Scott McLauglin earns the pole position for the IndyCar Series season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Marcus Ericsson earned the other front-row starting spot for the 100-lap race on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit. Rookie Dennis Hauger had the most surprising performance of the day, as he qualified in third for his first race.
Alex Palou — who is seeking his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship and second straight win at St. Pete — qualified fourth.
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Who won the pole position for IndyCar at St. Petersburg? IndyCar starting grid for Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
(with starting position and driver)
When does the IndyCar Series race in St. Petersburg? When is the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
(All times ET; all IndyCar sessions are on IndyCar Live, IndyCar Radio and Sirius XM Channel 218)
Sunday, March 1
9 a.m.: IndyCar warmup, FS1
Noon: IndyCar race, Fox (green flag scheduled for 12:29 p.m.)
Where can I watch the IndyCar race at St. Petersburg? How to watch Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
TV: Coverage begins at noon ET, Sunday, March 1, 2026, on Fox. Green flag is scheduled for 12:29 p.m. Will Buxton is the play-by-play voice, with analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell. Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
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Who won at St. Petersburg in 2025? 2025 IndyCar results at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
Alex Palou beat Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon to finish line by 2+ seconds, with Team Penske‘s Josef Newgarden completing the podium.
How can I stream the IndyCar race at St. Petersburg? How can I stream the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
How can I listen to IndyCar race at St. Petersburg?
IndyCar Nation is on SiriusXM Channel 218, IndyCar Live and the IndyCar Radio Network (check affiliates for each race)
Will it rain during the IndyCar race Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg?
Sunday: Partly cloudy with a high in the low 70s.
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IndyCar push-to-pass, tire allocation for Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Tires: Teams must use one set of primary tires (slower, longer lasting) and two sets of alternate tires (faster, wear out faster) on street courses. Previously, teams were required to use just one set of alternates during the race.
Push-to-pass: 150 total seconds in bursts of up to 15 seconds.
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
(From left): Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, IndyCar Series drivers for the 2026 season
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
(From left): Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, IndyCar Series drivers for the 2026 season
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Rinus Veekay, Juncos Hollinger Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Josef Newgarden, Team Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
David Malukas, Team Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Will Power, Andretti Global driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
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IndyCar Series drivers for 2026 season
Mick Shumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Series
IndyCar schedule 2026
(*-street course; ^-road course; #-oval; all races on Fox, SiriusXM Channel 218; times are start of TV coverage, ET)
Saturday, March 7: Phoenix #, 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 31: Detroit *, 12:30 p.m.
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyffin Simpson, driver of the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Scott McLaughlin, driver of the #3 Team Penske during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Rinus Veekay, driver of the #76 Juncos Hollinger Racing drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Christian Rasmussen, driver of the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Sting Ray Robb, driver of the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Louis Foster, driver of the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
IndyCar Series teams, drivers in 2026
(with team, car number and driver; *-Indianapolis 500 only)
Updated tagline:
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar 2026 starting lineup, qualifying results, start time, leaderboard