Category: Sim Racing

Name, Logo, Launch Plan Unveiled for Standalone INDYCAR Video Game

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 Highly Anticipated Title Coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox, Steam in Early 2027

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 10, 2026) – iRacing and INDYCAR on July 10 announced that INDYCAR Racing The Game, the highly anticipated official standalone INDYCAR video game developed by world-renowned motorsport simulation company iRacing Studios, is set to launch in early 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles and PC via Steam.
INDYCAR Racing The Game brings the raw speed, precision and drama of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to a new generation of racing fans and gamers. Leveraging iRacing Studios’ industry-leading expertise in authentic motorsport simulation, the title promises to deliver an unmatched open-wheel racing experience – from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the sport’s most celebrated street circuits, road courses and ovals.
“INDYCAR features the most competitive and action-packed racing on the planet, challenging drivers at every turn with incredible speeds and demanding layouts,” said Alex Damron, INDYCAR chief marketing officer.
“Our new video game is going to capture the energy and drama of our sport with hyper-realism, bringing our series to a new generation of gamers. Partnering with iRacing — the gold standard in racing simulation — ensures this will be a truly special new chapter in our gaming history. We can’t wait for fans to get behind the wheel.”
This is the first INDYCAR standalone video game in more than two decades and is expected to launch in the countdown to the 2027 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.”This is a project our team has been passionate about for a long time,” said Tony Gardner, iRacing president.
“We’re bringing everything we know about authentic, immersive racing to consoles and PC, and creating an experience worthy of the INDYCAR name. 2027 can’t come soon enough.”INDYCAR Racing The Game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam. Additional game details, including features, modes, and pre-order information, will be announced in the coming months.
For more information, visit www.indycargame.com.

INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series Set To Return in January 2026

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From IndyCar:

  All-new qualifying series format to feature newly released INDY NXT Dallara IL-15

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025) – iRacing, INDYCAR and Thrustmaster are pleased to announce the return of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series for the 2025-26 season.
Once again, the world’s top virtual INDYCAR drivers will compete for a $50,000 prize pool on a mix of top INDYCAR ovals, road courses and street circuits. The return of the championship will be paired with an all-new qualifying series format that features the Dallara IL-15, used in the real-world INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s development series.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the INDYCAR iRacing Pro Series back later this year with the help of our new series partners at Thrustmaster,” said iRacing President Tony Gardner.
“This series produced some of our most exciting eSports racing last year, and it’s an important part of our ever-expanding relationship with INDYCAR. Our new Qualifying Series format, using the Dallara IL-15 from INDY NXT by Firestone, adds another level of realism to the championship as drivers walk the same path that real-world INDYCAR stars do to reach the highest level. We’re looking forward to getting the season started!”
Said Ben Hendricks, INDYCAR senior manager of sponsorship sales and strategy: “This is an engaging and fun opportunity for some of the world’s best virtual drivers to showcase their skills against the backdrop of the most competitive and dynamic racing series on the planet. It also serves to underscore the immersive and comprehensive nature of our partnership with iRacing, as we look forward to the launch of our official game in 2026.”
The return of the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series is the latest major development in the partnership between iRacing and INDYCAR. Earlier this year, the two sides confirmed that iRacing Studios will produce a dedicated INDYCAR game in 2026 on console and PC.
INDYCAR-relevant releases on iRacing this year have included Portland International Raceway in March and the Dallara IL-15 in September, and more content will be produced in time for next year’s INDYCAR title.
The inaugural INDYCAR iRacing Pro Series ran in the fall of 2024, with many of the top tracks in the real-world NTT INDYCAR SERIES represented. Diogo Pinto claimed the championship after a consistent season that included a win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
The INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Qualifying Series will kick off later this October, while the INDYCAR Thrustmaster iRacing Pro Series will begin in January 2026. Pro Series races will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET Thursdays via iRacing social channels and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES YouTube channel and website.
More information on both series schedules will be released in the coming weeks.For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iRacing.com. 
 
 

iRacing: Constantini Wins Open-Wheels .com 500

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Michele Constantini saved enough fuel on Sunday to win the inaugural open-Wheels.com 500 Presented by Mitchell transmissions. In contrast to Saturday’s Pit Stop Competition presented by The Pit Window, when he ran out of fuel on the last lap, Constantini began saving fuel after the first caution at the midway point of the race. The final caution with four laps to go erased any doubt that he had enough to complete the distance.

