Chip Ganassi sends a cautionary message on IndyCar’s situation as Honda's future hangs in the balance: “We have to be very careful”

The 2025 IndyCar season is underway, with the first race concluding at St. Petersburg, Florida. A wave of new questions have emerged ahead of the second race involving drivers' futures, new race venues, etc. But one important question that lingers is Honda's presence in the NTT IndyCar series post-2026. Chip Ganassi, the owner of Chip Ganassi Racing, expressed his concern over the Japanese Giants exiting the sport.

While talking to Fox Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass after the St. Petersburg race, Ganassi expressed his thoughts on IndyCar's rising costs.

"I just want to know is it a press thing, is it a speed thing, is it a safety thing, is it a cost thing, ... maybe it is a fan thing, I'm not negative on it. I'm just saying we have to be very careful as to what we're trying to accomplish here." Ganassi expressed.

Honda is the current engine supplier for five teams on the grid, which include Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Meyer Shank Racing, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Team owners like Dan Towriss of Andretti wouldn't mind shelling out more money to get the best for their car. However, owners like Chip Ganassi have raised concerns over how expensive the base cost of each entry could get.

Honda has been involved in the IndyCar series since 1994, but over the years, the cost of competing in the series has gotten quite expensive, which is the main reason behind Honda considering leaving IndyCar. Speaking to Racer.com, Chuck Schifsky, American Honda Motorsports manager, said:

“We have great concerns over the costs. If we were to choose not to renew, that would be the reason why, and it’s easy to see. We don’t have a third manufacturer, and there’s a reason for that: It has to do with the cost. If the return on investment matched up with the investment, we’d have a number of other manufacturers involved.”

As for now, IndyCar is on the hunt for a third manufacturer to help reduce the costs and potentially retain Honda.

---

Chip Ganassi Racing talks about Scott Dixon's radio issues

Scott Dixon's radio communication breaking down is probably one of the most talked about situations after the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver lost contact with the team 10 laps into the race but still managed to secure an impressive spot on the podium.

Speaking to Racer.com, Mike Hull, Chip Ganassi Racing's managing director, touched upon how the communication was not completely lost but rather, could not be deciphered well. He said:

“It was really hard to understand the words from him, and then he said on the radio, ‘I’m having a tough time hearing you, but I know you’re talking to me.’ He said, ‘I’m going to go on the fuel light.’ And we continued to talk to him, hoping that he would hear us. He came in for what was the final stop for us on the light, not on the radio message. It was after the second pit stop where it began sounding like wax paper.” Hull said.

Chip Ganassi #9 could heave a sigh of relief as the IndyCar officials decided not to take any action against the team. He would also be content with the team's dominant start to the season.