IndyCar has responded to the controversy sparked by Formula 1’s announcement of its 2026 calendar, which revealed a direct clash between the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 and the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix on May 24. Historically, the Indy 500 has coincided with F1’s Monaco GP, but as part of F1’s sustainability efforts, the Canadian GP and Monaco GP have swapped places starting in 2026. This change means the Montreal race will take place after the Miami GP, allowing F1 to hold two consecutive races on the same continent, reducing travel between North America and Europe.

However, the 2026 Canadian GP is scheduled to start at 2 pm ET, overlapping with the second half of the 200-lap Indy 500, which begins at 12:45 pm ET. This scheduling decision by the FIA-governed F1 series has received significant backlash from fans on social media.

Jeff Gluck, a reporter for The Athletic, contacted IndyCar for a comment on the clash. IndyCar expressed no concern about the overlap and is actually expecting an even bigger turnout for the 2026 Indy 500. The series looks forward to what it anticipates will be an “epic” 110th running of the event, following a highly successful and historic 2025 race.

The 2025 Indy 500, held on May 25, sold out for the first time since the 100th running in 2016, with over 350,000 spectators attending at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou won that race, continuing his dominant season.

IndyCar also highlighted its new exclusive broadcasting partnership with FOX starting in 2025, replacing NBC after nearly two decades, and ABC before that. FOX’s marketing strategies, including cross-promotion with the NFL, have helped increase the race’s viewership. The 109th Indy 500 averaged 7.05 million viewers, peaking at 8.4 million. IndyCar president Doug Boles praised FOX’s commitment beyond just broadcasting, emphasizing their passion for growing the series and enhancing the fan experience. He described this as the “secret sauce” that has helped FOX outperform previous broadcasters.

Following the F1 calendar announcement, Will Buxton, a well-known motorsport commentator now working with FOX on IndyCar coverage, expressed regret over the Canadian GP clashing with the Indy 500, calling it a “shame.”

It remains uncertain whether F1 will continue to hold the Canadian GP at the same time each year, potentially maintaining this conflict with IndyCar’s marquee event.