| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| January 2026 News |
Copyright © 2026 IndySpeedway.com All Rights Reserved
| Article Index |
01/30 - IndyCar Street Race in D.C. Announced
01/25 - Porsche Penske Won Rolex 24
01/23 - Palou's Penalty
01/19 - Fox IndyCar Driver Promo - Newgarden
01/18 - IndyCar Drivers in Rolex 24
01/09 - IndyCar Prize Money Increases
01/25 - Porsche Penske Won Rolex 24
01/23 - Palou's Penalty
01/19 - Fox IndyCar Driver Promo - Newgarden
01/18 - IndyCar Drivers in Rolex 24
01/09 - IndyCar Prize Money Increases
IndyCar Prize Money Increases
Jan 9 - The Leaders Circle program is a monetary prize from the
IndyCar series to the teams with charters.
IndyCar added $11 million to the $31.9 million fund for next season.
A cash award is given to each charter team entry which finish in the
Top 22 at the end of the year - up to a three car maximum.
The amount given to each qualifying entry will increase from $1.2 to
$1.645 million in 2026.
Jan 9 - The Leaders Circle program is a monetary prize from the
IndyCar series to the teams with charters.
IndyCar added $11 million to the $31.9 million fund for next season.
A cash award is given to each charter team entry which finish in the
Top 22 at the end of the year - up to a three car maximum.
The amount given to each qualifying entry will increase from $1.2 to
$1.645 million in 2026.
IndyCar drivers racing in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Driver
Scott Dixon
Alex Palou
Christian Rasmussen
Nolan Siegel
Kyle Kirkwood
Will Power
Scott McLaughlin
Marcus Erisson
Callum Ilott*
Scott Dixon
Alex Palou
Christian Rasmussen
Nolan Siegel
Kyle Kirkwood
Will Power
Scott McLaughlin
Marcus Erisson
Callum Ilott*
Class
GTP
GTP
LMP2
LMP2
GTD PRO
GTD PRO
GTD
GTD
GTD
GTP
GTP
LMP2
LMP2
GTD PRO
GTD PRO
GTD
GTD
GTD
Team
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian
AO Racing
Inter Europol Competition
Vasser Sullivan Racing
75 Express
DXDT Racing
Wayne Taylor Racing
Wright Motorsports
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian
AO Racing
Inter Europol Competition
Vasser Sullivan Racing
75 Express
DXDT Racing
Wayne Taylor Racing
Wright Motorsports
Car #
60
93
99
343
14
75
36
45
120
60
93
99
343
14
75
36
45
120
Class
Finish
9
5
5
3
10
2
17
8
20
Finish
9
5
5
3
10
2
17
8
20
Overall
Finish
9
5
14
12
43
20
54
36
58
Finish
9
5
14
12
43
20
54
36
58
Colton Herta, who competed in last year's race in the LMP2 class, is racing in GTP
for Wayne Taylor Racing. Meanwhile, Bryan Herta Autosport is competing in LMP2.
* Callum Ilott is racing full-time in both IndyCar and IMSA, assuming PREMA Racing
is able to come up with the funds for their sophmore year in IndyCar.
for Wayne Taylor Racing. Meanwhile, Bryan Herta Autosport is competing in LMP2.
* Callum Ilott is racing full-time in both IndyCar and IMSA, assuming PREMA Racing
is able to come up with the funds for their sophmore year in IndyCar.
FOX televsion has again released a funny IndyCar driver promo -
| Meet IndyCar Champ Josef Newgarden (45 seconds long) |
The commerical flashes someone on the screen too fast to recognize.
I managed to pause it and display the two images - see below
I managed to pause it and display the two images - see below
Pato O'Ward after finishing 2nd to Newgarden at the 2024 INDY 500
| Roger Penske, President Trump, Bud Denker |
Washington D.C. IndyCar Race
Announced
Jan 30 - A new IndyCar race was announced
today. Not by IndyCar, but by the President of the
United States!
President Trump signed an executive order calling
for a auto race to be held this August in
Washington D.C., as part of a celebration of the
nation's 250th birthday.
Trump held a press conference from the oval
office for the announcement, with Indycar's Roger
Penske and Bud Denker on hand, along with Eric
Shank from Fox Sports.
Since new races usually involve a few years of pre-
planning, I was surprised that this race will take
place in just seven months - August 21-23. That
weekend falls between the new Canada street
race and the Milwaukee double-header with no
room to spare.
Announced
Jan 30 - A new IndyCar race was announced
today. Not by IndyCar, but by the President of the
United States!
President Trump signed an executive order calling
for a auto race to be held this August in
Washington D.C., as part of a celebration of the
nation's 250th birthday.
Trump held a press conference from the oval
office for the announcement, with Indycar's Roger
Penske and Bud Denker on hand, along with Eric
Shank from Fox Sports.
Since new races usually involve a few years of pre-
planning, I was surprised that this race will take
place in just seven months - August 21-23. That
weekend falls between the new Canada street
race and the Milwaukee double-header with no
room to spare.
