The month of May has arrived, and Episode 165 of Tackling the Chicane has about as much ground to cover as any episode this season. The guys open with IndyCar's build toward their first-ever Indy 500/Detroit Grand Prix double, pivot into a full 2026 Miami Grand Prix preview as F1 finally snaps out of its spring layoff, then dive headfirst into a chaotic Scottish Premiership weekend capped by a wild Hearts vs Hibs Edinburgh Derby that saw Hibernian reduced to nine men. They close out across the pond with Arsenal reclaiming top spot in the Premier League and a Tottenham Hotspur relegation scare that genuinely sounds historic.

If you're catching up after missing the live show, this recap hits every major storyline: the IndyCar standings heading into the IMS road course, what to expect from Mercedes at Miami, how Hearts survived a nervy finish against nine-man Hibs, and why Spurs fans should be legitimately terrified heading into the run-in. There's also a quick look ahead to the World Cup, because yes, it's that time of year where the calendar just doesn't stop.

IndyCar's Month of May and the Road to the Indy 500 Double

The crew is doing something new this year — the full double, Indy 500 on Memorial Day weekend followed by four days of work and a dash back for the inaugural-for-them Detroit Grand Prix. It's their first street race as a podcast duo (Mid-Ohio doesn't count), and there's genuine excitement about experiencing Detroit's downtown renaissance up close, GM building and all, while IMSA runs support races the same weekend.

On-track, IndyCar is firmly camped at the Speedway now, with 33 cars confirmed for the 500 and — disappointingly, per the hosts — no realistic bumping scenario this year, partly because F2's first-ever North American weekend in Montreal conflicts with Indy qualifying and takes Colton Herta out of the 500 conversation entirely.

Standings-wise, Alex Palou leads Kirkwood 205-188, with Malukas hanging tough in third at 142. The hosts expect Palou to be heavily favored for the IMS road course race on May 9th — just eight days out and, notably, two full weeks before the 500 itself — but both agree the 500 is a different animal entirely, pointing to Newgarden's back-to-back wins in '23 and '24 as proof that recent form doesn't guarantee Indy 500 success. There's also a fun tangent about Meyer Shank Racing's nearby shop (Rosenqvist 9th, Rahal 10th, Armstrong 13th) and whether an open-shop visit is in the cards, Chip Foose style.

2026 Miami Grand Prix Preview: F1 Finally Returns

After a long, racing-less April, F1 is back, and the hosts' Miami Grand Prix preview doesn't pull punches on the event's aesthetic choices — the fake marina built around a literal parking lot, the Haas merch rollout leaning hard into palm trees and pink flamingos, the whole "America as punching bag" vibe that Miami and Vegas seem to invite more than any other round. Their verdict: the presentation is cringe, but the racing at Miami has genuinely delivered in past years, with street-circuit chaos usually producing more incident and overtaking than the spectacle suggests it should.

On pace, neither host expects a major competitive shift after the layoff. Mercedes carries its dominant form into Miami, with Ferrari the clear "best of the rest" and McLaren next in line. Aston Martin is expected to remain toward the back, Cadillac continues its rookie-team grind (with credit given for simply making the grid), and Haas — now in its 11th season — gets praised for quietly building a competitive package around Ocon. The hosts flatly predict a Mercedes winner, though they're split on whether the Silver Arrows lock out the podium.

Session times for the sprint weekend: Saturday sprint qualifying and sprint race on May 2nd, with Sunday's grand prix qualifying and race both run at 4:00 PM / 1600 local.

Celtic Cruise Past Falkirk as the Scottish Title Race Tightens

Before the derby, Celtic put together what the hosts call their most comfortable league win in weeks, beating Falkirk 3-1 at Celtic Park. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 30th minute — continuing his recent run of pressing-forced goals — before Kieran Tierney doubled the lead four minutes before halftime with a crossbar-and-in finish from inside the box. Falkirk pulled one back through Kyrell Wilson in the 70th minute, briefly rattling nerves after last week's late St. Mirren collapse, but Maeda sealed it in the 83rd minute for a 3-1 final.

The bigger shock came from Ibrox, where Rangers lost 3-2 to Motherwell despite leading, er, trailing 2-0 early and clawing level by the 70th minute — only for Emmanuel Longelo to nick a stoppage-time winner for Motherwell in the 90th. That result leapfrogs Celtic into second place: Hearts sit top on 73, Celtic second on 70, Rangers third on 69, with just four matches left and Celtic still to face both title rivals.

Hearts vs Hibs: 9-Men Hibernian Can't Stop the Edinburgh Derby Comeback

The headline fixture of the weekend was the Hearts vs Hibs Edinburgh Derby, and it delivered plenty of drama even if the scoreline needed 90-plus minutes to arrive. Hibernian — already playing for pride after their fate was effectively sealed at 5th place — stunned Hearts early when Martin Boyle was left unmarked from a corner to make it 1-0 in the 7th minute.

