IMSA Battle On The Bricks 2026 | Schedule & Sessions | MotorSportRadar

International Motor Sports Association - Battle On The Bricks

Dunlaing Watches
Event Start

Battle On The Bricks

Dunlaing Watches
0 D
0 H
0 M
0 S

18 - 21 Sep

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Some session times for IMSA Battle On The Bricks 2026 have not yet been finalised, they represent possible times in which each race session could occur. Please check back later for more accurate times.

Practice 1*
22:00 - Fri, 18 Sep
Practice 2*
03:00 - Sat, 19 Sep
Qualifying*
05:00 - Sun, 20 Sep
Warm Up*
20:00 - Sun, 20 Sep
Race*
03:00 - Mon, 21 Sep

Where To Watch IMSA in United States

Where To Watch IMSA in United States
Peacock United States streaming home; live full-race IMSA WeatherTech Championship coverage on Peacock Premium.
NBC United States broadcast partner; selected live IMSA races and event windows on NBC.
NBC Sports App / NBCSports.com United States authenticated streaming access for full IMSA race coverage alongside Peacock.
Motorvision TV German broadcaster for WeatherTech Championship events with German commentary.
IMSA TV Official live stream outside local TV markets; WeatherTech races are geo-blocked in the United States, with international live video and IMSA Radio commentary where television coverage is not offered.
IMSA Official YouTube Official international live stream source for fans where local TV coverage is not offered, plus replays, highlights and support-series content.
American Forces Network Military broadcaster carrying WeatherTech Championship races for U.S. armed forces audiences worldwide.
NordVPN
Stream IMSA securely from anywhere with NordVPN Traveling abroad or using public Wi-Fi? Protect your connection and access your usual coverage more securely.

Upcoming in IMSA

Upcoming in IMSA
Laguna Seca
2 - 4 May
Detroit Grand Prix
28 - 31 May
Six Hours of The Glen
26 - 29 Jun
View More

Upcoming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Upcoming at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
IndyCar
23 - 25 May
Indianapolis
Nascar Cup
26 - 27 Jul

Track Info

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Speedway, Indiana, USA

Historic superspeedway - rectangular 2.5 mile oval - four 90-degree turns with light banking

First Race
1909
The first motor race at IMS ran on August 19, 1909. The first Indianapolis 500 was held on May 30, 1911.
Circuit Length
4.023 km
2.5 miles - 200 laps for the Indy 500 to complete 500 miles.
Turns
4
Approx. 9°12' banking in each corner; no banking on the straights. Front and back straights are 5/8 mile, short chutes 1/8 mile.
Lap Record (Race)
0:38.119 - Eddie Cheever Jr. (IndyCar), 1996
Fastest official lap during the Indianapolis 500 on the oval configuration.
Qualifying Benchmarks
237.498 mph - Arie Luyendyk, 1996 (1-lap)
All-time IMS 1-lap and 4-lap qualifying track records set in 1996. Recent pole-speed era best: 234.220 mph (2024).

When was the track built?

Construction began in 1909 to serve as a proving ground for the American auto industry. Early events revealed surface issues that led to the famous brick paving later that year, from which the track’s “Brickyard” nickname comes. Over time, asphalt covered most of the bricks, leaving a ceremonial Yard of Bricks at start-finish. The 2.5 mile rectangular oval geometry has remained essentially unchanged for more than a century.

When was its first race?

The venue’s first race took place on August 19, 1909, with Louis Schwitzer winning a five-mile event. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 followed on May 30, 1911, won by Ray Harroun in the Marmon Wasp.

What's the circuit like?

  • Precision superspeedway: Four near-90-degree corners linked by long straights demand microscopic line accuracy and clean air. Small balance shifts become huge over a 500-mile run.
  • Drafting and timing: With light banking and long runs, the tow is powerful. Races often hinge on fuel windows, traffic management and perfectly timed slingshots.
  • Pit discipline: Narrow timing margins on green-flag stops and strict pit-speed limits reward teams that execute flawlessly.
  • Benchmark pace: Race lap record 0:38.119. One-lap qualifying track record 37.895 seconds (237.498 mph) stands as a reference for outright speed.

Lap records and benchmarks (by series)

  • IndyCar - fastest race lap (oval): 0:38.119 - Eddie Cheever Jr., 1996 Indianapolis 500.
  • IndyCar - qualifying track records: 1 lap 37.895 (237.498 mph) and 4 laps 2:31.908 (236.986 mph) - Arie Luyendyk, 1996.
  • NASCAR Cup - fastest race lap (oval): 0:48.638 - Kevin Harvick, 2018 Brickyard 400.
  • Indy NXT (Freedom 100): Notable junior-oval benchmarks include 0:45.4307 by Santiago Urrutia in 2017.

Why go?

The world’s largest single-day sporting event unfolds here each May. Monumental grandstands, the Pagoda, and the Yard of Bricks frame a race built on precision, strategy and flat-out bravery. Beyond the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 and a full calendar make IMS a year-round pilgrimage.

Where's the best place to watch?

  • Turn 1 grandstands: Starts, restarts and the heaviest braking/turn-in loads after the long front straight.
  • Turn 4 and front stretch: See late-race slingshots and the sprint to the Yard of Bricks.
  • South short chute (between T1-T2): Close-up view of aero balance and traffic management as packs compress.
  • Pagoda/Tower Terrace: Pit strategy, stops and the rhythm of the race play out directly below.

Not just the 500: other oval headliners

Brickyard 400 (NASCAR Cup): A crown-jewel stock-car race returned to the oval, adding a second major to IMS’s modern slate.

Indy NXT Freedom 100 (historic): The junior-oval classic delivered photo finishes and remains a fan favorite chapter.

Hotels & Accommodation

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