First ever race start for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the streets of
a town just North of Toronto, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Qualifications were impacted by many on track incidences where walls
bit cars (as Foster would later say, "like Crocodile teeth") leaving
RLL Racing's No. 45 Louis Foster to lead the 25 contenders to the
Start/Finish Line for the Green Flag. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks Oil
Painting of FOX Broadcast TV program (2026)
Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Mark'em, err, Markham Came Off With Excitement
& Hitches
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, long a fixture at Exhibition Place in Toronto,
shifted to a newly constructed temporary street circuit in downtown Markham,
Ontario, for the 2026 season. Organizers pointed to the logistical pressures
of Toronto’s FIFA World Cup hosting duties at BMO Field, ongoing
development, aging infrastructure, and limited expansion options at the old
lakeshore site. Those realities made continued one-year deals there
impractical. Promoters instead secured a five-year commitment with Markham
covering 2026 through 2030, drawn by better highway and GO Station access,
proximity to much of the existing fan base across the Greater Toronto Area,
and room for a fresh 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout.
The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham unfolded August 14–16
with both excitement and unmistakable ... hitches.
Start-up difficulties on the
brand-new circuit complicated opening day. Track construction, especially
tire barriers and related safety elements, lagged. The Friday practice
session, first set for mid-afternoon, was postponed later into the evening
and then cancelled outright. All series activity shifted to Saturday, where
two practices and qualifying were compressed into one extended program once
officials cleared the circuit. Anyone familiar with the highest levels of
motorsports competition recognized how that squeeze, on an entirely new
street venue, amplified challenges for teams and drivers alike.
It was not a gentle introduction for several first-year series drivers. AJ
Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet made contact with Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank
Racing with Curb-Agajanian on the opening lap, while Rahal Letterman Lanigan
Racing’s Mick Schumacher brought out the first caution on Lap 15 after
pounding the Turn 4 wall.
The new circuit delivered the expected mix of action and reaction, producing
258 on-track passes, 242 of them for position—the highest total in an event
dating to 1986. Turn 5’s hairpin proved a particular hotspot. Arrow
McLaren’s Nolan Siegel dove too deep into the braking zone and struck Team
Penske’s Josef Newgarden, drawing a penalty for avoidable contact. Dale
Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger, the previous year’s INDY NXT by Firestone
champion, started fifth and was still there when a two-lap slide began: Alex
Palou passed him, then David Malukas, and soon he sat 20th. Later Hauger
clipped the rear tire of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who in turn hit
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen, triggering a caution. Hauger’s
Lap 20 contact with Rasmussen and then Pato O’Ward formed part of that fade
through the field.
Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson pose for a Power
Selfie as this team is beginning to gel after a fairly rough
start to the 2026 season. Image Credit: Andretti Global via
FB/META (2026)
That same section claimed Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, running
third behind his two teammates, in a fierce impact that left him 21st.
Moments earlier, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster had suffered
a sudden end to his afternoon. Starting from the pole for only the second
time in his career - the previous occasion at Road America the year before -
Foster built a lead of nearly three seconds while leading the first 32 laps.
A caution shuffled him to 12th after the other frontrunners had pitted a
couple of laps earlier. Undeterred, he charged back, gaining eight positions
and stalking Marcus Ericsson for third when they reached Turn 3 on Lap 43.
Foster went to the inside, clipped the left-side wall, and was shot straight
into the concrete barrier on the right in a virtually head-on shunt.
Fortunately he escaped injury.
Kirkwood’s result allowed series points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi
Racing to stretch his advantage still further in pursuit of a fourth
consecutive championship and fifth in six seasons, despite starting outside
the top 10 for the first time in 30 races. With four rounds remaining, Palou
now leads Kirkwood by a nearly insurmountable 133 points, with Team Penske’s
David Malukas third, 137 points back after finishing a lap down in 17th.
Biggest Mover Award - Fully Earned - Image Credit: Andretti Global (2026)
Romain Grosjean settled for second ... his best result since Barber
Motorsports Park in 2023, while Will Power took third - starting P24 of 25 cars on the grid, Palou fourth and
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward fifth. Grosjean, who led 28 laps and recorded
his first top-five of 2026, later reflected that the team had done
everything possible. He had hoped to keep Palou at bay with a safe gap, only
for Ericsson to arrive and turn the day against them. Several other drivers
could say the same.
Ontario INDY unveiled its all-new Herend Canada Official Ontario Honda Dealers Indy trophy at Markham trophies. Image Credit: Ontario INDY via FB/META (2026)
Ericsson’s victory arrived 10 days after confirmation of his return to
Andretti Global for a fourth season and ended a 63-race drought dating to
his 2023 season-opening win in St. Petersburg. It marked his fifth career
NTT INDYCAR SERIES triumph and denied Grosjean a first, leaving the latter
one step short of the top of the podium for the sixth time.
Coincidentally, Grosjean’s last win of any kind had come in a GP2 race in
Hungary in 2011, a race in which Ericsson finished fifth. Ericsson, the 2022
Indianapolis 500 winner, now owns four street-course victories; he had
previously emerged from a trouble-filled 2021 Nashville street race in
similar fashion, even after his car went airborne.
In the post-race interview his voice cracked, which he attributed to
screaming after the checkered flag. He described a bold and aggressive drive
over the challenging street-course laps, insisting the car had been the
fastest all day. Multiple cautions forced a longer final stint, yet the
gamble of staying out paid off.
Emerging seventh after the Lap 69 stop, Ericsson used the car’s pace to
slice through the leaders. That charge included contact in the Turn 5
hairpin with Andretti Global teammate Will Power while fighting for third.
Ericsson called the hard bump unfortunate but necessary; Power indicated he
understood. Ericsson later noted that one never wants such contact, yet he
knew the race was there to be won.
NEXT RACE >>> Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC
FREEDOM 250 Grand Prix - Theme
The last race to officially take place on Pennsylvania Avenue was a Horse Race in the sweltering summer of 1801. This was the idea of President Thomas Jefferson.
