NASCAR Brickyard 400 Weekend Guide: Full Schedule and Indianapolis Weather Forecast

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to one of the sport’s most historic venues this weekend as Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the 2026 Brickyard 400. Along with the Cup Series, fans will see the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the ARCA Menards Series, and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in action across three days of racing.

Whether you’re heading to the track or planning to watch from home, here’s everything you need to know about the weekend schedule, TV coverage, and the latest weather forecast for Indianapolis.

Friday Schedule: Practice Sessions Kick Off Race Weekend

Friday is the busiest day of the weekend, with every major NASCAR series taking to the track for practice, qualifying, or racing.

Friday, July 24

• 10:45 a.m. ET: NASCAR Press Pass
• Noon ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice (CW App)
• 1 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series practice (truTV, SiriusXM)
• 1 p.m. ET: ARCA Menards Series practice – at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
• 2 p.m. ET: ARCA Menards Series qualifying – at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
• 3 p.m. ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice (FS1)
• 4:05 p.m. ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying (FS1)
• 5:30 p.m. ET: ARCA Menards Series LiUNA! 150 presented by IDEAL Door (FS1) at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
• 8 p.m. ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200 (FS1)

Friday Weather Forecast

Friday currently looks like the most comfortable day of the weekend.

• High: 79 degrees
• Low: 63 degrees
• Conditions: Mostly cloudy
• Chance of rain: 4%
• Wind: East at around 6 mph

With mild temperatures, light winds, and only a minimal chance of rain, weather is not expected to interfere with Friday’s busy on-track schedule.

Saturday Schedule: Cup Series Qualifying Takes Center Stage

Saturday shifts the focus to qualifying before the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series headlines the afternoon.

Saturday, July 25

• Noon ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying (CW)
• 12:15 p.m. ET: NASCAR Press Pass
• 1:30 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series qualifying (truTV, SiriusXM)
• 4 p.m. ET: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change (CW)

Saturday Weather Forecast

Another favorable forecast is expected for Saturday.

• High: 82 degrees
• Low: 69 degrees
• Conditions: Partly cloudy
• Chance of rain: 7%
• Wind: Southwest at 5 to 10 mph

Temperatures will climb slightly compared to Friday, but the forecast continues to call for dry conditions with only a slight chance of a passing shower.

Sunday Schedule: Brickyard 400 Race Day

Everything builds toward Sunday’s Brickyard 400, one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events and one of the most prestigious victories in stock car racing.

Sunday, July 26

• 2 p.m. ET: NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 (TNT Sports, HBO Max, SiriusXM)

Sunday Weather Forecast

Sunday is expected to be the warmest day of the weekend.

• High: 89 degrees
• Low: 72 degrees
• Conditions: Mostly cloudy
• Chance of rain: 18%
• Wind: West at 5 to 10 mph

Although temperatures will approach 90 degrees, the latest forecast calls for only a modest chance of rain. Heat could become a bigger factor for drivers, teams, and fans than the weather itself if conditions remain unchanged heading into race day.

What to Know Before Heading to Indianapolis

As of midweek, the forecast points to an excellent weekend for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Friday and Saturday feature comfortable temperatures and very low rain chances, while Sunday’s Brickyard 400 should take place under mostly cloudy skies with warmer conditions.

Fans attending all three days should prepare for increasingly hot weather, especially on Sunday, and stay hydrated throughout the weekend. While forecasts can always change, there are currently no significant weather concerns expected for one of NASCAR’s biggest weekends of the season.