Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis: when, where and how to watch
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the Brickyard 400, with Sunday’s main event scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern. The race marks one of the season’s Crown Jewel events and closes out the In-Season Challenge, bringing national racing attention back to the historic track in Speedway.
Local fans should note the broadcast and streaming plan for the weekend. The Brickyard 400 will air live on TNT, with practice and qualifying coverage on truTV. For those who prefer streaming, HBO Max will carry the entire race broadcast and offer alternate camera angles, including an alternate driver-cam.
- Practice: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (truTV, HBO Max)
- Qualifying: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET (truTV, HBO Max)
- Brickyard 400: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV, HBO Max)
What’s at stake at IMS
Beyond the traditional prestige of winning at Indianapolis, the race has significance this year in two ways. First, Denny Hamlin, who currently leads the Cup standings, would complete a rare personal milestone with a Brickyard victory: winning every Crown Jewel race in NASCAR — an accomplishment that would add the Brickyard to his previous wins at the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500.
Second, the Brickyard 400 represents the final event of the In-Season Challenge. That matchup comes down to two drivers: the No. 3 seed Ryan Blaney and the No. 25 seed Todd Gilliland. The outcome will determine the In-Season Challenge champion and any associated bonuses or points setups tied to that series of events.
How to follow the full 2026 NASCAR season from Indianapolis
Television rights for the 2026 season are divided among multiple networks and streaming platforms. Local viewers who want comprehensive access should be aware of the combinations required:
| Network/Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fox / FS1 | Many early-season races; streaming via Fox One |
| NBC / USA | Midseason broadcasts; streaming via Peacock |
| TNT / truTV | Brickyard 400 coverage this weekend; practice on truTV |
| HBO Max | Alternate driver-cams at every race and streaming for some broadcasts |
| Prime Video | Required for select standalone races (e.g., Coca-Cola 600 and others) |
Streaming bundles that include local and national sports channels — such as certain live-TV streaming packages — can provide access to Fox, FS1, NBC, USA, TNT and truTV. However, select races this season will stream exclusively on Prime Video, so that service will be necessary to catch those events.
Weekend logistics and local impact
An event of this scale brings increased traffic and demand for parking and local services around Speedway and nearby Indianapolis neighborhoods. Residents should expect heavier travel on race day and plan accordingly. For those attending, practice and qualifying on Saturday provide a chance to see the track and warm up ahead of Sunday’s main event.
“The Brickyard remains one of the marquee stops on the calendar,” said a NASCAR broadcast analyst this week, highlighting the event’s enduring appeal.
Locally, the return of the Brickyard 400 is a reminder of Indianapolis’ long association with motorsports. While the race has seen scheduling and format changes in recent years, the oval at IMS remains a point of convergence for fans from across Indiana and beyond.
For those planning to watch from home, confirm your provider’s channel lineup and any required streaming subscriptions in advance. For attendees, check parking options and Speedway advisories before heading to the track.
