Aeroscreens and ovals: a guide to Indycar basics

Indycar is finally back after a six-month break! It’s the perfect time to do a quick run-through of the basics that make it one of the most exciting racing series around. The 2026 season is in full swing with the first round in St. Petersburg completed last week, and the first oval race is coming up.

So whether you’re a new fan and want to learn how it works, or a seasoned fan looking for a refresh, this is what you should know.

What is Indycar?

The NTT Indycar Series is the highest category of open-wheel racing in the United States. It’s a semi-spec series where all cars use the same chassis, with only two engine manufacturers, Honda and Chevrolet. This year, there’s a total of 25 entries for 10 teams, with a notable addition to the driver roster being Mick Schumacher. Indycar has its own feeder series called IndyNXT.

Track Types

A core characteristic of Indycar is the variety of tracks they race on. It mixes the classic racing circuits with ovals, reaching incredibly high speeds and testing the drivers’ raw skills. In total, there’s four different types of tracks in the Indycar calendar. Road courses are your typical purpose-built tracks, while street circuits are temporary and built in city streets. Short ovals are oval tracks shorter than one mile (1.6 km), while superspeedways are longer than two miles.

Indycar Specs and push to pass

As mentioned earlier, Indycar uses a standard chassis plus has two engines to choose from, so the fine-tuning is up to the teams. Aerodynamics are particularly important because oval racing is drastically different from standard circuits; that’s why cars are tweaked based on the track they race on.

Two main characteristics of Indy cars are the aeroscreen and the push-to-pass system. The aeroscreen is a windscreen that surrounds the cockpit: it uses tear-offs for clear visibility, and ensures maximum safety for the drivers in case of severe accidents. Push-to-pass is a boost that temporarily increases horsepower to make overtaking easier and provide spectacular racing. Drivers can use it in short bursts for a total of 200 seconds, making strategic deployment crucial during races.

Tyre Compounds

Indycar’s tyre supplier is Firestone, and there are three different tyre compounds available to the teams. Black primary tyres are the main durable compound used on all types of tracks. On the other hand, red alternates are the softer, quicker tyres used on road and street courses. Oval tracks require a specific type of tyres developed from primaries. Last is the rain compound, used in wet conditions only on road and street courses. In this case, oval races do not run.

Point System

Compared to Formula 1 and Indycar is that all cars that start the race get championship points. The winner gets 50 points, with the top four drivers separated by ten, five and three points. From fourth through tenth place, drivers are separated by two points, from eleventh through twenty-fifth by one point. Other drivers who started the race but couldn’t complete it still receive five points. Pole position awards one extra point, leading at least one lap also awards one point, and the driver who leads the most laps gets two.

How Qualifying works

In Indycar, qualifying has a different format depending on the type of track they’re racing at. For regular circuits, the field is split into two groups, with each getting a 10-minute session. The top six drivers from each group advance to the fast twelve, another 10-minute session. Once again, the top six drivers advance to the fast six, where they fight it out to get pole position.

Qualifying on ovals is completely different but also very simple. Each car runs two qualifying laps, and the sum of these times determines its spot on the grid. The running order follows the reverse order of championship standings. Indy500 has a similar format but, over a whole weekend and on a much bigger scale.

Indycar Teams and Drivers

There’s no fixed number of entries per team in Indycar: most run at least two full-time cars, while Penske or McLaren have three. Usually, these bigger teams have extra entries in the Indy500. Sometimes, each car will have different colored liveries based on sponsorships, like the Andretti cars. Indycar mostly focuses on drivers, so there isn’t really a constructor’s championship but rather an engine manufacturer’s. One more thing is that teams own car numbers so drivers don’t get to choose theirs.

Here’s a quick rundown of the teams and drivers:

• A.J. Foyt Enterprises: owned by the driver with the same name, its drivers are Santino Ferrucci and rookie Caio Collet, both former Formula drivers.
• Andretti Global: one of the bigger teams also racing in other series, its drivers are Indy500 winners Will Power and Marcus Ericsson, and multiple race winner Kyle Kirkwood.
• Arrow McLaren: sporting the iconic papaya livery, Arrow drivers are Pato O’Ward (also a reserve driver for the Formula One team), Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard.
• Chip Ganassi Racing: a powerhouse in the Indycar series, CGR is home to the reigning four-time champion Alex Palou, six-time champion Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson.
• Dale Coyne Racing: a team that loves to spotlight rookie drivers, has veteran Romain Grosjean and 2025 IndyNXT winner Dennis Hauger behind the wheel this season.
• Ed Carpenter Racing: founded by the driver with the same name, is currently home to Indy500 winner Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen.
• Juncos Hollinger Racing: formerly based in Argentina, its drivers are Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb.
• Meyer Shank Racing: a midfield team with amazing results in Indycar. Its current drivers are former Ferrari Driver Academy member Marcus Armstrong and Felix Rosenqvist.
• Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: a team with an important history in endurance racing, its drivers for 2026 are Graham Rahal, Louis Foster and the new entry Mick Schumacher.
• Team Penske: one of the most successful teams in the field, whose founder owns Indycar. Its drivers are two-time Indy500 winner Josef Newgarden, three-time Supercars Championship winner Scott McLaughlin, and Foyt graduate David Malukas.

Flags and their Meaning

Indycar race officials use the standard flags you’d see at any race, but some specific situations require their own flag. Here’s a quick overview:

• Green: waved at the start or restart of the race. The track is clear, and cars are free to race at full speed.
• Green + yellow: the two flags let the drivers know that next time by, the race will begin.
• Green + white: used together to signal that an oval race is halfway completed.
• Yellow: used under caution conditions. This flag instructs the drivers to slow down, hold position and follow behind the Pace Car. Officials use a single yellow flag for ovals and two for road courses.
• Yellow and red stripes: warns drivers of debris or potentially dangerous conditions on the track. If not shown with a yellow flag, drivers don’t need to slow down.
• Blue: lets drivers know that a car one lap ahead of them is coming up behind. On ovals, drivers are not required to give way, but on road courses lapped cars must let the leaders through.
• Red: race is halted due to an accident or severe weather conditions. The drivers must stop and enter the pits at a reduced pace.
• Black: shown to a driver who needs to serve a penalty or has safety issues with their car and thus must enter the pit lane.
• Black with white cross: means a driver is disqualified from the race.
• White: signals there’s one lap left before the end of the race.
• Checkered: means the race is over.

The Indianapolis 500 (or Indy500)

Part of the Triple Crown with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 is the main event of every Indycar season. The race takes place on the weekend of Memorial Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and is the most prestigious event in open-wheel racing. While part of the Indycar championship, the 500 also allows outside entries, with a field of 33 cars after qualifying. Indy500 has many traditions, with the most unusual yet iconic being drinking a bottle of milk on the podium. Before the race, drivers choose the milk they like, and sponsors produce bottles for each entry in case of victory.

Indycar is an unpredictable and dynamic series, and it’s easy to get hooked on it. Once you have the basics down, the best way to learn is to watch some real racing. So pick a driver (or team) to cheer on and get your popcorn ready for another adrenaline-filled season.

Cover photo credit: Indycar by Chris Owens

About The Author