Team newbie David Malukas won his first career series pole at Phoenix.

ECR helped Rasmussen deliver the spectacular drive at Phoenix before late-race contact ended his run. Teammate Alexander Rossi finished sixth in that race, and he was ninth in Arlington. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward is one of two drivers to have finished in the top five of all three races – Kirkwood is the other – and Christian Lundgaard finished third in St. Petersburg.

Among rookie drivers, Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger turned in a strong performance in his maiden race in St. Petersburg. In qualifying, he reached the Firestone Fast Six – he was third – and finished 10th in the race. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet made his presence felt in Arlington before finishing 12th. Those two drivers are separated by just eight points.

Honda has won two races, Chevrolet one.

There’s still more to the month of March, too. The season’s fourth race is the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, March 29. Palou won last year’s race by leading 81 of the 90 laps, but this year’s trend suggests a more competitive environment. Certainly, the possibility of a fourth different winner in four races exists.

Five drivers in this field have combined to win 10 of the past 14 races at Barber, a 17-turn, 2.3-mile permanent road course. Newgarden has won three races at the track with Power, Scott McLaughlin and Palou taking two each. O’Ward has the other Barber win.