Fast-forward 225 years to January 30, 2026. President Donald Trump, flanked by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and racing impresario Roger Penske, signed an executive order launching the Freedom 250 Grand Prix - an IndyCar street race set for August 23, 2026, as the centerpiece of America250 celebrations marking a quarter-millennium of independence.
Turn of fortune in many ways is a double-entendre given this 110th Running Of The Indianapolis 500. There are four turns that have to be negotiated 200 times in order to celebrate a turn in someone's racing fortunes. Bravo to Felix Rosenqviet for passing David Malukas to lead just one lap - the most important last lap in the most dramatic fashion in the history of this motor culture defining event. Image Credit: Matt Fraver NICS (2026)
Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune: Turn 2's Enduring Grip On Indianapolis 500
Drama
The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 just took place and it was a
historic ride for all involved - all 350,000 plus and all who tuned in on
Over-The-Air television (okay - all of you streamers too).
Turn 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long stood as one of the
Brickyard's most unforgiving corners, where banking transitions, dense pack
traffic, and unrelenting high speeds repeatedly rewrite race outcomes. This
bend, and its symmetric counterpart in Turn 4, has delivered both fortune
and misfortune across six decades of Indianapolis 500 history. From
spectacular airborne flips that drivers survived to incidents that prompted
major safety reforms, the corner's legacy reflects the Speedway's constant
demands on drivers and machinery.
The historical pattern is clear and sobering. In the 1975 race, Tom Sneva
made wheel contact in Turn 2 while running fifth, sending his McLaren
airborne into the catch fence where it tore apart and caught fire; Sneva
walked away with minor burns and injuries in one of the era's most dramatic
survivable wrecks. In 1996 practice, pole-sitter Scott Brayton suffered a
right-rear tire deflation entering Turn 2 at nearly 230 mph, resulting in a
fatal impact with the outside wall. The 2010s added further chapters,
including Ed Carpenter's 2015 Fast Friday flip exiting the corner, Sébastien
Bourdais's heavy 2017 qualifying crash that caused serious fractures and
sidelined him, along with later incidents involving Callum Ilott in 2022,
Scott McLaughlin's airborne wall hit in 2025 practice, and Kyle Larson's
race-ending Turn 2 spin in the 109th running.
That reputation carried into preparations for the 110th Indianapolis 500. On
Monday, May 18, 2026, during Practice 7's race-trim sessions, Alexander
Rossi lost the rear of his No. 20 Chevrolet exiting Turn 2 in traffic and
spun hard into the SAFER barrier. Pato O'Ward, running close behind, spun
under braking while attempting to avoid him and made secondary contact,
while Romain Grosjean checked up and hit the wall. The multi-car incident
damaged cars for Rossi and O'Ward severely enough to require backups, sent
Rossi to the hospital for evaluation of minor finger and ankle injuries, and
brought out a red flag before thunderstorms ended the session. It stood as
the first major wall contact of the Month of May.
Which leads us to the brilliant insights presentation put together by
commentator Tom Rinaldi for FOX in their Pre-Race 110th Running of the
Indianapolis 500 package entitled Turn Two. The following is a
transcript captured via audio file that struck a cord and acted as a basis
for a song created using the staff and AI tools available to anyone so led
to create - with inspiration found in the following:
Presenters Chris Myers, Danica Patrick, and Tony Stewart siting
on a portable studio desk on Gallager Pavilion square at the Indiana
Motor Speedway with the crowd in Motor Culture
world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" behind the pagoda.. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)
**FULL Turn 2 Package Transcript**
**Chris Myers:** A lot of the tradition has built from the local part of
this speedway and this state and has reached out globally, nationally. And
America's 250th birthday, by the way, it's going to be on everyone's mind
like this race is today. But today, drivers have Turn 2 on their mind, not
2%, as in Turn Two. As Tom Rinaldi rejoins us. Tom, you got more on Turn
Two.
**Tom Rinaldi:** Chris, if you were to look down at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from above or at a map of the track, you'd essentially see a rounded rectangle with four corners or turns which appear exactly the same. But if you were to talk to any driver, what those drivers would tell you is each has its own personality. And when it comes to where we are right now, Turn Two, it's a beguiling and difficult mix of menace and chance, opportunity and danger.
FOX Sports Inspiration Video - Josef Newgarden, Will Power & More Discuss Indy 500’s Notorious Turn 2 >>>
Four turns. Identical dimensions. Equivalent measurements. But in
history...
**Scott Dixon:** When you come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Turn
Two probably demands the most respect.
**Tom Rinaldi:** .. and psychology.
**Will Power:** Turn Two is risk first, reward second. With all the turns,
Turn Two has definitely been my weakness.
**Tom Rinaldi:** And strategy.
**Scott McLaughlin:** Some of the biggest crashes, some of the biggest
moments have happened through Turn Two.
<<< Film Clip - Tom Sneva | AJ Foyt >>>
**Tom Rinaldi:** Turn 2 is a high-speed study in volatile
geometry. Start with the invisible vortex of shifting air and pitiless
wind.
**Josef Newgarden:** Turn 2 doesn't have a lot of shielding.
**Scott McLaughlin:** The wind is always a massive factor there. It's one
line where you cannot be late, you can't be early. You've got to be
perfect.
**Scott Dixon:** You've got to imagine that we're kind of driving fighter
jets - wings that push the car down. You know, 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of
downforce, making that car stick to the road.
**Josef Newgarden:** When you get these crosswind profiles hitting the
nose at the wrong time. It'll get underneath you, and it can shove you out
toward the wall.
<<< Film Clip - Scott Dixon >>>
. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)
**Tom Rinaldi:** Add in more elements: changing track temperatures,
turbulent air wake, limited visibility - often pushing drivers past their
limits and into aerodynamic disaster.
