What makes IndyCar unique in the world of Motorsport?

IndyCar is the highest class of American open-wheel racing series and is over a century old. It all started when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was opened in the year 1909, the holy ground of Motor Racing in America. The racing fever spread from the IMS to across the US over the next four decades with the American Automobile Association (AAA) at the helm.

Despite the expansion, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway remained at the core of the IndyCar series and hosted the iconic Indy 500, the marquee event of the IndyCar calendar. It was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500, and the name Indy which led to the split of the series, the legal battles, and eventually the merger.

AUTO: AUG 17 NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 - Source: Getty

IndyCar was established long before Formula 1 was inaugurated in 1950, yet it is F1 that is the pinnacle of Motorsports and the most watched Motorsport across the planet. The cutting-edge technology and the race calendar spread across the globe attract a larger audience. So, what makes IndyCar unique in the world of motorsports? Let's have a look.

The cost-effective open-wheel racing series

Unlike F1, where a team spends hundreds of millions of dollars in a single season, a single IndyCar entry costs about $10 million to run for a whole season. This is all down to the way how the series operates where the cost-effective measures go hand in hand with cutting-edge technology.

InduCar is a spec series where the chassis and the aerodynamic packages are built by Dallara, and bought by the participating teams. Dallara is an Italian company specializing in chassis and aerodynamics parts. As a result, the teams don't have to spend individually on R&D.

The same goes for engines, as an IndyCar engine i.e. 2.2L Twin Turbo V6 costs just 1% of what an F1 power unit costs at $11 Million, yet produces 75% horsepower of what an F1 engine produces in the highest boost mode.

To further reduce the costs, Indycar is currently evaluating the option to move away from magnesium wheels and opt for Aluminium ones for the 2026 or 2027 season.

Competitive and closer racing field

As IndyCar is a spec series with all the teams using the same chassis and aerodynamics, the performance difference between teams is minimal. This makes the grid closer and the racing competitive with the driver and strategies making the biggest differences and not the car.

7 different drivers won two or more races during the 2024 IndyCar season in a 17-race calendar. The podium finishers usually finish just a second or two away from the race winner as the race winner cannot be decided until the chequered flag is crossed.

History and tradition of IndyCar

The American open-wheel racing scene flourished around Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The IMS was the first brick-laden track built in the 1900s as all the other tracks of the era were dirt tracks. The IMS is hence nicknamed the Brickyard, and over time multiple traditions became home to the Indy 500 race.

AUTO: MAY 26 NTT IndyCar Series 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 - Source: Getty

The traditions include the winners of the race drinking a bottle of milk on the podium, being awarded the Borg-Warner Trophy, kissing the bricks at the IMS, and the race being held on Memorial Day weekend. Although these traditions do not carry forward to the other IndyCar races, the Indy 500 in itself being a part of the IndyCar calendar deserved a mention.

Drivers from different series across the globe

Unlike F1, which requires the drivers to attain a super license before participating, IndyCar requires the drivers to pass a minimum lap count and speed test to be fit for racing. As a result, drivers from all across the globe from various racing series and format races in the IndyCar.

Many former F1 and F2 drivers like Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, and Marcus Ericsson race in the IndyCar. Drivers from the Supercars championship like Scott McLaughlin, IMSA & American Le Mans like Ryan Hunter-Reay, and even some NASCAR drivers like Kyle Larson participate in the IndyCar races.