NBA Star Brings Big Energy to INDYCAR’s Sonsio Grand Prix

The Month of May Officially Starts Now!

As the Month of May officially comes alive at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the crossover between basketball and motorsport is arriving at full speed.

This weekend, Andrew Nembhard will strap into INDYCAR’s famous Fastest Seat in Sports during the Sonsio Grand Prix, and honestly, it feels like the perfect fit for Indianapolis right now.

The city is buzzing with playoff basketball energy thanks to the Indiana Pacers, while the roar of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. There’s something uniquely authentic about this pairing. Nembhard represents the grit and toughness of Indiana basketball, while INDYCAR continues to showcase the speed, precision, and courage that define elite motorsport.

For fans attending the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 9, the moment Nembhard climbs into the custom two-seat INDYCAR machine will instantly become one of the weekend’s biggest highlights.

Indy Road Course Preview

The Sonsio Grand Prix itself arrives with massive storylines heading into race weekend.

Defending series champion Alex Palou is chasing history at IMS. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has already won three consecutive Sonsio Grand Prix races and now has an opportunity to become only the fifth driver since 1946 to win four straight INDYCAR races at the same venue.

That statistic alone tells you how difficult winning consistently in INDYCAR truly is.

Palou has already captured three victories through the opening five races of the 2026 season and enters Indianapolis with a 17-point championship lead. His precision on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course has become nearly unmatched. Watching him attack qualifying laps around IMS feels clinical, especially with the current hybrid INDYCAR package delivering up to 425 kilojoules of energy deployment per lap.

Still, if there’s one organization capable of disrupting Palou’s momentum at Indianapolis, it’s Team Penske.

Roger Penske’s operation has historically dominated the IMS road course with eight victories, including five from Will Power alone. Add in previous wins from Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden, and the road course quickly starts looking like Penske territory.

Power’s qualifying record from 2017 still stands at an astonishing 1:07.7044 lap, averaging 129.687 mph around the circuit. Every year I watch INDYCAR return to the IMS road course, I’m reminded just how physically violent and technically demanding these cars really are. The elevation changes, aggressive curbing, and heavy braking zones force drivers into a constant balancing act between tire management and outright pace.

How to Watch and When to Tune In

This year’s race distance stretches across 85 laps and 207.3 miles, creating a strategic battle where Firestone’s primary and alternate tire compounds could ultimately decide the outcome.

The timing of this race also matters.

The Sonsio Grand Prix serves as the official launch point for the Month of May, the most important stretch on the North American motorsport calendar. Once the checkered flag falls Saturday evening, the entire focus of the racing world immediately shifts toward preparations for the Indianapolis 500.

That atmosphere changes everything at IMS.

You can feel the intensity building throughout the paddock, even during practice sessions. Drivers understand that momentum in the Sonsio Grand Prix often carries directly into Indy 500 preparation. Teams arrive sharper, more aggressive, and far less willing to make mistakes.

Coverage of the Sonsio Grand Prix begins Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with full weekend coverage airing across FOX, FS1, FS2 and the FOX One app. Click HERE for full weekend schedule

For Indianapolis sports fans, this weekend perfectly captures what makes the city special. NBA playoff basketball, world-class open-wheel racing, and one of the most iconic venues in motorsport all collide in the same week.