Indy’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway to host IMSA’s shorter ‘Battle on the Bricks,’ changing team operations
The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as IMSA’s first and only standard-length, 2-hour 40-minute sprint race of 2026 with a 44-car field across all four WeatherTech classes. IMSA says the shorter format raises the importance of qualifying and limits pit-stop strategy; NBC will air the race Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks as a 2-hour, 40-minute sprint featuring 44 entries and all four WeatherTech Championship classes on IMS’s 2.439-mile road course. IMSA’s preview notes the race’s reduction from the six-hour format used the prior two years makes pre-race preparation and qualifying more critical and expects two to three pit stops for many competitors.
IMSA’s pre-race notes also outline championship context — listing manufacturer point totals in GTP and GTD categories — and highlight intra-team strategy differences driven by single- versus multi-car manufacturer efforts. IMSA said NBC will carry the race live Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, with streaming on Peacock, IMSA.TV and IMSA’s YouTube channel.
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
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