The newly launched IndyCar charter system looks to be a assortment of pros and cons. It is a better deal for the owners, but what’s in it for the fans? Idon’t see a lot, and that is my concern about it.

The team owners have a potential to gain value and sponsors while they own a team and when they sell it. I wasn’t sure how the business side will work, but I read an excellent article about the money aspect last night by Elizabeth Blackstock on Planet F1. She explains in depth how the charter works for the team owners and the potential for a team’s growth.

I get that part, and I am glad that teams which have annually struggled for cash have a new potential revenue source.

My concern is what the fans will see. No team may have more than three charters. The 25 chartered teams are each guaranteed a spot in every race except the Indianapolis 500. Races other than the 500 have a cap of 27 starters. The Leaders’ Circle money will still be awarded to the top 22 entries. Only chartered teams are eligible for the Leaders’ Circle. No entry may use more than three drivers in a season. Let’s see what that means

Only two non-charter teams will be able to start each race other than the 500. PREMA joins the series in 2025. They do not have a charter, as that privilege went to teams that participated in 2023. PREMA will be able to start each race since there will be only 27 total entries, but why would another team want to join under these rules? Why would a third OEM come into IndyCar when they would have a limited number of teams to choose from? The charter could stifle the series’ growth. I’m concerned that IndyCar may eventually become a member nly series, where you need a charter to compete.

Is the three drivers per season limit realistic? Dale Coyne used numerous drivers in 2024 for monetary reasons. What if the original driver is injured, the second driver runs out of money, and the third driver can’t run because of a previous commitment? Does that car withdraw from the next event? Maybe owning a charter will bring in enough cash to avoid the money issue.

There are many questions to be sorted out, and we won’t really know how it will work until we see it in action. Iam happy for the owners of the lower funded teams, but as a fan, I’m not sure how it benefits m enjoyment of the sport. We shall see in 2025.