The Freedom 250 had a lot of hype leading up to it, and a lot of patriotism and pomp on full display. Surely the race couldn’t match the build-up could it? In my opinion – it actually did. Before everyone jumps on me for being an IndyCar cheerleader, keep in mind that I usually have relatively low expectations going into a temporary street race weekend. American Kyle Kirkwood put the cherry on top by dominating and winning, leading 128 of the 147 laps.
Random Thoughts on the Freedom 250
Posted in IndyCar on August 24, 2026 by OilpressureFreedom 250 Preview
Posted in IndyCar on August 21, 2026 by Oilpressure
After about seven months of buildup, the Freedom 250 weekend is upon us. For those that have been living under a rock, this event was designed to be a one-time event to be run as part of America 250 – the year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, long recognized as the birthday of the US.
Random Thoughts on Markham
Posted in IndyCar on August 17, 2026 by Oilpressure
Well, that was fun! Sometimes the NTT IndyCar Series can stage a street race that you almost feel obligated to watch, but you fear that it may be sleep inducing. Then out of the blue comes a track like Markham. It sounds like a cliché, but yesterday’s Ontario Honda Dealer’s Indy at Markham had it all. I wouldn’t want the type of randomness we saw Sunday for every race, but a little chaos is good once or twice a year.
Markham Preview
Posted in IndyCar on August 14, 2026 by Oilpressure
One unique item of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series schedule is the fact that out of the eighteen races on the schedule, three of them will take place at brand new venues. We’ve already seen one – the outstanding facility for the Grand Prix of Arlington. This coming weekend will see the new venue at Markham, Ontario; which is essentially a suburb, about thirty minutes to the north of downtown Toronto. Then of course, next week the series goes to our nation’s capital for the Freedom 250.
Random Thoughts on Portland
Posted in IndyCar on August 10, 2026 by Oilpressure
What do you get when you combine a track with a history of one good race per decade, and a driver with talent we haven’t seen in more than a decade? A sleep-inducing race, that’s what. Despite what I wrote Friday, I had great hopes for what we might see in Sunday’s OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland.
Portland Preview
Posted in IndyCar on August 7, 2026 by Oilpressure
If you are one that has been clamoring for IndyCar races every weekend, then this is your time. Beginning with this weekend, The NTT IndyCar Series will have six races over the next five weekends. Exactly one-third of the IndyCar season will take place in less than a month, concluding with the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sep 6.
Meet the Newest Member of the Family
Posted in IndyCar on August 6, 2026 by Oilpressure
I never mentioned it here, but we had a death in the family about a month ago. Most of you know that we have two dogs in our family, but each dog had only one master that they answered to. I have a yellow lab named Maley, who just turned eleven in June. Her name was derived from the somewhat famous Jones & Maley Special that raced in the Indianapolis 500 in the 1950s, then somehow ended up on display on top of the Safe-T Autoglass Building on the east side of Indianapolis where it was left to decay for six decades. If you want to read more about how Maley got here name and the day she came home, click here.
