IndyCar Photo
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026) – The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES
season was historic, record-breaking and game-changing for North
America’s premier open-wheel racing series. From massive audience
gains to soaring attendance, booming digital engagement and world-class
competition, the series leaped forward into a new position of prominence
and impact across the sporting landscape.
“This is an incredible new era for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, defined by
growth, energy and momentum,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO
Mark Miles said. “Our partnership with FOX Sports has raised the bar
for our sport, and in turn we’ve invested in new events and
opportunities to accelerate our already immense progress. Alongside our
teams and partners, our commitment to maintain and expand one of the
fastest growth curves in all of sports is unmatched.”
A look at the season, by the facts and numbers:
Surging Viewership
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES reached an average audience of 1.68 million
viewers on FOX across an 18-race schedule. This represents the largest
average viewership in almost two decades, dating back to the 2008
season. In total, nine races saw an average audience of more than 1
million viewers, also the most since the 2008 season.
The historic Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. provided
particularly stellar viewership, reaching a peak audience of 3.5 million
people. This was the highest tune-in for a non-Indy 500 race since 1995.
With all coverage on FOX combined, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES made a record
23 appearances on broadcast television in 2026.
Rising Attendance
Race weekend attendance increased by approximately 20 percent,
benchmarked by another grandstand sellout at the Indianapolis 500
presented by Gainbridge and a massive crowd of 215,000 people across the
Freedom 250 Grand Prix race weekend.
Additional highlights included a record-breaking weekend at the
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and a record-tying weekend at the
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. INDYCAR’s return to Phoenix Raceway
resulted in doubled Saturday attendance for the promoter and additional
buzz surrounding an action-packed motorsport weekend. The inaugural Java
House Grand Prix of Arlington also declared a grandstand sellout on race
morning, highlighting incredible interest in the new event powered by a
joint venture between INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment.
Impressive Digital Gains
INDYCAR’s social channels reached new heights in 2026, led by notable
milestones in engagement and video consumption. The 2026 Indianapolis
500 presented by Gainbridge delivered the most popular digital day in
NTT INDYCAR SERIES history, with more than 1.5 million engagements. In
addition, there were more than 250 million video views across social and
digital channels, also a new record.
The INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA delivered a record-breaking
performance in 2026 with the highest-ever average race day users across
the season and a nearly 20 percent increase in screen views compared to
2025. The immersive relationship with NTT also celebrated a monumental
moment in May, as NTT, Inc., together with NTT DATA Group Corporation,
announced continued sponsorship of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
INDYCAR’s YouTube channel saw significant growth for the 2026 season
with a 58 percent increase in watch time, a 41 percent increase in view
duration and a nearly 70 percent growth in livestream views.
The new, digital-first docuseries “ALL IN: INDYCAR” also expanded
the sport’s dedicated shoulder programming and reached a new and
younger audience. Produced by INDYCAR in tandem with FOX Sports and Tom
Brady’s Shadow Lion, “ALL IN: INDYCAR” racked up more than 6
million views on YouTube, averaging almost 500,000 views an episode.
Merchandise Sales Soar
NTT INDYCAR SERIES merchandise flew off the shelves across the season,
with a nearly 40 percent increase in race weekend sales. The series set
a new non-Indy 500 sales record in Arlington, only to break it months
later on the streets of Washington. New and expanded lines were unveiled
with brands such as Homefield, True Brand, Flag & Anthem, Under Armour,
Travis Matthew, Lululemon and more.
World-Class Competition
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES once again featured intense, high-speed drama and
competition, powered by a global field of elite drivers. Chip Ganassi
Racing’s Alex Palou, at just 29 years old, became the youngest
five-time champion in INDYCAR SERIES history. Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb
Agajanian’s Felix Rosenqvist earned his first Indy 500 victory in the
closest finish in the race’s storied century-plus history.
Competition remained fierce throughout the 18-race schedule, with eight
different drivers winning races and a record 20 drivers making at least
one Firestone Fast Six qualifying appearance. In total, nine different
race teams were represented on the podium in 2026.
IR-28 Unveiled
With momentum on its side, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES also showcased its
commitment to the future with the unveiling of the IR-28 car that will
be introduced for the start of the 2028 season. Lighter, faster and
built to break track records, the IR-28 will encourage more
wheel-to-wheel action through improved raceability, while its innovative
and modern design will also engage a new generation of fans.
“The IR-28 unveil was a massive milestone for the sport, and it has
been incredible to get so much positive feedback from both our drivers
and our fans,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “To
capitalize on our momentum, we need to be constantly innovating and look
toward the future, and the IR-28 reflects our commitment to this
mindset.”
The IR-28 also showcases the continued commitment of Chevy and Honda as
INDYCAR’s Official Engine Manufacturers (OEM). The 2026 calendar year
started with news that both partners had committed to new OEM agreements
running multiple years, reflecting the upward trajectory of the sport
and continued investments in its growth.
Stay tuned for more NTT INDYCAR SERIES updates as the sport turns the
page on the 2026 season and prepares for an action-packed and highly
anticipated 2027.