<<< Film Clip - Kyle Kirkwood | Alexander Rossi >>>
**Josef Newgarden:** We had a very tough wreck this week. You know, you
have to be able to see something terrible at times and immediately
understand it and then erase it.
**Will Power:** When the crash is in practice, watching it on screen is
worse. It always makes you apprehensive. That's why I don't watch them.
Try not to even look at them.
**Scott McLaughlin:** It basically is a bit of a wake-up call that, okay,
well, she bites if you get it wrong.
**Tom Rinaldi:** For all its challenges, Turn 2 has singular opportunity.
A corner where an inch of space and a breath of wind can measure the
difference between catastrophe and glory.
**Scott McLaughlin:** Turn 2 for me is the part of the track where if you
get that right, it's your last opportunity to go for the win.
**Scott Dixon:** And understand how it can help you through the race. Not
necessarily how it can hurt you, but you've really got to understand how
it can help you.
**Will Power:** If you hate the turn, you'll never conquer it. But if you
take it as a challenge... You will get it.
**Josef Newgarden:** You know, two of my best moments here at the track
have come off Turn Two. It ended up being a very important moment both
times that we won the race. That doesn't mean it can't catch me out in the
future at some point.
**Tom Rinaldi:** Back in September and October, a 100-foot stretch of Turn
2 was actually torn up and repaved. Why? Because the original bricks
underneath had started to shift, creating a bump in the track along Turn 2
- an additional challenge for drivers.
Will
Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe, siting on a portable studio desk on the front straight of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the crowd walking the grid in Motor Culture world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" with teams and drivers. Image Credit:
FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)
**Will Buxton:** Beautifully said, Tom. What a lovely piece.
Townsend (Bell), James (Hinchcliffe), you have both experienced this. I
want to roll to something that Joseph Newgarden said: "The corners of this
track are like having four children. You love them all equally, but you
raise them individually."
**Townsend Bell:** That's absolutely right, and Turn Two has always been a
mystery because the groove is just a little bit more narrow there. The
consequences seemingly just a little bit bigger. It's dangerous in all
four corners, but Turn Two demands your best. Listen, my body can still
feel the crash I had back here in 2014. Left rear suspension let go. I was
in contention to win that day. Ended up punching a hole in the SAFER
barrier.
You see me bring the steering wheel off, but guys, when I came to a stop,
my knee was in front of my face. You can't get out of these cars unless
the steering wheel's off. I had hit so hard backwards that it bent the
steering shaft, the steering column all the way over. The steering wheel
was bent up, and I'm sitting there with my knee like this. I didn't know
what state I was in. I couldn't breathe for about 45 seconds. Turn Two has
left its mark on my body, no doubt.
**Will Buxton:** And James, it wasn't Turn Two, but you know more than
anybody the perils of this circuit and what those walls have in store for
you when it all goes wrong.
**James Hinchcliffe:** Well, look, it doesn't matter what corner you're
talking about at 220 plus miles an hour. It doesn't tickle when you hit
the wall.
For me, the drivers talked about the wind. This is the only corner that has
a gap in the grandstands. There's a gap after the end of the grandstands,
before those Turn Two suites. And the other thing that's so unique about
it is there's that bump going in that Tom talked about. The wind can just
create a tunnel effect through there and really catch drivers off.
The other thing that's so challenging, I think, Townsend, is the Turn Two
suites. They sit so much closer to the racetrack than any of the
grandstands or anywhere else around here that visually it looks a little
bit different. It throws drivers off. It's so easy to get wrong.
Absolutely, it's a place you have to respect around the speedway.
**Will Buxton:** Well, Scott McLaughlin knows that only too well. He had a
nightmare of an Indy 500 last year, which was over before it began. But a
violent crash knocked him out of top 12 qualifying down there at Turn Two.
Thankfully, he'd be OK to race. Penske got his car back up and running for
the 500 itself.
In 2026, for the 110th running, he seeks redemption.
**Georgia Henneberry:** And your sixth Indianapolis 500, how can you and
the three team ensure that it's your best one yet?
**Scott McLaughlin:** Look, I think we're as prepared as we can be. I
mean, the Pennzoil Chevy has been solid all month. I feel like we've sort
of flown under the radar, but had reasonable speed the whole way through.
And I feel really comfortable. Our best session was on Friday. So I got
our list done and ready to go. I can't wait. I just can't wait to create a
new storyline. And yeah, last year put a lot of things in perspective for
me. So I'm really excited to turn the table.
**Georgia Henneberry:** This month has certainly been a progression for
the team. Friday was the first day you said you have checked all those
boxes. How confident are you in your race?
**Scott McLaughlin:** Yeah, super confident. Everyone's going to say they
feel good, don't get me wrong, but I've got all the tools that I need to
win this race. Hopefully we can dot the I's, cross the T's, and make it
happen.
**Chris Myers:** Good luck, Scott.
So Turn Two getting the attention. How would you rank them in terms of
toughness? You agree starting with two would be the worst if you go
through the four corners?
**Danica Patrick:** Man, I'd have to say one, two, three, four. It
actually goes in order. But to just pick up on Scott McLaughlin there, he
went from a pole in 2024 to the Indy 500 to crashing out before it even
started in 2025. I just want to point out how hard it is to drive these
cars. Someone like him that's the best of the best out there, able to
still make a mistake under those conditions. It just shows how focused
these drivers have to be, whether they're under caution going slow or
going 240 miles an hour.
**Chris Myers:** The corners, you rank them real quick.
**Tony Stewart:** I had a different order. I always thought Turn Two, Turn
One, Turn Four. The easiest was Turn Three to me.
**Chris Myers:** All right. Well, hopefully they're turning the right way
as we continue here.
ENDS
Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune
Theme for the toughest turn at the Greatest Spectacle In Racing
LYRICS
**Verse 1**
Four turns on the map look the same,
But only one carries your name.
Rounded bricks and shifting wind,
Turn Two waits with teeth bared and grin.
