Andretti Global Launches 2026 Charge as INDYCAR and INDY NXT Return to the Streets of St. Petersburg
Andretti Global’s INDYCAR and INDY NXT teams return to the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend to kick off the 2026 season with two powerhouse lineups, featuring both veteran talent and fresh faces, ready to dive into the wheel-to-wheel action. The 1.8-mile, 14-turn (five lefts, nine rights) circuit weaves through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg and incorporates a section of the runway of Albert Whitted Airport.
The iconic Florida street course has long been a venue of success for Andretti’s INDYCAR and INDY NXT programs, with 11 combined victories. After Kyle Kirkwood’s fourth-place finish in the 2025 INDYCAR Championship and the team’s second consecutive INDY NXT Championship title, both Andretti squads arrive poised to open the new season on a high note.
Race Details
| Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – Streets of St. Petersburg |
| Round | 1/17 |
| Track Type | Street Circuit |
| Turns | 14 |
| Laps | 100 |
| Track Length | 1.8 Miles |
| Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – Streets of St. Petersburg |
| Round | 1/17 |
| Track Type | Street Circuit |
| Turns | 14 |
| Laps | 45 |
| Track Length | 1.8 Miles |
Fast Facts
INDYCAR
- Andretti Global’s INDYCAR team has made 21 appearances at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg dating back to 2005, scoring three wins (Wheldon — 2005, Hinchcliffe — 2013 and C. Herta — 2021), five poles, 14 podiums and 28 top-five finishes.
Will Power
- With a storied history on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Will Power is set to make his Andretti Global debut in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda this weekend. The two-time INDYCAR Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was announced as the newest member of the Andretti lineup last September, bringing his record-breaking qualifying resume, 45 wins and almost 20 years of open-wheel experience to the team.
- In his 18 starts at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Power has amassed two wins, eight poles, seven podiums and seven top-five finishes. Half of his poles on the Florida circuit came in consecutive years from 2010 to 2013.
- Last year’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg unfortunately ended prematurely for the Australian driver after he was involved in a crash with the No. 6 in Turn 3 of the opening lap.
Kyle Kirkwood
- Coming off a career-best fourth in last season’s Championship Standings, Kyle Kirkwood heads into his fifth INDYCAR season in the recently announced No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda, looking to capture his first win on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
- The Florida native has only qualified outside the top 12 once on the Streets of St. Petersburg and has recorded two top-10s and one top-five finish.
- Kirkwood earned his best Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg finish last season using an opening-lap yellow to advance through the field. He worked the No. 27 into the top five in the second half of the race, ultimately finishing fifth.
Marcus Ericsson
- Marcus Ericsson returns to the Streets of St. Petersburg in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda for his eighth start on the Florida street circuit.
- With a previous victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2023), the Swede will look to build on results that also include one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
- Last year’s race saw the Swede fall back from his starting position early. He stayed committed to his strategy and finished just behind teammate Kirkwood in 6th. The result marked Ericsson’s 59th career top-10 in INDYCAR at the time.
| Andretti INDYCAR Championship Standings |
| Will Power | 0 points | NA |
| Kyle Kirkwood | 0 points | NA |
| Marcus Ericsson | 0 points | NA |
INDY NXT
- In 20 appearances on the Streets of St. Petersburg dating back to 2005, Andretti Global’s INDY NXT team has recorded eight wins (Marco Andretti – 2005, Matos – 2008, Veach – 2014, C. Herta – 2017, O’Ward – 2018, Kirkwood – 2021, Brabham – 2022 and Hauger – 2025), 12 pole positions, 20 podiums, 32 top-five finishes and has led a total of 390 laps.
Lochie Hughes
- Lochie Hughes will return to the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend with Andretti Global to make his second INDY NXT by Firestone start on the Florida track after wrapping up the 2025 season in third place in the Championship standings.
- His series debut in St. Pete last year saw the 23-year-old Australian driver land his first career INDY NXT podium after maintaining his second-place starting spot from green to checkered.
Seb Murray
- Seb Murray is set to make his second INDY NXT start on the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend, after his debut last season with the Andretti Cape INDY NXT partnership.
- Murray faced several challenges during last year’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as the Scottish driver was forced to pit for repairs twice during the race, once for front wing damage and another for tire damage after making contact with the wall in Turn 9. He finished the race at the back of the field.
Max Taylor
- Andretti Global INDY NXT newcomer Max Taylor will make his INDY NXT debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg this weekend. Although this will not be his first time at the track, as he has competed on the famous Florida circuit in both USF Pro 2000 (2025) and USF2000 (2024).
- While competing in St. Pete in USF Pro 2000, Taylor scored two top-five finishes during the doubleheader race weekend. Before that, while racing in USF2000, he finished 15th in Race 2 and received a DNF in Race 1 after completing only 11 laps.
Josh Pierson
- Although he is new to the Andretti Global INDY NXT lineup, Josh Pierson has the most INDY NXT racing experience on the Streets of St. Petersburg on the team, as he is set to make his fourth start here this weekend.