Constantini led a race high 63 laps, first taking the lead on lap 29 and assuming the point for the last time on lap 190. “I was good to go even without the caution,” he said after the race.

“I began saving fuel after the first caution. Yesterday really helped me.”

The win was Constantini’s first in a major event. “The car was amazing,” he said.

Runner-up Liam Quinn admitted he could’nt have caught the winner. Third place Henry Bennett lurked in second place while trying to save fuel and hoping Constantini would need to get a splash of fuel at the end. Quinn passed him as he was going slow. bennett admitted afterwards that the race ending caution saved his third place.

Pole sitter Yang Ou had issues from the start and was never a factor in the race. He finished 24th, three laps down.

The top five:

Michele Constantin

Liam Quinn

Henry Bennett

Simon Briant

Adam Blocker

Notes

The race was extremely clean with just two cautions for seven laps. The first yellow came on lap 98 and the second one on lap 196 efffctively ended the race.

There were 52 lead changes among 12 drivers.

24 cars were running at the finish. Dylan Freckelton did not start and was awarded 33rd place.

despitre his lap 196 incident, Jeff Drake still came home in 10th on the lead lap.

17 cars finished on the lead lap.

 

iRacing: It’s Open-Wheels 500 Race Day

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Race day has arrived for the inaugural   Open-Wheels 500 presented by Mitchell Transmissions. Yang Ou, who came out of retirement for this race will lead the field to the green flag at 11:45EST this morning. Anyone in the first three rows could win the race, which features seven former winners of past iterations of this event.

Pre race activities begin soon. Race  Director Tanner J. Watkins shares today’s viewing opportunities:

Pre-race airing of Today at the 500 presented by Thru Kaiser’s Visor begins at 9:00 AM ET, and we think you will enjoy not only the into theme, but the rest of the pre-race ceremonies. You can listen along by going to http://open-wheels.com/Today500 Then at 11:15 AM ET, hop on over to https://iracing.com/Live for the worldwide broadcast of the race via RaceSpot TV. Finally, live timing and scoring (provided by JRT) can be found at http://open-wheels.com/timing. See you all soon!

Wild Action on the Day Before the 500

yesterday’s two events provided some wild on track action.  In the Veterans 100, Lluc Ibanez won after 40 laps of lead swapping with several other drivers. cars were thre and four wide at the stripe for much of the race.  Jeff Drake led much of the race from the pole, but faded toward the end.

In the Pit Stop Competition presented by The Pit Window, Michele Constantini gambled pitting a lap earlier than the rest of the field. It cost him at the end as he ran out of fuel on the last lap. Brad Lichtenberg went on to take the victory.  Constantini had built a 2.8 second lead following his final stop, but the margin was quickly erased as he tried to save fuel to get to the finish.

Congratulations to Tanner Watkins

Tanner John Watkins has worked tirelessly to put this event together from organizing, finding sponsors, creating peripheral items, and running the races and qualifying. He has got to be one tired guy today.

I want to thank him for all his hard work. it has been fun following along this month, in spite of that small distraction on November 4.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the race program, go to

Click to access 2019-Open-Wheels-500-Digital-Program-compressed.pdf

This program is extremely well done.  back with a race recap this evening.

iRacing Update: Open Wheels 500 Weekend Veterans 100, Pit Stop Competition on Tap Today

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Today’s schedule:

“Day Before the 500”

9:00 to 10:00 AM | Today at the 500 streaming show airing
11:00 AM | Optional Drivers Meeting
12:30 to 1:30 PM | Final 500 Mile Race Practice Session (1 hour)
2:00 PM | Veterans 100 Race presented by Goke (40 Laps, 100 Miles)
3:30 PM | Pit Stop Competition presented by The Pit Window (30 Laps, 75 Miles)

Qualifying results for the Veterans 100:

Click to access 2019-Veterans-100-Qualifications-Results.pdf

The Pit Stop Competition is different from the one at the Indianapolis 500.  I actually like this idea better.

Round One- Four heats of 12 laps with the top four in each heat advancing to the final round.

Round Two- The top 16 drivers participate in a 20 lap race.

In each heat and the final, cars have only 17% of full fuel load, necessitating pit stops. When they pit, the car can only be filled to the 17% level, just a bit more than three gallons. According to Race Director Tanner John Watkins, drivers will need to pit every three  or four laps. Stops will be crucial to winning the race.