Crosswinds howl, downforce fights the air,
One line only — you must be there.
Late or early, she’ll punish your name,
Throw you hard into the wall of flame.
**Pre-Chorus**
Risk comes first where the brave ones play,
Biggest wrecks and biggest wins in the fray.
**Chorus**
Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,
That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.
She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,
Then hand you glory if you stay clear.
Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,
Four words that define her temper.
Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —
Turn Two is where champions come to be.
**Verse 2**
Fighter-jet wings at two-twenty flat,
Turbulent wake trying to snatch you back.
Track temps rising, vision gone blind,
One wrong twitch and you’re flipping through sky.
She bites when you’re lazy, rewards when you’re bold,
Old bricks still whisper the stories of old.
They tore her up, laid new pavement down,
But the spirit of Turn Two still rules this town.
**Chorus**
Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,
That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.
She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,
Then hand you glory if you stay clear.
Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,
Four words that define her temper.
Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —
Turn Two is where champions come to be.
**Bridge**
An inch of space, a breath of wind,
Separates the fallen from the ones who ascend.
Erase the crash burning in your mind,
Trust the line and leave the wreck behind.
**Final Chorus (bigger, with gang vocals)**
Menace! Chance! Opportunity! Danger!
Turn Two calling out your name louder.
I’ve won here, I’ve lost here, I’ll race her again,
She’s the heartbeat of the 500 wind.
Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,
My beautiful, brutal savior.
Last chance to chase that checkered light —
Turn Two… take me home tonight.
**Outro (building then fading)**
Four turns look the same…
But only one ever called my name.
Menace… Chance… Opportunity… Danger…
Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune - Turn Two.
ENDS
Race day itself on May 24 added its own Turn 2 punctuation. Early on laps
17-18, Ryan Hunter-Reay spun and hit the wall in Turn 2, collecting
Katherine Legge as she tried to avoid the incident; both drivers were
eliminated quickly and triggered the first caution. Late in the event,
rookie leader Caio Collet got loose exiting Turn 2 around lap 191,
overcorrected into the outside wall, and slid with a right-rear fire,
prompting a red flag for cleanup with few laps remaining. On the restart,
Mick Schumacher brushed the wall in the Turn 1-2 area, bringing out the
final caution and setting up a one-lap green-white-checkered finish - not to mention one of the most positive and deciding developments in Turn 2 when Felix Rosenqvist stayed outside - side-by-side - of this teammate Marcus Armstrong to finally complete a pass in Turn 4 and sling past David Malukas for the closest finish in INDY500 history.
Turn 2 has seen fewer headline tragedies than Turns 1 or 4 in the modern
SAFER-barrier era, yet it remains a persistent high-risk zone during
practice traffic simulations and race conditions. As teams analyze data from
the 110th running, the corner's influence on Indianapolis 500 outcomes
continues to demonstrate the razor-thin margin between strategy, car setup,
and survival at the Brickyard.
As for the historic part of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 that all
of the above took place, Felix Rosenqvist secured his first Indianapolis 500
victory in his eighth career start, winning the 110th running presented by
Gainbridge by a razor-thin margin of 0.0233 seconds over David Malukas - the
closest finish in “500” history, surpassing the previous mark of 0.043 seconds
set by Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear in 1992.
The race produced a record 70 lead changes, eclipsing the previous high of 68
from 2013. Rosenqvist, who led 25 laps, became the third Swedish winner of the
event, joining Kenny Bräck (1999) and Marcus Ericsson (2022). Driving for
Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, he delivered the team its second
Indianapolis 500 triumph.
The finish marked the fifth time in race history that the leader entering the
final lap was passed for the win. Malukas lost the lead on the last lap,
joining a list that includes recent defeats by Pato O’Ward (2024), Marcus
Ericsson (2023), JR Hildebrand (2011), and Marco Andretti (2006).
At 34 years old, Rosenqvist became the first driver of that age to win since
Hélio Castroneves in 2009. Starting fourth, he joined an elite group as only
the eighth winner from that position. It was also the first victory for car
No. 60 and the 17th for a Honda engine.
Notable performances included Mick Schumacher finishing as the top rookie in
18th, Romain Grosjean advancing from 24th to ninth, and Conor Daly posting the
race’s fastest lap at 225.126 mph. Pato O’Ward recorded his fifth top-four
finish in seven starts without a win. Santino Ferrucci completed his eighth
consecutive full 500-mile distance, while Hélio Castroneves set a new all-time
mileage record (12,480 miles) despite a mechanical DNF on Lap 194.
The 2026 race featured 14 different lap leaders and a record 26 lead swaps
between Alex Palou and Scott Dixon. Palou, the pole sitter, led the most laps
with 59. In a contest defined by its back-and-forth intensity, Rosenqvist
delivered a historic last-lap masterstroke to etch his name into Indianapolis
500 lore.
It never rains in Southern California, but it does rain in Indiana
- qualifications sessions were rained out and pushed to the morning
of race day Saturday.
Alexander Rossi hanging out in the pits during the open practice
session held at the end of April. Image Credit: Paul Hurley - NICS (2026)
Californian Alexander Rossi Experiences The Highest Of Highs To Dangerous
Lows From Race 5 To Race 6
All that is embedded within a successful race driving career requires being in
the present in order to gain maximum benefit. The calendar does not pause for
nostalgia or ceremony; it simply demands focus when the visor drops.
Yet for one week in April 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, the
Californian who first tasted immortality as a rookie winner of the
Indianapolis 500 a decade earlier, lived the full spectrum of what the sport
can deliver - honors usually reserved for legends long retired, followed by
the raw, unscripted drama that only a steering wheel and throttle can provide.
From the rarified air of the world’s most honored automotive museums to a
bronze medallion embedded in the West Side sidewalk of the Long Beach
Convention Center along Pine Avenue, the week outside the cockpit was pure
celebration. Then came the racing itself.
