So, you’re a fan of motor sports and need another series to get your heart pumping on the weekends? We’ve got the perfect series for you – welcome to the world of INDYCAR.  

From the specific tracks we race to the importance of pit stop strategy, we’ve got you covered on everything you need to know about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Readers, start your engines! 

What is INDYCAR? 

The official INDYCAR website puts it quite simply: “The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel series with athletes representing over 11 different countries around the world.” 

Nine teams, 27 full-time cars, 17 races and a whole lot of speed. 

What is the weekend format? 

An NTT INDYCAR SERIES race weekend typically has a jam-packed Thursday-to-Sunday schedule. Thursdays are full set up days and, everyone's favorite, the track walk. Every race weekend the team's transporters drive to the track and completely pack and unpack every single piece of equipment used on a race weekend. 

Track walk takes the drivers and engineers around the track turn-by-turn, to analyze what each driver needs to do in order to maximize speed, braking, downforce and balance in the corners and straights. 

Friday to Sunday is where all the on-track action happens. During practice days on Friday, cars hit the track for the first time since being set up in the shop. The goal is to roll off the transporters with a race-ready car; however, only sometimes does that occur. Each practice session gives the team time to tweak the Arrow McLaren Chevrolets to the driver’s and track’s liking. 

Saturdays are qualifying days. Scroll a little more and you’ll get the nitty gritty details. Qualifying is basically where each driver on the grid tries to put down their fastest lap to secure the best starting position on race day. 

Lastly, Sunday, some say the best day of the week, is race day. From final warmup with pit stop practice, last minute engineering meetings, driver intros, grid walk and to the wave of the green flag, race day is race day. Two-plus hours of one of the most competitive open wheel racing series in the world. 

And, if you're lucky, you end Sunday with a champagne shower and a happy plane ride home.  

How do you win the championship?  

As with other open-wheel series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship standings are determined by a points system. Each traditional race weekend, drivers can score points in three different categories, based on their performance in qualifying and the race. The majority of points are scored on race day, starting at 50 points for the winner, down to five points for those who place 25th and beyond. Check out our Explained: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Points System guide for a deeper dive into the intricacies of points.  

Fun fact: Unlike in Formula 1, every driver is awarded points on race day. 

What type of racetracks are there?  

Why race on one type of track, when you can race on four? The beauty of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is its diverse calendar, which features superspeedways, short ovals, road courses and street circuits. The varying tracks offer nothing short of a unique racing and viewing experience each race weekend.  

What is the big deal with ovals?  

Imagine you're driving at 200-mph-plus speeds for almost three hours. That’s the big deal with ovals. Ovals in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are the most dangerous and physically intense races for the drivers.  

They are experiencing around 5 Gs of force consistently while trying to avoid the slightest touch of a wall, another car or even a shift in the wind. To put this into perspective, astronauts experience about 3 Gs during a rocket launch. 

How do the teams qualify?  

The qualifying format is set up in three rounds. The first round contains two groups that are divided based on an entry's practice time; the 14 fastest cars in practice in one group, the remaining cars in another. Each group will take to the track for eight minutes, trying to put down their fastest lap time; the top six in each group will move on to Round 2.  

Once the fastest 12 is set, drivers have a quick break for any adjustments and tire changes needed. Round 2 is when you want to push the car even harder, but not too hard; as times are so close, drivers need maximum precision to hit their best lap time. Again, you need to secure a top-six fastest lap in order to advance to the final round: the Firestone Fast Six. 

Teams now look at the data, finalize their strategy and decide when is best to put down the fastest lap in the six-minute session. This round is all about pushing the car to the limit, but doing it within the proper constraints of time, tires and potential on-track incidents. Strategy is everything. 

The fastest car in the Firestone Fast Six gets the coveted pole position and starts the race with the best view on race day. 

Now stay with us... 

Oval qualifying is a little different. Each driver will line up on pit lane and one-by-one hit the track for their qualifying laps. The drivers get three laps total: one to warm up the car and the second and third to do our favorite thing: send it. That two-lap average could determine your entire race, so the pressure is on to deliver the perfect lap.  

How important are pit stops?  

In INDYCAR, pit stops will make or break your race. When you're going to pit, what you're going to adjust on the car and how long the stop takes are all vital decisions, potentially altering a team’s race strategy drastically.  

Seven crew members jump over the wall as the car rushes into the pit stall to switch tires, re-fuel and adjust wings in under seven seconds. Meanwhile, a driver could be lapped on track, losing potential positions depending on the lap chosen to come onto pit lane. Did you follow the same stop sequence as the leaders or are you off-pace?  

And don’t even get us started on the tire choice. 

Wait, there’s more than one type of tire? 

