For the remainder of the 2026 season, IndyCar will reduce the hybrid power available to each team.
Hybrid power was introduced to IndyCar nearly two years ago, and has been controlled through a usage limit per lap of competition.
Those limits have varied at each track, and have slowly crept higher as more confidence was gained around the reliability of the system.
Multiple failures this season have prompted more public complaints from drivers, however, and have led to a low number of spare units across the paddock.
For this weekend’s race at Road America, IndyCar has set the usage limit at 600 kj / lap, a 16% reduction from last year’s 715 kj / lap limit.
In a statement to IndyStar, IndyCar confirmed the change comes in order to help prevent further failures and ensure there are adequate supplies for all teams.
“As part of IndyCar’s evaluation of hybrid power unit supply, a recommendation was made by the Energy Storage System (ESS) manufacturer, to reduce the lap energy limit,” said IndyCar’s statement to IndyStar.
“After review, IndyCar is reverting to the validated electricity flow average as introduced in 2024 and for the start of the 2025 season for this weekend’s event at Road America.
“The move is aimed to help reduce thermal load and aging of the ESS cells, which will help with robustness of the hybrid power unit, stabilize system fallout and assist with unit supply.
“Following this weekend’s event, IndyCar will re-evaluate the update to determine additional implementation this season.”
The reduced hybrid power availability is not expected to have a large impact on lap times, and should be less impactful than typical tire compound and track temperature variations.
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