Wednesday night belonged to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los
Angeles. Racers Night returned as the unofficial kickoff to Long Beach
weekend, and Rossi headlined the sold-out evening alongside reigning champion
Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson. Inside the glass-and-steel halls lined with
priceless machinery, the trio sat on stage for a candid, high-energy
conversation hosted by Marshall Pruett. Rossi, relaxed in a way only a
hometown hero can be, fielded questions about his return to ECR, the new
hybrid systems, and what it felt like to be back on the streets where he had
twice stood atop the podium in years past.
Laughter echoed off the vintage Ferraris and Porsches as the drivers traded
stories; the atmosphere was electric, the kind of night that reminds everyone
why they fell in love with the sport. For Rossi, it was validation before a
single tire had even turned in anger on the temporary circuit just down the
freeway.
Image Credit: Brandon O'Brian - Motor Driven Images (2026)
Thursday late morning hours brought the public ceremony for the 20th
Anniversary Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame. Under bright Southern
California skies, Rossi stood alongside the family of the late former Mayor
Robert “Bob” Foster. At 11 a.m. in front of the Long Beach Convention and
Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue, the two-time Acura Grand Prix
winner unveiled his 22-inch bronze medallion.
LBMWOF planted medallion featuring Alexander Rossi
joins other great names
in the sidewalk on the East side of Pine Avenue (outside of Turn
7 of the AGPLB street track) just at the front entrance of the
Long Beach Convention Center. Image Credit: Ralph Garcia via
FB/META (2026)
The plaque, featuring renditions of his major achievements, was
permanently set into the sidewalk ... joining an exclusive roster of
motorsports immortals. Rossi, now a new father, spoke of deeper meaning in
the honor; it was not just about past victories but about legacy for the
next generation of California racers. The crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and
local dignitaries, cheered as the former mayor’s contributions to bringing
and sustaining the Grand Prix were also enshrined. Rossi posed for photos,
signed autographs, and soaked in the moment. For a few hours, the pressure
of the upcoming race felt distant.
Then the weekend turned serious. Race 5 of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES - the
51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - demanded Rossi stay firmly in the
present. Practice showed promise; the ECR crew had rolled out an upgrade
package and fresh livery on the No. 20 Chevrolet, and Rossi responded by
climbing as high as second-quickest in Practice 1, the car responding
cleanly through the famously bumpy Turn 9 brake zone. Qualifying proved
trickier. Starting 18th on the grid after a solid but not pole-contending
run through the Firestone reds, Rossi faced the street circuit’s familiar
challenge: traffic, walls, and the need for precision over 90 laps.
Come race day, the Californian delivered exactly the kind of effort fans
have come to expect. Battling from mid-pack, he methodically picked off
positions, capitalizing on strategy and clean air when it mattered. He
crossed the line ninth - his 100th top-10 finish in the series - gaining
nine spots and showing the kind of resilient drive that defines a
veteran.
Alexander Rossi taking the hard right of Turn 3 - The Fountain
Turn - on his way to a nice save finish at the Acura Grand Prix
Of Long Beach. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motor Driven
Images (2026)
No lap led, but the performance was competitive, the car improved, and
the weekend’s off-track honors felt earned on-track. Rossi had stayed
present, maximized what the ECR Chevrolet could deliver, and left Long Beach
with momentum heading into the Month of May.
Three weeks later, the calendar flipped to Race 6: the Sonsio Grand Prix on
the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the traditional opener to
the most famous month in racing. The stakes were higher, the eyes of the
racing world already shifting toward the Indianapolis 500. Rossi rolled out
with the same focus that had carried him through Long Beach. For 20 laps the
No. 20 ran respectably in the midfield. Then, without warning, the new
hybrid system failed. The car stuttered and died just past the yard of
bricks on the long front straight - precisely where Rossi had taken the
checkered flag in that unforgettable 2016 rookie triumph.
What followed was the dangerous low that no amount of prior celebration
could prepare for. Rossi’s Chevrolet sat motionless on the racing line just past the Yard of
Bricks while cars approached at over 170 mph. Race control initially
displayed only a local yellow, leaving the field to thread past the stranded
machine at full speed. Debris from an earlier incident had already lingered
elsewhere on track; now this.
Two full laps passed before a full-course caution was finally thrown
- by which time Rossi, frustrated and unbuckled, had climbed from the
cockpit himself, steering wheel in hand, and made his way to safety, on
foot.
During the FOX Sports broadcast, it was amazing for viewers to see both a
Yellow flag & light and a Green flag & light on display in the same
camera shot down the IMS Road Course reverse Yard Of Bricks straightway.
In the raw aftermath captured by Speed Cafe, the Californian made no effort
to temper his displeasure. “Well, it’s pretty annoying to have failures on
the car because of a product we didn’t ask for that doesn’t improve the
racing. So that’s frustrating,” Rossi said of the hybrid system that had
betrayed him on lap 21. He saved his sharpest barbs for the officiating:
“Second of all, the fact that it took that long to throw a full course
yellow when the cars on the front straight were going by at 170 miles an
hour also seems insane when they don’t let us drive in the wet
yesterday.”
The hybrid failure ended his day early on lap 21, but the safety concerns
were immediate and legitimate. Other drivers quickly voiced support for
Rossi’s blunt post-race criticism of both the finicky new technology and the
decision-making that left him parked like an unwanted lawn ornament on one
of the fastest stretches of the circuit.
From the Petersen stage and Pine Avenue plaque to a stalled Chevrolet on the
front straight under questionable flags, Rossi had lived the highest of
highs and the most dangerous of lows in the span of just eight days. Yet the
lesson, as it always does in this unforgiving sport, remained unchanged: a
successful racing career demands ruthless presence. The ceremonies fade, the
cheers quiet, and the next green flag waits for no one - least of all a
Californian with a fresh Walk of Fame medallion and a very public opinion
about hybrid gremlins.