Yes. Let's break down each. 

Primary: The most used tires are the primary. These tires last for longer stints and are used on all three types of tracks: street, road and oval. They have the best balance between speed, cornering and durability. 

Alternates: These tires are composed of a softer compound, allowing them to warm up to the proper temperature faster than the primaries. This creates more grip on track, allowing faster speeds and quicker cornering. These tires are usually used for shorter stints as they have quicker wear time unless the driver can manage tire wear and extend them to the same length as the primary tire.  

To add to the complexity of tires, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES introduced a new sustainable alternate known as the  guayule (green) tires. The tire is partially composed of a new sustainble natural rubber, derived from the guayule shrub, making a first of its kind, eco-friendly racing tire. 

Wet: These tires are made for exactly what you think: rain. They have a grooved tread pattern, improving grip, control and preventing hydroplaning. Rain tires are only used on road and street courses, as the teams won't drive them on ovals due to the danger of constant high speeds and wear. 

The tires chosen during specific times in the race can make or break a team’s strategy. They will determine if you're at the same speed, faster or slower than other cars and when you need to come in to pit. In short, it’s a big deal. 

What is Push-to-Pass? 

Push-To-Pass, also referred to as ‘P2P,’ is commonly compared to Drag Reduction System (DRS) used in Formula 1, due to its similar purpose of aiding drivers in overtaking. However, there are a few notable differences to highlight. Activated by a dedicated button on the steering wheel, the push-to-pass system in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES triggers an engine power boost, versus the aerodynamic advantage of DRS in F1. This P2P feature can also be used to overtake and defend against other cars on track.  

Each driver is allotted the same number of seconds to use throughout the race, with a maximum number of seconds being allowed per activation. Unlike DRS, P2P can be used at any point and time during the race. Talk about adding a new level of excitement and unpredictability to race strategy! 

How many teams are there? 

There are currently nine full-time teams running in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. For the 2023 Indianapolis 500, there will be at least one additional team racing in the first race of motorsports’ Triple Crown (winning the Indianapolis 500, Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans).  

And how many drivers? 

This is where it gets a little complicated. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has 27 full-time entries, but sometimes those entries don’t always have the same driver. There are a few occasions where drivers only run the street and road courses, not the ovals and vice versa. To add to that, there are usually an additional six entries (or more) added when it comes to the Indy 500. 

To put it simply, there are 27 drivers (28 at Texas) you’ll see take the grid regularly during the 2023 season.

Wait…who are our drivers? 

This year Arrow McLaren has a trio of drivers with diverse, successful, racing backgrounds.  

Pato O’Ward is the team’s longest-tenured driver after joining in 2020 and has made his mark in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The young Mexican has a strong résumé securing four wins, 14 podiums and five poles earning him the nicknames of Mr. Fast Hands, The Ninja and the series’ 2022 Oval King.  

With sixth, fourth and second-place finishes in his first three Indy 500 starts, it seems like the only way to go from there is up.  

Felix Rosenqvist came to Arrow McLaren with an international background in all things racing. The Swede has competed in Formula Renault, Formula 3 (with a championship nonetheless), GT, Indy NXT, GT Racing, DTM, Formula E, Super Formula, Super GT and now NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Did you catch all that? He’s accumulated one win, four podiums and three poles in his first four seasons in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

Alexander Rossi is in his first season with Arrow McLaren but comes to us as no stranger to NTT INDYCAR SERIES or Formula 1. He’s been in the series for seven years, a run which includes being champion of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, eight career race wins, 28 podiums and seven poles. 

(And no, we don’t have a favorite.) 

What can we share about the car? 

Good question. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is a spec racing series, meaning all cars are required to use the same chassis, cars are identical outside of a few parts teams can adjust to their liking.  

What is the biggest race on the calendar? 

It’s not named the ‘Biggest Spectacle in Racing’ just for fun. The Indy 500 takes the cake for the most important race of the season and, arguably, the world. Names like Foyt, Unser, Castroneves, Mears, Andretti, Rutherford, Montoya, Fittipaldi and so many others have won this historic race. Not to mention two more familiar names: Rossi and Kanaan. 

Five hundred miles, 250 laps at 220-plus mph, all aiming for immortality to have their face added on the coveted Borg-Warner Trophy. Need we say more? 

Now that you’re hooked, how can you watch?  

Ready to get in on the action? United States viewers can stream exclusive NTT INDYCAR SERIES content and all live practice, qualifying and race sessions on Peacock with a monthly subscription. Rather watch a live broadcast? Tune into NBC and USA Network, the official U.S. television home of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Not in the US? No problem – international viewers can check local listings here. Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered.  

Now that you’re all caught up, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to stay in the know all-season long.