Seven minutes later, the match flipped entirely: Hibs keeper Raphael Solinger handled the ball outside his box, was sent off after a lengthy VAR check for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, and Hibernian dropped to 10 men. Then in the 48th minute, Josh Paslak picked up a second yellow card, reducing Hibernian to nine men for the rest of the match.

Even with a two-man advantage, Hearts labored. They racked up 23 shots but only 6 on target, and didn't equalize until the 65th minute — fittingly, via a Warren O'Hara own goal. It took until the 84th minute for Blair Spittle to find the winner, deflected in off a Hibernian defender, sealing a 2-1 win that the hosts admit should have been far more comfortable given the numbers advantage. It's a result that keeps Hearts top of the table but raises real questions about their finishing heading into the business end of the season.

Premier League Title Race and Tottenham's Relegation Nightmare

Across the border, Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle, putting them on 73 points — three clear of Manchester City's 70, though City have a game in hand after their FA Cup final run past Southampton. The real story, though, is at the bottom of the table. Wolves and Burnley are both confirmed relegated, and it's now a two-horse fight between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United for the final survival spot.

Spurs picked up their first win of 2026 — a 1-0 scrape past already-down Wolves — but it wasn't enough to climb out of the relegation zone because West Ham beat Everton 2-1 the same weekend. With four matches remaining, the hosts don't like Tottenham's odds at all, calling a potential Spurs relegation the most embarrassing drop in Premier League history given their recent Europa League title, a 2019 Champions League final appearance, and a title challenge as recently as the Leicester season. Spurs face Aston Villa (5th place) next, while West Ham get a more navigable trip to Brentford.

Key Takeaways

Want the full blow-by-blow, including the Haas merch complaints and the Chip Foose shop story? Listen to the complete Episode 165 breakdown and subscribe to Tackling the Chicane so you don't miss the Miami Grand Prix race recap or the next chapter of the Scottish title race.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Hearts vs Hibs in the Edinburgh Derby?

Hearts won 2-1 despite Hibernian playing with nine men for most of the second half. Martin Boyle put Hibs ahead early, but goalkeeper Raphael Solinger was sent off for a handball outside the box, and Josh Paslak picked up a second yellow in the 48th minute. Hearts equalized via a Warren O'Hara own goal in the 65th minute before Blair Spittle scored the winner in the 84th.

Why did Hibernian go down to nine men against Hearts?

Hibernian's goalkeeper, Raphael Solinger, was sent off in the 14th minute after a VAR check confirmed he had handled the ball outside his penalty area, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Hibs then lost a second man, Josh Paslak, to a second yellow card in the 48th minute, leaving them with nine players for the remainder of the match.

Who is leading the Scottish Premiership title race in 2026?

Hearts sit top with 73 points, with Celtic second on 70 after their win over Falkirk and Rangers third on 69 following a shock 3-2 home loss to Motherwell. With four matches left, including Hearts vs Rangers on May 4th and Celtic still to face both rivals, the title race remains genuinely unresolved.

Who is expected to win the 2026 Miami Grand Prix?

Based on current form, the hosts expect Mercedes to continue its dominant run and favor a Mercedes driver to win in Miami, with Ferrari the closest challenger and McLaren next. They don't anticipate a major competitive shift from any team after F1's spring break, though they expect summer development to shake up the order more significantly.

Could Tottenham Hotspur really get relegated from the Premier League?

It's a real possibility. Despite a 1-0 win over already-relegated Wolves, Tottenham remain in the relegation zone because West Ham United beat Everton 2-1 the same weekend. With four matches left and a tough trip to fifth-place Aston Villa next, the hosts believe Tottenham are in genuine danger of what would be one of the most shocking relegations in Premier League history.

When does the 2026 World Cup start and who is in the opening match?

The 2026 World Cup kicks off Thursday, June 11th, with host nation Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 3 PM Eastern — a deliberate flip of the opening match from the 2010 tournament. The USMNT begins their campaign the following night, Friday, June 12th, at 9 PM Eastern against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

Episode 165 is a reminder of just how much is in motion right now across motorsport and soccer: IndyCar gearing up for its biggest month, F1 finally shaking off a quiet April with a Miami Grand Prix preview full of opinions on everything from Mercedes' dominance to the fake marina, and a Scottish Premiership title race that genuinely has no clear favorite with four matches to go. Add in a Tottenham relegation battle that could rewrite Premier League history, and there's no shortage of drama to track heading into the summer.

Catch the full conversation — derby breakdown, Miami predictions, and all — by listening to the complete episode below.

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Hear the full breakdown of the Hearts vs Hibs Edinburgh Derby, the 2026 Miami Grand Prix preview, and all the IndyCar and Premier League talk on Episode 165 of Tackling the Chicane.

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