- Last year marked Pierson’s best finish in St. Pete to date, where he made an impressive jump from the back of the field in 19th to take the checkered just inside the top 10.
| Andretti INDY NXT Driver Championship Standings |
| Lochie Hughes | 0 points | NA |
| Seb Murray | 0 points | NA |
| Max Taylor | 0 points | NA |
| Josh Pierson | 0 points | NA |
INDYCAR Team Quotes
Will Power
No. 26 TWG AI Honda
“St. Pete has always been one of my favorite tracks, so it’s a great place to start my first race with Andretti Global. I’ve had some good results there over the years with a few poles and wins, but I’d definitely like to add more. It’s a technical street circuit, and you have to be sharp from the start of the weekend. After nearly 20 years of going to St. Pete, I know what it takes to be competitive. It’s also exciting to have TWG AI involved this season, and I think what they’re bringing will make a big difference for the 26 crew and the team overall. I’m looking forward to getting 2026 started.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda
“St. Pete is the closest thing I have to a home race, so it’s always a special one to start the season. As a team, we’ve been very strong there in recent years, so there’s always a lot of confidence going into that weekend, even though the top step has eluded us. Street courses tend to suit me with the heavy braking zones, 90-degree corners and having to be comfortable near the walls. We were right in the fight last season with a fourth-place finish and a real shot at the win, so we know the pace is there. This year, the goal is to start a little further forward, control the race and put ourselves in the best position to finally get that result.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 27 Delaware Life Honda
“St. Pete is always an exciting place to start the year, but you’ve got to come out with a strong package from the start. It’s really tight these days in INDYCAR, so building through the weekend is crucial. The first race brings a lot of energy because everyone wants to show what they can do, and that’s usually when mistakes happen, so staying cool and making smart decisions is key. It’s also one of the most physical and mentally demanding races on the calendar since there’s not much rest on a street circuit. We’ve had a really good offseason with strong work inside the team and good momentum within Andretti Global, especially with some new faces on the No. 28 crew. I put in a lot of work over the winter, drove different cars and pushed myself in new situations. So, I’m excited to bring that into the season and show it on track.”
Ron Ruzewski
Team Principal
“This year’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is particularly special. The circuit is one of my favorites and one where I have had a lot of success. It marks the start of a new chapter, one that includes a trio of champions. This weekend, Will Power, Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood begin their 2026 campaign to add to the legacy of Andretti. I also begin my season as the leader of this organization, alongside several team members stepping into new roles. It is not only the start of a new season, but the start of new opportunities. The team has done a lot of work in the offseason. I feel we have a strong team with a lot of experience and depth, and we look forward to applying that as we move forward in 2026 to establish Andretti as the new standard in INDYCAR.”
INDY NXT Team Quotes
Lochie Hughes
No. 26 Andretti Global Dallara
“I’m looking forward to getting the season underway in one of the best markets that we get to race in. Last year, I started the season with a podium here in St. Pete, so the goal is to do the same thing again this weekend with the No. 26 crew. I’m excited to be back for another year racing with Andretti Global, and now all that’s left to do is take all the work we’ve done so far and leave it all out on the track.”
Seb Murray
No. 27 Prosperity Dallara
“St. Pete is a great place to kick off the season. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the calendar, and I’m really looking forward to starting the season off on a high. We’ve been really strong in testing the past few months, and the team and I have worked very hard over the offseason to make sure we arrive at the first round fighting at the front. I’m much more experienced now in INDY NXT, so I’m excited to get back to it.”
Max Taylor
No. 28 Susan G. Komen Dallara
“I’m extremely excited for St. Pete and have been looking forward to finally making my first INDY NXT start at this track for a long time. I’ve done a lot of work this offseason with the Andretti crew, but I can’t wait to see what it’s like to work with the team on a race weekend. The energy is just so different. I’ve had some success in St. Pete in the past in USF Pro 2000 with some strong top-five finishes. It’s always such an enjoyable race market to go to for the opening round. It’s a beautiful city with a unique track that is absolutely one of my favorites. I’m just eager to get this season started and get to work with the No. 28 crew.”
Josh Pierson
No. 28 Starchive Dallara
“The Andretti Global team has been working hard, and we have a great foundation and dialed-in starting point for the first round of the year. St. Pete is always a grand kickoff and an important race to establish positive momentum for the season ahead. I’m confident in the team around me and the tools I’ve been given. It’s now up to me to put it all together, and I’m excited to do that.”
Don Lambert
Team Principal
“Our INDY NXT team has been working hard this offseason to keep our championship drive going. There have been a lot of exciting changes for us recently, including moving in and adjusting to a new workshop to build our winning cars. Also, INDY NXT has introduced a new Xtrac gearbox, so all teams have some work to do to get a grasp on those early in the season. The testing we’ve done over the past few months has shown us that our lineup, made up of returning and new drivers, is extremely competitive. We need to stay diligent in our quest to execute every day on and off the track, and I know that this team can do that.”