Now, with the Month of May stretching out before him like a glorious,
unpredictable gauntlet, Alexander Rossi will arrive at the Indianapolis 500
the same way he left Long Beach, eyes forward, visor down, and fully
prepared for whatever mix of glory, heartbreak, and mechanical mischief the
Brickyard decides to serve up next. In INDYCAR, after all, the only sure
thing is that the next turn might just make you a hero … or leave you
wishing you’d stayed at the museum.
Screengrab of the Yard Of Bricks start/finish line at IMS
during the first day of practice - May 12, 2026 - for the
Indianapolis 500 where all 33 drivers become used to driving the
road that will consume their lives for the rest of the month of
May. Note that Alexander Rossi is listed early in P6, but the
month is early and the
rules for qualifications have changed in order to keep eyeballs tuning in since the field has only 33
cars entered - no traditional "Bump Day" qualifications.. Image
Credit: Edmund Jenks - FOX FS2 via FUBO (2026)
IndyCar Officiating has moved swiftly in the wake of Saturday’s
controversial Lap 21 incident involving Californian Alexander Rossi,
issuing a significant procedural adjustment that takes immediate effect
across the remainder of the season.
Effective immediately, race control will no longer factor in pit
windows or the running order of cars on track when deciding whether to
escalate a local Yellow into a Full Course Yellow (FCY). Local Yellow
procedures themselves remain unchanged. The decision to deploy the FCY
will now rest primarily on driver status, vehicle position and
condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery
access, and the speed differential between the affected cars and
approaching traffic.
“The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a
cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a Full
Course Yellow,” IndyCar Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board
chair Raj Nair said.
“IndyCar Officiating, with IndyCar’s full support, has made this change
of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the Full Course Yellow
escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save
time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor.”
Along the catchfence - image left - from Yard Of Bricks Start/Finish - Rossi stalled on trackside right - to the next flag station - Yellow/Green Not A Pretty Picture! Image Credit: FS1 via FB/META Screengrab (2026)
IndyCar President Doug Boles, who also serves as president of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, added, “The most important job in race
control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers
and fans. Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central
mission and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss
over the last 48 hours.”
In the high-stakes world of IndyCar, where split-second calls can swing
fortunes from podium celebrations to dangerous moments in the barriers,
this clarification reads as a direct response to the chaos that unfolded
around Rossi’s car on that Lap 21. What began as one of the season’s
most electric afternoons for the Californian driver quickly spiraled
into one of the most scrutinized safety interventions of the year. By
stripping competitive elements like pit strategy and field position out
of the FCY equation, officials appear intent on removing any perception
that racecraft or timing could influence a safety call.
Whether this streamlined protocol prevents future gray-area deployments
or simply tightens the guardrails remains to be seen on track. But for
now, the message from the tower is unmistakable: safety first, strategy
second, and no more dancing between the two when the Yellows fly.
ENDS
UPDATE - Alexander Rossi lives to drive another day >>>
ALEXANDER ROSSI, No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, Qualified 2nd: “This was a huge team effort from all the boys and girls at ECR. Conditions today were really hard, it was changing for every run. We didn’t do anything the same for each of the three runs. Our last run was the best. That’s a huge win for the Java House crew, and a big win for Chevy to be on the front row. The car has been incredible all month. Obviously, you hope for pole, but a front row is so cool here and something I haven’t accomplished for a really long time. I am thrilled with how today went and can’t wait to get on track tomorrow and make the car even better.”
OF NOTE:
For the second time in his career, Alexander Rossi will start on the front row of the Indianapolis 500. Rossi's first four-lap average of 231.580 miles per hour had him sitting 6th out of 33, easily advancing him to the Top 12. In the next round of qualifying, Rossi's four-lap average of 231.005 miles per hour was 6th fastest, earning him a spot in Firestone Fast 6 and a chance at the Indianapolis 500 pole position. Rossi saved his best four-lap average for last with a speed of 231.990 miles per hour. He waited on the provisional pole until being bumped down one position by Alex Palou. Rossi will start 2nd in next weekend’s Indianapolis 500.
Rossi burst onto the scene at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2016 as he won the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The Nevada City, California native was the first American rookie to win since 1928. His impressive consistency at IMS includes finishes of 7th or better in seven of his ten starts, including six Top 5s. Last year, Rossi paced the 33-car field for 14 laps, swapping the lead multiple times with his teammates as the trio of ECR Chevrolets ran 1-2-3. On Lap 73, a gearbox issue and an ensuing pit lane fire eliminated the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet from contention. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 will be his 11th attempt.
Earlier this season, Rossi scored his 100th Top 10 finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He is an eight-time winner in the series, highlighted by his Indianapolis 500 victory, and has 30 total podium finishes. Rossi’s career has taken him worldwide, with wins in Formula 2, World Series by Renault, and the 24 Hours of Daytona, along with starts in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000, and the Bathurst 1000.
Rossi continues to pilot the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet this season. Java House is an authentic cold brew coffee brand that began with brick-and-mortar cafés in the greater Indianapolis area and is now revolutionizing the beverage industry with its versatile Peel & Pour™ single-serve pods. Each 100% recyclable pod can be poured into iced or hot water with no machine or brewer required. The innovative, Indianapolis-based brand’s full portfolio of beverages includes Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, and hydration drinks.
Bobby and Graham Rahal collaborate on the set-up of Graham's
2025 No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara Honda at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the INDY500. Image Credit: Paul
Hurley via NICS (2025)
Graham Rahal Reflects On Father Bobby Rahal Ahead Of Documentary Premiere
At Sonsio Grand Prix Weekend
Graham Rahal sat in the ZOOM Call press conference ahead of this weekend’s
Sonsio Grand Prix and spoke with clear pride about his legendary father, Bobby
Rahal. The occasion allowed for Graham to respond to questions centered on the
upcoming global debut of the documentary “Bobby Rahal: True American Racer,”
set to air Friday night on FS1.
