IndyCar Practice Kicks Off 2026 St. Petersburg Weekend With High Anticipation

The IndyCar season roared to life on February 27, 2026, as teams and drivers hit the streets of St. Petersburg for the first official practice session of the year. The event marks the beginning of what promises to be a fiercely competitive season, with both established stars and emerging talent looking to make an early impression.

The St. Petersburg Grand Prix has long served as the traditional season opener for the NTT IndyCar Series. Its challenging street circuit, featuring tight corners and high-speed straights, tests drivers’ skills and teams’ engineering from the outset. As engines echoed through the city, fans and paddock insiders alike took note of the early pace and form displayed during this crucial first session.

• The February 27 practice session officially launched the 2026 IndyCar season.
• St. Petersburg’s street circuit is known for its technical difficulty and unforgiving layout.
• Teams used the session to dial in setups, evaluate tire strategies, and collect valuable data for the weekend ahead.

While the full rundown of lap times and individual performances was not detailed in the initial reports, the significance of this session cannot be understated. The first practice gives teams a glimpse into the competitive order and allows drivers to reacclimate to the demands of street course racing after the offseason. Historically, strong pace in St. Petersburg practice often foreshadows breakout performances in qualifying and race day.

The 2026 field includes a blend of returning champions, seasoned veterans, and hungry rookies, all eager to establish momentum in the early going. With aerodynamic updates and roster changes over the winter, the paddock is rife with speculation about which teams will emerge as front-runners and who might surprise as a dark horse contender.

Looking ahead, teams will analyze the data from this session to fine-tune their setups for the remaining practices, qualifying rounds, and the main event. The stakes are high, as a strong start in St. Petersburg can set the tone for the entire campaign. Fans can follow the full schedule and updated results on the official IndyCar schedule page.

As the 2026 IndyCar season begins in earnest, all eyes are firmly fixed on St. Petersburg, where every lap counts and the quest for championship glory gets its first real test.