INDYCAR SEASON OPENER IN ST. PETERSBURG: PREMA’S ABSENCE
The long break is finally over, IndyCar is ready to get back to real racing on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. All eyes are on the big names, can anyone stop Alex Palou from staying on top?
The St. Petersburg circuit is always exciting. The main straight runs along the runway of Albert Whitted Airport. At the end of it, a tight right-hand corner leads into the city section, drivers race very close to the walls, and even a small mistake can end their race.
The track is 1.8 miles long, and drivers will complete 100 laps. Over the years, there have been many caution periods in this race.
From St. Petersburg, the fight for the IndyCar crown begins again. In 2025, Alex Palou won the title for the fourth time. The Spanish driver feels more confident than ever with Chip Ganassi Racing and will once again be one of the favorites. His teammate Scott Dixon, despite his age, remains a serious title contender. He fought for the championship until the second-to-last race last season.
Team Penske is looking for a strong comeback. Josef Newgarden knows he must fight for the title. Scott McLaughlin will also be a strong contender. There is also great interest in David Malukas, who joins a top team for the first time and will want to prove himself, excited to aim for that long-waited first win.
Andretti will also attract attention. Will Power takes the place of Colton Herta alongside Kyle Kirkwood, and the team hopes to be competitive from the start.
PREMA to miss opening rounds
After the exit of the Rosin family, the team’s plans for the start of the season are not clear. Prema will miss the first race and might be absent until to Long Beach. According to reports from the Sebring tests, one possible scenario is that Prema may be forced to enter only one car. In that case, Ilott appears to be the most likely driver to race it. However, these remain only rumors for now, as the team has not yet made an official statement about its future.
The rookies
There is also big excitement for rookie Mick Schumacher, who returns to single-seater racing after his experience in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine. Dennis Hauger will make his IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing, where he will race alongside Romain Grosjean. Brazilian driver Caio Collet will represent AJ Foyt Racing.
The stage is set in Florida. Fast straights, tight corners, and little room for mistakes. The 2026 IndyCar season is about to begin.
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