The one-hour version, produced by Chassy Media and directed and edited
by Travis Long with support from Scott Borchetta and Nate Adams, premieres at
7:30 p.m. ET. It will re-air multiple times throughout May to celebrate the
40th anniversary of Bobby Rahal’s stirring 1986 Indianapolis 500
victory.
### Premiere and Main Airing
- **Premiere**: Friday, May 8, 2026, at **7:30 PM ET on FS1** (also
mentioned with FOX One in some promotions).
- It followed NASCAR Truck Series coverage that night on FS1.
No airings are listed on the main **FOX** channel (the over-the-air
network); it has been primarily on **FS1** and **FS2**.
### Re-Airs (as of May 9–10, 2026, and ongoing)
It re-airs multiple times throughout May on FS1 and FS2 to tie into
Indy 500 coverage. Examples from current TV listings include:
**On FS2 (recent/ongoing examples)**:
- Sunday, May 10: 6:00 AM ET
- Other morning slots (e.g., around 8:00 AM) and evening repeats in the
following days.
**On FS1**:
- Evening slots like 6:00 PM ET on various days (e.g., May 9–10 window
and later in the month).
Schedules can shift for live sports (e.g., IndyCar practice/racing on
FS1/FS2), so check local listings, the FOX Sports app, or sites like TV
Insider for the latest. It may also be available on-demand via platforms
like Fubo, DirecTV, or FOX Sports streaming.
For the most up-to-date schedule, visit **foxsports.com** or use your
TV provider's guide, as re-airs continue through the Indy 500 period
(May 2026). A full-length version of the documentary is expected later
in 2026.
This television cut focuses on Bobby’s early years through his emotional win
with close friend Jim Trueman, who sadly lost his battle with cancer shortly
afterward. A longer, full-length edition covering Bobby’s complete and
still-active career arrives later in 2026.
Travis Long described the project, which began in 2022, as deeply compelling.
He conducted a seven-hour interview with Bobby and gathered 25 interviews
totaling more than 30 hours of footage. Long noted that Bobby’s story stood
out because of his hands-on approach to everything from Formula Atlantic and
endurance racing to building his own successful team and businesses.
Graham Rahal admitted he had not yet seen the film but expressed genuine
excitement about viewing it. He voiced deep admiration for his father not only
as a racer but also as a father, businessman, and entrepreneur.
Graham explained that he strives daily to follow in Bobby’s footsteps by
developing ventures outside of racing. This approach allows the sport to
remain a true lifelong passion rather than solely a driving career, precisely
as Bobby has demonstrated for decades.
When asked what defined Bobby’s racing success - including the Indy 500
triumph, three CART championships, and capturing a title in his first season
as an owner - Graham highlighted two standout qualities. First, Bobby proved
himself a methodical thinker and supremely talented racer. Second, and perhaps
most importantly, Bobby possessed a rare gift for surrounding himself with
exceptionally smart and capable people and placing them in the right roles.
Graham pointed to early collaborations such as Adrian Newey at Rahal Hogan,
along with loyal team members like Tim, JP, Jimmy Prescott, Clay Wilson, and
Ricardo Nault, many of whom have been with the family for 40 to 50 years and
are now considered family. He also cited smart business hires such as Ron
Ferris for the car dealerships. Graham observed that this same talent for
building strong, enduring teams explains the sustained success of top
organizations like Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti.
Bobby Rahal’s ability to excel both on and off the track, combined with his
leadership in people and vision, continues to inspire his son and the broader
racing and business communities.
Addendum: Graham Rahal’s Strong IMS Road Course Record
As it relates to this weekend's Month Of May race at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway road course, Graham Rahal brings an impressive history to this
weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
In 12-plus NTT IndyCar Series starts there since 2015, the Rahal Letterman
Lanigan Racing driver owns two runner-up finishes - charging from 17th to
second while leading nine laps in 2015, and starting fourth, leading 18
laps, and finishing second in 2020.
He has posted additional strong results including fourth (2016), fifth
(2021), and sixth-place runs (2017 and 2025), with top-10 finishes in 15 of
17 starts and an average finish of roughly 7.6 positions. No wins yet, but
consistent podium contention marks his affinity for the 14-turn circuit.
Currently 10th in the 2026 championship standings with 106 points, Rahal
will chase his first victory at the venue in Race 6 of the season.
Broadcast Details:
Practice and qualifying Friday, May 8. The 85-lap Sonsio Grand Prix goes
green Saturday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. ET, live on FOX and the FOX Sports
app.
Former teammates Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal share a friendly conversation during a pre-race driver autograph session ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Image Credit: Titus Slaughter - NICS (2026)
Post Race Update:
Christian Lundgaard, in the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, delivered a
stellar performance - qualifying P4 and going on to win the race, his second in his NICS career - while
Graham Rahal charged from P7 to a strong (highest placing Honda) P3 podium
finish in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Rahal Letterman Lanigan
Racing Honda. A great moment between two respected competitors catching up off the
track. These two drivers shared the podium (and the image above - just over
Lundgaard's shoulder) with Team Penske's David Malukas driving the No. 12
Verizon Chevrolet, who qualified P5 and secured P2 after leading in the late
stages of the race.
Month of May at IMS post-race comments from Rahal (drawn from team reports,
broadcasts, and related coverage) typically emphasize satisfaction with the
result on a track where RLL has historically performed well, relief at
converting a solid qualifying position into a podium amid chaos (incidents,
strategy battles, and pit decisions), and praise for the team's execution.
Lundgaard will try to repeat Alex Palou’s 2025 “double” - on his way to a
third consecutive season championship for a total of four in the last five
years - of winning the Sonsio Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 presented by
Gainbridge when the 110th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” takes
place Sunday, May 24. Practice on the fabled 2.5-mile oval opens Tuesday, May
12 Rahal, Malukas, and thirty other drivers will be there to make sure this
will not happen.
For the Rahals, this Sonsio Grand Prix weekend is complete.
