– The final phase of the 2026 IndyCar series is action-packed: Just one week after the race in Portland, the caravan moves 3,400 kilometers away to Markham across the border into Canada.
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The new street circuit race in Markham replaces the traditional Grand Prix of Toronto at Exhibition Place, which had been on the calendar since 1986 – with a short break in the year of the IndyCar reunification in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/21.
The reasons for replacing the race with the third-longest tradition on the calendar after Indianapolis and Long Beach are business-related: Due to the Football World Cup, it would not have been possible to set up the street circuit in Toronto in such a short time.
Markham attracted the IndyCar series with a five-year contract, after the series had only received one-year contracts from Toronto recently. The city of Markham also belongs to the Greater Toronto Area, so the race still lies within the catchment area of traditional fan communities of the previous event.
In addition, Markham is the headquarters of Honda Canada, the main sponsor of the IndyCar series’ Canada race. The 3.52-kilometer track is new territory for all teams and the second new street circuit on the calendar after Arlington at the start of the season.
For Mick Schumacher, the goal in Canada will be to prove, after his best oval and road course results so far, that he can finally perform well on street circuits. Street circuits have so far been somewhat of a weakness for him this season.
Track presentation Markham in the Honda simulator with Will Power
Markham is the first street circuit race since Detroit in early June, when Schumacher experienced a disaster in a promising position due to problems with radio, GPS system, and an illegal pit stop. Since then, he has shown a slightly improving form but has only had a trouble-free race in Nashville so far.
Despite a mysterious problem with performance on the straights on his Dallara-Honda from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing recently in Portland, the German achieved his best result outside of oval tracks in Oregon.
P16, however, is not the standard with which he competes in the IndyCar series. Therefore, the goals for Canada will be set higher – provided the problem can be localized. Since the track is new to everyone and there were no testing opportunities, there is no disadvantage for Schumacher. However, finding the right setup will be difficult for all drivers.
At the front of the field, Ganassi driver Alex Palou is marching towards his fifth title in six years. Street circuit races can be chaotic, so for the Spaniard, the primary goal will be to finish the race with a solid result. Andretti driver Kyle Kirkwood is always strong on street circuits.
Schedule IndyCar Markham 2026 (CEST)
For local time, six hours must be subtracted.
Friday, August 14
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM: 1st Free Practice
Saturday, August 15
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: 2nd Free Practice
8:25 PM – 9:45 PM: Qualifying
Sunday, August 16
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Warm-up
6:22 PM: Race start
Livestream and TV broadcast IndyCar 2026
The TV rights in Germany for the 2026 IndyCar season are split, but the series is not available on free TV: As usual, the pay-TV channel Sky in Germany broadcasts all IndyCar races – again on Sky Sport F1, the channel that primarily covers Formula 1. (IndyCar 2026 on TV and livestream: All details)
Photo gallery: Mick Schumacher’s results in the 2026 IndyCar season
Motorvision is another pay-TV channel that has been broadcasting IndyCar races live since 2025. The coverage is streamed via Motorvision+ and is available not only in Germany but also in Austria and Switzerland.
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In addition, there is a paid offer from IndyCar with livestreams of all sessions on the official website Indycarlive.com. These can also be watched “on demand” at any time.
Friday, August 14
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM: 1st Free Practice
Saturday, August 15
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: 2nd Free Practice
8:25 PM – 10:00 PM: Qualifying
Sunday, August 16
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Race live (Sky/Motorvision+)
Monday, August 17
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Race replay (Sky)
Entry list IndyCar Markham 2026
In the 2026 IndyCar series, 25 drivers from ten different teams are registered. All 25 cars have a so-called charter, which entitles them to start all races but also obliges them. Guest starters in the form of additional entries are still allowed at all races until the end of the 2026 season, from 2027 only at the Indy 500.
All rookies’ cars in the IndyCar series are marked with a yellow marking on the rear so that those behind know they are dealing with an inexperienced driver. (Overview: Mick Schumacher and his 24 opponents in detail)
#2 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#3 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#4 – Caio Collet – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet (Rookie)
#5 – Patricio “Pato” O’Ward – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#6 – Nolan Siegel – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#7 – Christian Lundgaard – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#8 – Kyffin Simpson – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#9 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#10 – Alex Palou – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#12 – David Malukas – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#14 – Santino Ferrucci – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet
#15 – Graham Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#18 – Romain Grosjean – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda
#19 – Dennis Hauger – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#20 – Alexander Rossi – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#21 – Christian Rasmussen – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#26 – Will Power – Andretti Global – Honda
#27 – Kyle Kirkwood – Andretti Global – Honda
#28 – Marcus Ericsson – Andretti Global – Honda
#45 – Louis Foster – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#47 – Mick Schumacher – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#60 – Felix Rosenqvist – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#66 – Marcus Armstrong – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#76 – Rinus “VeeKay” van Kalmthout – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
#77 – Sting Ray Robb – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
Data on the Streets of Markham
Type: temporary street circuit
Location: Markham (Ontario)
Length: 2.19 miles (3.524 kilometers)
Turns: 12
On the calendar since: 2026
Race title: Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham
Race distance: 90 laps
All IndyCar winners of the predecessor race in Toronto
2025 (IndyCar): Patricio O’Ward
2024 (IndyCar): Colton Herta
2023 (IndyCar): Christian Lundgaard
2022 (IndyCar): Scott Dixon
2021: –
2020: –
2019 (IndyCar): Simon Pagenaud
2018 (IndyCar): Scott Dixon
2017 (IndyCar): Josef Newgarden
2016 (IndyCar): Will Power
2015 (IndyCar): Josef Newgarden
2014 (IndyCar): Sebastien Bourdais / Mike Conway
2013 (IndyCar): Scott Dixon / Scott Dixon
2012 (IndyCar): Ryan Hunter-Reay
2011 (IndyCar): Dario Franchitti
2010 (IndyCar): Will Power
2009 (IndyCar): Dario Franchitti
2008: –
2007 (ChampCar): Will Power
2006 (ChampCar): A.J. Allmendinger
2005 (ChampCar): Justin Wilson
2004 (ChampCar): Sebastien Bourdais
2003 (CART): Paul Tracy
2002 (CART): Cristiano da Matta
2001 (CART): Michael Andretti
2000 (CART): Michael Andretti
1999 (CART): Dario Franchitti
1998 (CART): Alex Zanardi
1997 (CART): Mark Blundell
1996 (CART): Adrian Fernandez
1995 (CART): Michael Andretti
1994 (CART): Michael Andretti
1993 (CART): Paul Tracy
1992 (CART): Michael Andretti
1991 (CART): Michael Andretti
1990 (CART): Al Unser Jr.
1989 (CART): Michael Andretti
1988 (CART): Al Unser Jr.
1987 (CART): Emerson Fittipaldi
1986 (CART): Bobby Rahal
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