After years of anticipation, a new era of propulsion begins this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with the debut of hybrid engines in the NTT IndyCar Series.
The new hybrid engines were tested for nearly 32,000 miles as part of a unique partnership between engine suppliers Chevrolet and Honda. Both manufacturers developed separate elements of the engine in a project that began in November 2022.
“Chevrolet and Honda are great partners. Anything they do with us is great,” said IndyCar president Jay Frye. “We had these weekly meetings that were all about engine issues. So that was a very different element than what we’re currently doing or what they’re currently doing. But that was unique because they were actually working on something together.”
“When they both agreed, we were over the moon because we thought we had a really good idea with the technology, but we also knew they could help us make it race-ready. So that was a big part of the whole program.”
For the first time in IndyCar history, the engine will be partially electrified.
The hybrid engines will be used in the final nine races of the 2024 season, with regeneration and provision of stored energy among the new features. For the first time in 20 years, the cars will have more than 800 horsepower in total. Drivers will also have on-board starters designed to reduce the yellow flag time after spins.
After his victory on June 23 at Laguna Seca, Alex Palou has taken the lead in the points standings and arrives in Mid-Ohio as defending champion.
Here are the details for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid during race weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (all times are ET):
START TIMES FOR INDYCAR MID-OHIO
TV: Sunday, July 7, 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Kevin Lee is the commentator, analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe are the pit reporters. Georgia Henneberry and Charlie Kimball are the pit reporters. Peacock will also handle streaming coverage for practice and qualifying as well as the Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on signing up for Peacock.)
COMMAND TO START THE ENGINES: 13:46
GREEN FLAG: 13:53
POSTRAC SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the end of the race An exclusive post-race show will be broadcast on Peacock with driver interviews, post-race analysis and award ceremony. To watch the extended post-race show, click on the special stream on Peacock after the race ends.
INDYCAR RADIO NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy NXT races as well as all practice and qualifying rounds will be broadcast live on network partners SiriusXM 160. racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.
PRACTICE: Friday, 3:20 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday, 10:50 a.m. (Peacock); Sunday, 10:25 a.m. Warm-up (Peacock)
QUALIFICATION: Saturday, 3 p.m. (Peacock)
RACE DISTANCE: The race consists of 80 laps (180.64 miles) on a 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course in Lexington, Ohio.
TIRE ALLOCATION: Six sets of primary tyres, four sets of spare tyres for the weekend. Teams must use one set of primary tyres and a new set of spare tyres in each race, unless wet. For teams using a rookie driver, an additional set will be available in the first session of the weekend. Indy NXT: Three new sets will be used during the race weekend. Two sets, carried over from the Laguna Seca event, can be used during the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
PUSH TO PASS: 200 seconds total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. Push to Pass, which provides about 50 additional horsepower, is not available on the first start or on any restart unless it occurs in the last two laps or three minutes of a time trial. (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.)
HYBRID ENERGY USE: Unlimited activation with a maximum output of 280 kilojoules (kj) per round.
FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com80 degrees are expected, with a 0% chance of rain at the green flag.
ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 27-car field in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
INDY NXT PARTICIPANT LIST: Click here for the 19-vehicle field of participants
INDYCAR MID-OHIO WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, JULY 5
8.00-8.30 am: USF Juniors Training
8:45-9:15 a.m.: USF2000 Practice
9:30-10am: USF Pro 2000 exercise
10:30-11am: USF Juniors Qualification
11:20-11:50 am: USF2000 qualification
12:10–12:40: USF Pro 2000 Qualification
13:00–13:40: USF Juniors Race 1
14:05–14:55: Indy NXT Training
15:20–16:35: IndyCar Training (Peacock)
16:55–17:35: USF2000 Race 1
SATURDAY, JULY 6
8:25-9:15 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 1
9:40-10:25 am: Indy NXT Training
10:50-11:50 am: IndyCar Training (Peacock)
12:10–12:50: USF Juniors Race 2
13:05–13:45: USF2000 Race 2
14:05–14:35: Indy NXT Qualification
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.: IndyCar Qualifying (Peacock)
16:50–17:40: USF Pro 2000 Race 2
SUNDAY, JULY 7
9:15-9:55 am: USF2000 Race 3
10:25-10:55 am: IndyCar warm-up (Peacock)
11:25am–12:20pm: Indy NXT race (35 laps/79.03 miles or 55 minutes, Peacock)
13:53: IndyCar Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (80 laps/180.64 miles, NBC, Peacock)
SEASON REVIEW 2024
ROUND 1: Josef Newgarden dominates the season opener m Results, points
1 MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE: Alex Palou gets a big payday m Results
ROUND 2: Scott Dixon saves fuel and wins in Long Beach m Results, points
ROUND 3: Scott McLaughlin wins from pole in Barber m Results, points
ROUND 4: Alex Palou wins again on the Indy Road Course m Results, points
ROUND 5: Josef Newgarden repeats Indy 500 winner m Results, points
ROUND 6: Scott Dixon wins another wild Detroit race m Results, points
ROUND 7: Will Power ends 34-race winless streak at Road America m Results, points
ROUND 8: Alex Palou takes the championship lead with victory in Laguna Seca m Results, points
INDYCAR COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS
IndyCar enters the hybrid era in Mid-Ohio
Alexander Rossi on his departure from Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard leaves Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Arrow McLaren
Jamie Chadwick has his eye on IndyCar after his breakthrough at Indy NXT
Arrow McLaren signs multi-year contract with Nolan Siegel for the number 6
Why Will Powers’ victory at Road America was special
Nolan Siegel replaces Agustin Canapino at Road America
Indy 500 legend Parnelli Jones dies at the age of 90
Helio Castroneves replaces Tom Blomqvist for two races
Exclusive interview with Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden
The Indy 500’s $4.2 million man
Arrow McLaren and Pato O’Ward’s Indy 500: “Damn, that really hurts”
Kyle Larson on his disappointing attempt to win the double
GM Motorsports sees many crossovers in Larson’s “Double”
Would IndyCar drivers ever attempt “The Double” in reverse order?
The logistics of Kyle Larson’s “double” attempt
The Indianapolis 500 wreath girl
Simon Pagenaud returns behind the wheel of an Indy car
NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick is looking forward to his first Indy 500
Kyle Larson maintains Indy 500 traditions like milking cows
Incredible drama, enormous pressure in Indy 500 qualifying
IndyCar drivers make violent and offensive comments after Sonsio Grand Prix
An interview with Roger Penske before the 108th Indy 500
“A woman is attacking me”: IndyCar drivers react to mannequin
Michael Andretti criticizes Penske over “Push to Pass” scandal
“This is a lie”: IndyCar reacts to push to end scandal
“I am not a liar”: Emotional Josef Newgarden speaks about scandal surrounding the farewell
Despite suspensions, Will Power remains confident
Team Penske suspends four key team members for May
Myles Rowe focuses on moving up to the IndyCar racing series in 2025
Josef Newgarden disqualified from St. Pete GP; Pato O’Ward declared winner
Kyle Larson “finally ready” to tackle the Indy 500
Katherine Legge returns to the Indy 500 with Dale Coyne Racing and beauty brand sponsor
Prema Racing will enter the IndyCar series with two cars in the 2025 season
Big appearance for Josef Newgarden at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Newgarden leads Indy 500 Open Test; Kyle Larson is second fastest
Christian Lundgaard is being courted by teams, but trusts Rahal
IndyCar reacts to revelation of Pato O’Ward’s $10 million salary
Marcus Ericsson is a new face that fits perfectly into the star trio of Andretti Global
Six big problems for IndyCar at the start of the 2024 season
What’s new for IndyCar teams in 2024
Callum Ilott will replace David Malukas in St. Pete
Dale Coyne Racing announces lineup for season opener
IndyCar stars meet with Penske executives to discuss key issues ahead of 2024 season
Pato O’Ward signs contract extension with Arrow McLaren
Marcus Ericsson leads the parade of new faces at the Sebring preseason test
IndyCar announces numerous changes, including optimizations in practice and restarts, lighter parts, safety and hybrid details
Jon Bon Jovi leads the IndyCar field to the green flag at the season opener in St. Pete
Kyle Larson enjoys “old-school feeling” at IndyCar test in Phoenix
David Malukas will miss the season opener due to injury
Callum Ilott tests for Arrow McLaren instead of Malukas
IndyCar moves season finale from downtown Nashville to Superspeedway
When will IndyCar return to the streets of downtown Nashville?
Scott Dixon and Alex Palou drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans
HOW TO WATCH INDYCAR IN 2024: Full NBC Sports schedule
