Thermal Club Exits IndyCar Schedule for 2026
The Thermal Club will officially not feature in the 2026 IndyCar Series lineup, a decision confirmed by founder Tim Rogers. This follows the venue’s inaugural professional race in March 2025, where Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou claimed victory over Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward in front of approximately 3,000 spectators.
Rogers emphasized the need for a title sponsor and improved infrastructure before committing to future events. “Not next year,” he stated in an interview with CBS affiliate KESQ. “It was great working with Indy. Our members loved it, but we need to ensure it works for all parties.”
IndyCar first tested at Thermal in 2023, then hosted a non-points exhibition race in 2024, before designating it a points race in 2025. Despite the excitement of the event, Rogers noted, “It’s been our third year of losing money.” However, he remains optimistic for a potential return in 2027, proposing a three-year term deal that would involve significant investment in facility upgrades.
The absence of Thermal leaves IndyCar with four West Coast races: Long Beach, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and the Portland Grand Prix, alongside the new Arlington Grand Prix debuting in 2026. The series is also evaluating the addition of a Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, suggesting a possible reshuffling of the schedule is imminent.