While the decision to hold the race was only
decided a week ago, Bud Denker came up with
the idea for this event last summer and began a
campaign to see if it could be accomplished.
The course has been decided and approved, but
no details were given, other than that it will be on
national property. In the executive order, it states
the course is near the National Mall.
So, some progress in planning has already been
accomplished, but there is much more to do, both
for IndyCar, the city of D.C. and the teams. With
the season ready to kick off in one month, it
doesn't leave a lot of extra time.
Adding this race is bound to increase costs to the
teams. It was also announced that the race would
be free. I wonder who is paying for all of this.
I assume this is a one-off race and will not
be part of the 2027 schedule. Racer.com
reported that it will be a normal points race and
not just an exhibition race.
The race will likely draw more media attention than
other races. Hopefully, things will go smoothly and
IndyCar will make a good showing for both itself
and the nation.
decided a week ago, Bud Denker came up with
the idea for this event last summer and began a
campaign to see if it could be accomplished.
The course has been decided and approved, but
no details were given, other than that it will be on
national property. In the executive order, it states
the course is near the National Mall.
So, some progress in planning has already been
accomplished, but there is much more to do, both
for IndyCar, the city of D.C. and the teams. With
the season ready to kick off in one month, it
doesn't leave a lot of extra time.
Adding this race is bound to increase costs to the
teams. It was also announced that the race would
be free. I wonder who is paying for all of this.
I assume this is a one-off race and will not
be part of the 2027 schedule. Racer.com
reported that it will be a normal points race and
not just an exhibition race.
The race will likely draw more media attention than
other races. Hopefully, things will go smoothly and
IndyCar will make a good showing for both itself
and the nation.
Porche Penske Won Rolex 24
Jan 25 - Felipe Nasr capped a record-setting day at Daytona International Speedway by driving
to a record-tying third consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona overall win, leading Porsche Penske
Motorsport to its third straight victory in the internationally renowned endurance sports car race.
Piloting the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 he shared with co-drivers Julien
Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, Nasr crossed the
finish line 1.569 seconds ahead of Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac
V-Series.R. Nasr held off multiple charges from Aitken over a breathtaking final 20 minutes of the
twice-around-the-clock classic that serves as the opener for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship season.
Jan 25 - Felipe Nasr capped a record-setting day at Daytona International Speedway by driving
to a record-tying third consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona overall win, leading Porsche Penske
Motorsport to its third straight victory in the internationally renowned endurance sports car race.
Piloting the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 he shared with co-drivers Julien
Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, Nasr crossed the
finish line 1.569 seconds ahead of Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac
V-Series.R. Nasr held off multiple charges from Aitken over a breathtaking final 20 minutes of the
twice-around-the-clock classic that serves as the opener for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship season.
| 2026 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Winner |
Fox later released a promo starring Pato O'Ward
Some marketing genius had him driving a garbage truck in most of it.
Some marketing genius had him driving a garbage truck in most of it.
Palou's Penalty
Jan 23 - A lot of trouble and
controversy arose in 2022 when
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex
Palou signed some contracts with
Arrow McLaren to join their team in
2023. That began a legal battle
between Palou and Ganassi, which
was resolved in arbitration in 2022.
McLaren then began a legal battle
with the 25-year-old driver after he
decided to stay with Ganassi. That
law suit was resolved this week in a
high court in London.
The court awarded McLaren $12
million in damages, less than the $30
million they were originally suing for.
Jan 23 - A lot of trouble and
controversy arose in 2022 when
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex
Palou signed some contracts with
Arrow McLaren to join their team in
2023. That began a legal battle
between Palou and Ganassi, which
was resolved in arbitration in 2022.
McLaren then began a legal battle
with the 25-year-old driver after he
decided to stay with Ganassi. That
law suit was resolved this week in a
high court in London.
The court awarded McLaren $12
million in damages, less than the $30
million they were originally suing for.
"Sorry baby, Mr Brown has taken all our money so you
won't be going to college, but you will get to see grandma
every day because we will be living with her."
won't be going to college, but you will get to see grandma
every day because we will be living with her."
How was it possible for McLaren to have spent
that large sum of money just to prepare for an
incoming IndyCar driver?
I think that is the big question for many fans; not if
Palou broke his contract. The amount sounds so
unreasonable that McLaren may look like a
spiteful, powerful bully to some.
The amount though was not just what they spent,
but the amounts they think they lost in future
revenue.
Read the court's decision here -
McLaren Indy VS Alpa Racing
that large sum of money just to prepare for an
incoming IndyCar driver?
I think that is the big question for many fans; not if
Palou broke his contract. The amount sounds so
unreasonable that McLaren may look like a
spiteful, powerful bully to some.
The amount though was not just what they spent,
but the amounts they think they lost in future
revenue.
Read the court's decision here -
McLaren Indy VS Alpa Racing
| London High Court |
