A new season of virtual INDYCAR SERIES racing starts with the return of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The second edition of the top-level virtual INDYCAR competition will include 33 top-level competitors and eight venues, once again including a round to be voted on by the community. Once again, a $50,000 purse is on the table, and the champion will take home a $20,000 cash prize.

Previous series champion Diogo Pinto returns to defend his crown, sporting the No. 1 car for this season. Twenty drivers from the original season are back to face off against 13 newcomers. The series begins Thursday on the Streets of Long Beach, and all races will contest at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday nights, live on all of iRacing's social channels and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES YouTube channel and website.

Other races on the schedule will take place Jan. 15 at Portland International Raceway, Jan. 22 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Jan. 29 at Mugello (Italy), Feb. 5 at Phoenix Raceway, Feb. 12 at Nashville Superspeedway, Feb. 19 at a track voted by fans and Feb. 26 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

For more information on the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series, visit www.iracing.com/indycar-esports. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iRacing.com.

Scott Dixon Knighted by New Zealand

Scott Dixon is a six-time INDYCAR SERIES champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, but he also has another title to add: Sir.

Dixon was named a Knights Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) during the holidays, the second-highest order bestowed by New Zealand to its citizens. Established in 1996, this honor acknowledges significant contributions in civil or military life. Dixon received the honors for his “services to motorsport.”

Recipients are styled as "Sir" and receive an insignia featuring a silver breast star with a central badge and worn with a neck ribbon or shoulder bow.

"That was kind of crazy," Dixon said to The New Zealand Herald. "Totally out of the blue, I didn’t even know if the email was legit."

Dixon has 59 career victories and six series championships, second in both categories only to A.J. Foyt, who recorded 67 wins and seven season titles. Dixon will continue his pursuit of both of Foyt’s records starting at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 1.

Will Power Back on Track

Just two drivers will conduct a private tire test for Firestone on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Phoenix Raceway, but it will be an especially meaningful outing for one of the participants.

Will Power will make his unofficial Andretti Global debut Wednesday at the test after leaving Team Penske at the close of the 2025 season, ending a 16-season full-time tenure with the team. Power was under contract to Penske through the end of 2025, so this will be his first time in NTT INDYCAR SERIES machinery since the season finale Aug. 31 at Nashville Superspeedway.

What will make this test even more interesting for Power is that the other team turning laps for Firestone on Wednesday on the 1-mile desert oval is – you guessed it – Team Penske. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden will be behind the wheel for Power’s former team.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to Phoenix Raceway for the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday, March 7, as part of a doubleheader weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series.