Action can be viewed on twitchtv. https//twitch.tv/openwheels

Tomorrow the Open-Wheels 500 presented by Mitchell Transmissions begins at 11:45 am EST. The race can be seen on RaceSpot TV. Go to

https.//iRacing.com/live

 

iRacing: Starting Lineup Set for Open-Wheels 500

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After a hectic weekend the starting lineup for Sunday’s  Open-Wheels 500 Presented by Mitchell Transmissions is set.

Screenshot_20191111-120759

Three rookies and seven former winners of the past iteration of the the event made the field. Three time winner Yang Ou is on the pole. Yang Ou returns to iracing after sitting out for a few years. All cars are the Dallara IR-18 chassis. the chassis was definitely the fastest during practice as well.

Logan Simmons, starting 10th, is the fastest rookie.

On Saturday race weekend festivities begin with the Veterans 100 followed by the Pit Stop Competition Presented by The Pit Window.

Saturday’s schedule:

Saturday, November 16
“Day Before the 500”

9:00 to 10:00 AM | Today at the 500 streaming show airing
11:00 AM | Optional Drivers Meeting
12:30 to 1:30 PM | Final 500 Mile Race Practice Session (1 hour)
2:00 PM | Veterans 100 Race (40 Laps, 100 Miles)
3:30 PM | Pit Stop Competition (30 Laps, 75 Miles)

Later in the week I’ll provide viewing opportunities and times.

iRacing: Yang Ou Wins Pole for Open-Wheels 500

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Yang Ou returned to iracing and picked up right where he left off. Yang won the pole Saturday for the inaugural Open-Wheels 500 Presented by Mitchell Transmissions.  he edged Wilson Neto by 0.009 seconds. Neto had the fastest lap, 39.101 seconds, and both drivers had two laps over 230 mph. Yang’s other two laps were higher in the 229 range than Neto’s 229 mph laps. Both drivers earned their spots on second qualifying attempts.

After receiving the Pit Lane Parley Pole Award, Yang said, It was “a no-brainer to go out again. I was little conservative on my second run, but just enough.” For next Sunday’s race day, he is looking for “a little more speed” and to “learn to drive in traffic.”

Sunday’s race will e his first race in the IR-18. Yang previously drove the DW 12.

Neto had the fastest lap of the day at 230.173 mph. “I knew I had car to be in the top 5,” Neto said. To prepare for the race, he will run a couple of races during the week.

65 cars completed qualifying attempts yesterday. On the bubble in 33rd position is Niall McBride with an average  time of 39.292.

Bump Day is currently ongoing and ends at 5:50 pm, when the field of 33 will be set for the race.

iRacing: Qualifications Underway for Open-Wheels 500

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The first day of qualifying for the Open Wheels 500, an iracing event, beagn at 6 am Saturday morning and continues until 5:50 pm.

Race Director Tanner John Watkins said,

“You can watch 6 am to 5 pm at Twitch.tv/OpenWheels and then from 5 to 5:50 PM on RaceSpot TV (search RaceSpot TV on YouTube)”
I watched a bit of practice yesterday. The realism is amazing. I recommend watching.
 Today the pole is up for grabs as drivers take single runs in two groups. Tomorrow is Bump Day. Drivers will have a chance to re-qualify Sunday.
As of the time I’m writing, 11 cars have qualified. Marco Aurelio Brasil recorded the fastest time with a four lap average of 229.611.

 

Practice Opens for Open Wheels 500

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On Monday, November 3, practice began for the November 17 Open-Wheels 500 Presented by Mitchell Tracking. The race and all related events are at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Pit Window will provide coverage of the event and is proudly sponsoring the Pit Stop Competition on November 16.

The Schedule:

Nov. 7: Day Three Practice

Nov. 8: Day Four “Fast Friday” Practice

Nov. 9: Qualifications Day One

Nov. 10: Qualifications Day Two

Nov. 12: Day Five Practice

Nov. 14: Day Six Practice Results

Nov. 16: Final Practice;  Veterans 100

Pit Stop Competition

Nov. 17: Open-Wheels.com 500 Mile Race

Silvio Roberto Sanchez in a Dallara IR18 led yesterday’s session with a best lap of 232.360. The IR18 seems to be the fastest  chassis so far.

Results of yesterday’s practice can be found at this link

OW-500-Practice-Results-11-05-19