Human ingenuity amplified by AI - Andretti INDYCAR has partnered
with TWG AI as the primary sponsor for the #26 Andretti Honda
driven by first year Honda & Andretti Global Driver, Will
Power. Image Credit Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)
Will Power, Andretti Global, And The Parity Push At Barber – Four Races In
March And A 25-Car Field That Refuses To Settle
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES rolls into one of its most picturesque and physically
demanding venues this weekend for the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park, and the early-season script
keeps getting more interesting.
In just three races held so far in 2026, the series has produced three
different winners from three different teams. That kind of spread-out victory
lane is exactly what fans love to see, and the fourth race of the month
crammed into a 29-day window offers another prime opportunity for the
competitive balance of this 25-car field to assert itself even further.
It has been more than 50 years since the series packed March this
aggressively. In the past decade, only the month of July has hosted as many
events across different locations. The pace has been relentless, the racing
sharp, and the storylines fresh.
Andretti Global dominates the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington
weekend! Kyle Kirkwood capped the day in style by driving the No.
27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda to the win in the Java House Grand
Prix of Arlington. Marcus Ericsson led the field to green from
pole position, while Will Power delivered a strong run to finish
third, giving Andretti Global three cars in the top four on the
new 2.73-mile Arlington street circuit. The victory marks
Andretti’s 78th INDYCAR win and their 21st on a street circuit.
With the win, Andretti Global now leads the INDYCAR driver
championships as the series heads to Barber Motorsports Park after
a short break. Image Credit: Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)
Will Power, now in his first campaign with Andretti Global, sat down for
a press conference this week and delivered his usual mix of blunt honesty, dry
humor, and quiet confidence. The veteran corrected the moderator early on: he
finished third at the Streets of Arlington, not fourth, behind teammate Kyle
Kirkwood's impressive victory and Alex Palou in second. It was a strong
weekend for the team overall.
Power acknowledged the slow start in the points incidents at St. Petersburg
and Phoenix hurt but stressed the underlying speed has been there. The team
led at Phoenix before the trouble, and he believes a top-five finish was
likely at St. Pete. "The capability to contend for the championship is there,"
he said. "It's a very good team."
This weekend at Barber carries extra weight for Power. He owns two wins and
five podiums at the Alabama rollercoaster, a flowing, elevation-heavy road
course that rewards rhythm and precision. Yet it marks his first time piloting
the current Andretti car on a proper fast-flowing road course. Friday practice
will be critical as he evaluates setup and where the package stacks up in a
field that grows tighter every year.
High commitment series of corners and an elevation rise at the
end of a high-speed practice run by Will Power has him finishing
day one in the top ten drivers in a field of twenty-five. Image
Credit: Joe Skibinski - Penske Entertainment (2026)
Power made it clear he expects to be at the pointy end again, but he
also knows this stop will reveal plenty about whether Andretti has closed the
road-course gap they identified last season.
No discussion of the 2026 title chase skips Alex Palou. Power, the last driver
to win a championship against the Ganassi star, described him plainly as the
standout and the one setting the standard. While other Ganassi entries haven't
matched that level, Palou remains consistently at the front no matter the
track type.
To beat him, Power noted, a team and driver cannot afford a single glaring
weakness not in qualifying, race pace, strategy, or pit stops. "You can't have
a weakness ultimately 'cause he will get you," Power observed. He even joked
(mostly) about wanting an in-car camera of Palou on a road or street course
just to study the man's technique.
Pitlane ponderings run through Will Power's mind while in his box
at Practice 1 of the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered
by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski
- Penske Entertainment (2026)
Power drew a parallel to his battles with Dario Franchitti years ago but
noted the modern era is tougher: a misstep today drops you to 17th, not third,
thanks to the depth in the field. Still, he sees Andretti currently led in the
standings by teammate Kirkwood as right in the mix.
Power has been impressed with his new squad. He described their debriefs as
very military like more structured than what he experienced at Penske with
strong processes and ample resources. "They've got everything they need to win
a championship," he said. He's providing feedback drawn from years at another
top organization, and the team is already making directional improvements.
The whirlwind of adapting to new people, procedures, and car feel has been
intense. A recent weekend off helped him catch our breath and digest lessons,
especially valuable while prepping for the Indianapolis cars. Power believes
the ingredients for a title fight exist right now, not in three years as he
once projected. Arlington showed the pace; Barber will test it on a classic
road course.
He also tipped his cap to the late George Barber, praising the passion and
presentation that turned the venue into one of the series' best from the
museum to the sculpted grounds and flowing track layout. Tributes and stickers
honoring Barber will feature prominently this weekend.
Full ZOOM Call:
Power sounded genuinely upbeat about the health of INDYCAR. Ratings, crowds,
and event quality are rising. He credited the new Arlington layout,
partnerships with major sports owners like Jerry Jones, and the overall push
for bigger, better spectacles. "From when I first started to now, it's only
progressively got better and better every year," he remarked.
Looking ahead, Long Beach remains a traditional strength for Andretti, and
Power expects the car to shine there. Indy 500 preparations continue, with
focus on building a qualifying-fast machine to complement the team's noted
race-handling strengths.
With three different winners from three different teams already on the board,
Barber represents another chance for the parity narrative to deepen or for
someone to stamp authority. Power and Andretti arrive optimistic but
realistic: the road course will be telling. Palou lurks as the benchmark. The
25-car field remains deep and unpredictable.
Four races in March. A sport showing renewed vitality. And a veteran driver in
a new home still chasing that championship feel while enjoying the ride.
The Alabama hills are calling. The pointy end awaits. And the early-season
story of balance and opportunity has every reason to continue.
As this article is sent to the web to be published, the first practice
session is in and Will Power unloads and finishes, during the last and final
session of Practice 1, as the 4th quickest Honda and nearly one-half of a
second behind the top Chevy driven by former teammate Scott McLaughlin.
POST RACE UPDATE - From P23 to P12 & Biggest Mover:
