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IndyCar Content Days- The New Season Sprouts

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Photo: Alex Palou will be going for one of two possible three-peats in 2025

IndyCar Content Days give fans and the media a glimpse of what to expect during the new season. The two days are jam packed for the drivers, with physicals, interviews, and photo shoots.

The media will get its first chance to talk to rookies Robert Shwartzman, rookie driver for PREMA, and Jacob Abel, announced today in one the Dale Coyne seats. The Israeli born Shwartzman is scheduled to be the penultimate interview on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2 pm Eastern time. Abel meets the media Tuesday at 2:40 pm.

Pato O’Ward leads off today’s interviews at 8 am.

Monday’s News

Besides the Dale Coyne announcement, a car number was designated, and a team presented a new logo.

David Malukas will drive car 4 for A. J. Foyt Racing. The second car had been number 41` the last few seasons.

Ed Carpenter racing presented a name change to ecr, and shows a new logo on their still under construction website.

I like the outline of IM S as the border, the lettering I find bland. The logo does nothing to say this is a racing team. I understand the liveries of Alexander Rossi’s car 20 and Christian Rasmussen’s 21 will reflect the gold and black colors.

Dale Coyne mentioned in the3 Abel news rele3ase that the team’s second driver will be named within three weeks. That news seems to make it doubtful that Rinus VeeKay will be in the series full time this season.

The Broadcast Booth

The FOX broadcast team is close to being set, according to some sources I spoke with yesterday. James Hinchcliffe was confirmed Monday to remain in the booth.

I cannot mention the other names I heard. and will not until they are official, but some changes are on the way.

An announcement could come sometime in the next two days.

FOX Sports and INDYCAR Announce INDY NXT by Firestone Schedule on FS1, FS2 

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have revealed the television schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season. As part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR announced in June, the entire INDY NXT season will be available live on television for the first time. Twelve INDY NXT races will appear live on FOX Sports’ FS1 with two airing on FS2.
Additionally, all practice and qualifying sessions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ developmental series will air on a combination of FS1 and FS2. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on the FOX Sports app.
“As part of INDYCAR’s exceptional partnership with FOX Sports, INDY NXT by Firestone will receive unprecedented exposure,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “As we have seen, the competition in INDYCAR’s developmental series is fierce and intense. A full season of live races on network television via FS1 and FS2 will prove to be a significant showcase for INDY NXT and the drivers vying to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”
In 2024, INDY NXT averaged the most starters (19.5) since 2009 and is on pace to see a record 24 full-time starters in 2025.The battle for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship begins on the palm tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, March 2 at 10 a.m. (All times Eastern).
The 2025 champion will once again be crowned at the season finale at the thrilling Nashville Superspeedway Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m.
The schedule also includes a return to several venues where on-track passing records were broken in 2024:
Barber Motorsports Park
Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
World Wide Technology Raceway
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
INDY NXT drivers and teams also look to extend 2024 qualifying records at:
Streets of St. Petersburg
Streets of Detroit
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Iowa Speedway
World Wide Technology Raceway
Portland International Raceway
Milwaukee MileE
xcept for the United States, the INDYCAR LIVE streaming service will continue to provide live coverage of 14 INDY NXT races along with all practice and qualifying sessions.
 Click here for pricing and more information on INDYCAR LIVE.

2025 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFS110 a.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFS111:30 a.m.
Friday, May 9Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 1FS17 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFS110:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFS1Noon
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFS11 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFS211:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa SpeedwayFS11:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1FS24:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFS111:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFS111:30 a.m.

FOX Sports, INDYCAR Unveil 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Broadcast Start Times

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 From IndyCar. These times are broadcast start times, NOT green flag times.
 A Record 19 Network Windows, All 17 Races on FOX, Expanded Indy 500 Pre-race Coverage
FOX Dedicates Six Hours of Live Coverage to the May 25 Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have announced the race broadcast start times for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.
Announced in June as part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES record 17 races will be available on broadcast television providing a massive increase in exposure for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcasting live on network television. All INDYCAR programming streams live on the FOX Sports app.
The season launches on FOX with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at noon (all times Eastern) Sunday, March 2. The year also is highlighted by the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, with the broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. to allow for over two hours of pre-race coverage before the green flag.
The 2025 season will close in dramatic fashion on Labor Day weekend with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.
“The unrivaled exposure FOX will bring to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including an additional hour of Indy 500 pre-race coverage, will prove to be a spectacular showcase for our drivers and teams,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “With FOX’s tremendous partnership and support, we’re going to bring the most competitive and compelling motorsport on the planet to a growing and massive audience. We cannot wait to raise the curtain on the 2025 season with FOX.”
Other notes of FOX’s 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES broadcast schedule include:
The first points-paying The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile Twin Palms circuit at the scenic The Thermal Club, Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.
A return to network television for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m.
Network coverage of the finishing hours of both days of qualifying for the Indy 500 on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at 4 p.m. bringing the total number of network windows on FOX to a record 19.
Non-stop racing action in July with five races in four weekends including the popular Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader Saturday, July 12 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 at 2 p.m. at Iowa Speedway.
The return to network television for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on the tight and unforgiving Streets of Toronto circuit Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m.
The historic Milwaukee Mile, which produced the most on-track passes on record in 2024, will be the penultimate race of the 2025 championship Sunday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.
WHAT NTT INDYCAR SERIES DRIVERS ARE SAYING:
“I’m excited to get the 2025 season started and go for a third straight championship with the No. 10 DHL Honda team. FOX Sports has been a great partner so far and I cannot wait to get back on track at St. Pete.” – Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
“On behalf of everybody in INDYCAR, we’re so excited about the new partnership with FOX Sports. They’ve given us so much already and I can’t wait to see what we can do together in 2025. I think we’re really going to bring INDYCAR to the masses and retell our story in a significant way. I think people are going to be really pleased with what they see. The first round can’t get here soon enough. It’s going to be a big year.” – Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
Coverage of all 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice and qualifying sessions will be featured on either FS1 or FS2. FOX Deportes will carry exclusive Spanish-language television coverage of the Indianapolis 500, with a more complete 2025 season schedule to be announced at a later date.
Coverage schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship, the developmental series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, also will be announced at a later date.

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES COVERAGE SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFOXNoon
Sunday, March 23The Thermal ClubFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, April 13Streets of Long BeachFOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFOX1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)FOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 25Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)FOX10 a.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFOX12:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFOX3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFOX2 p.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa Speedway Race 1FOX5 p.m.
Sunday, July 13Iowa Speedway Race 2FOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 20Streets of TorontoFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFOX2:30 p.m.

2024 Reflections-The Dream Come True 

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Editor’s note: This is the first of a series looking back at my racing season of 2024. Of course I’m starting with Le Mans.

Reality exceeded the dream. Emotional highs and goosebumps marked my 10 days in Le Mans. I was 10 years old when I first learned of the Le Mans 24-hour race. I read everything I could find about it. Two years later I announced to my family that I wanted to go to Le Mans.  I would accept the trip as any gift for any occasion- graduation, birthday, Christmas- the occasion didn’t matter.  

I never received an envelope with plane tickets to Paris. I still followed the race and learned more of its history. During my freshman year in high school, I spent my study hall time writing a novel about Le Mans. I’m pretty sure it was not a classic. I grew older, and life got in the way.  

In 2023, after a health scare, I made up my mind. I am going to Le Mans next year. I can wait no longer. I called a travel agency in London that specializes in motorsport travel and booked lodging at the track and bought a race ticket. Friends who had been there inundated me with advice. I don’t think I could have navigated the Paris Metro without their help. 

While I spent the entire time on an emotional high, there were three times when my excitement boiled over and spilled out of my eyes. I entered the track for the first time on the Sunday before the race. The first step through the gate onto that hallowed ground ended a 65 year wait. The track was still a mile away, but I had made it.  

The next day at the museum two of my favorite cars of all time- the 1959 Shelby Cobra and the 1970 Gulf Porsche sat silently and proudly, anxious  to Have their engines roar to life again and roll onto the circuit just a few hundred feet away.  

I had eagerly awaited and dreaded race day. I knew containing my feelings would be a challenge. I told myself I had control, and I enjoyed the opening ceremonies until the first notes of La Marseilles. Control failure.  

The start of the race calmed me down. I took in as much of the track as I could, defying the intermittent rain and the long tram lines. Twenty-four hours goes by quickly when you want it to last forever.  

Everything was just as I had pictured, and in many ways the event was even better than I had imagined.  

All dreams must end, and it seemed that just a minute later I was in Charles de Gaulle airport boarding my flight home. 

Dirt Track at IMS To Host Indiana Sprint Week Opener in July 2025 

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A very exciting announcement from IMS.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 13, 2024) – USAC Sprint Cars will compete in a points race for the first time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July 2025 when the opening night of USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented by Honest Abe Roofing takes place at The Dirt Track at IMS.
The USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship will be featured during the 38th annual Indiana Sprint Week opener Thursday evening, July 24, the night before Brickyard Weekend opens on the 2.5-mile IMS oval for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The event promises a unique spectacle, as the 900-horsepower USAC Sprint Cars take to a quarter-mile dirt track inside Turn 3 of the famous IMS oval. USAC Sprint Cars made their debut at The Dirt Track at IMS last September in a special invitational event won by C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Indiana.
“We expected wheel-to-wheel action from Sprint Cars on The Dirt Track, and they delivered,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Kicking off Brickyard Weekend with some of the biggest stars of the USAC during Sprint Week is sure to be another incredible show.”
USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week, a cornerstone of sprint car racing in the Hoosier State since 1988, has captivated fans for decades with its thrilling action and rich legacy.
The 2025 Indiana Sprint Week schedule consists of eight events at eight different racetracks across a 10-night span between July 24-Aug. 2.
“Sprint car racing and Indianapolis Motor Speedway share a deeply intertwined history, and this event symbolizes the unification of two racing traditions,” USAC President Kevin Miller said. “USAC Sprint Cars at IMS will be an unforgettable experience for fans and competitors alike.”
Fans can sign up here to receive ticket and camping information to attend the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car event at IMS that starts Indiana Sprint Week.
Dates for the 2025 Driven2SaveLives BC39 for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series will be announced later.

Newgarden Closes the Book on the 108th 500

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The final chapter of the 2024 Indianapolis 500 is now complete as winner Josef Newgarden unveiled his likeness on the Borg Warner trophy Tuesday evening.

The first back-to-back winner of the race in 22 years and the sixth driver to win two years in a row, compared this year’s image with his 2023 face.

“There are more wrinkles,” he quipped.

Newgarden understands his place in history, and he hopes to create more next May by becoming the first to win the race three times in succession. He realizes the probability is extremely low.

Newgarden talks about the 2024 Indianapolis 500. “It was agood racfe,” he said.

Two icons of Indianapolis history merged on Tuesday, as the Borg Warner sat inside what used to be a stable for Polk Sanitary Milk Company, which began in 1872 and closed in the late 1950s.. The building is now an event center and a place for business startups. At one point Polk was the largest dairy in the city.

The image reveal began about 10 years ago. It was originally held at the IMS Museum but has been at three different locations the past three years. The 2022 event was a midday affair, and Simon Pagenaud unveiled his image on the trophy in France. In 2023 the Stutz Center played host to trophy reveal.

Newgarden and IMS President Doug Boles

The trophy reveal brings closure to the 500. It is always nice to reminisce in December about the annual end of May event.

Hailie Deegan Debuts in Chris Griffis Test

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Hailie Deegan recently signed with HMD Motorsports to drive in the Indy NXT by Firestone series in 2025. She will test car number 38 tomorrow in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS. Deegan will join seven other rookies in the 22 car field.

Deegan, 23, has focused on the NASCAR Truck Series, and has also raced in Xfiniti and ARCA. She began her racing career in the Lucas Off Road Racing Series and the NASCAR K&N stock car series.

Tomorrow’s schedule:

9 am ET- 4 pm Testing.

The turn 2 spectator mounds are open for viewing.

Entry list:

BMW Team Wins This Indianapolis 8 Hour in Unique Fashion

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From IMS:

 
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024) – The Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS at Indianapolis Motor Speedway literally came down to a race against the clock.
Wright Motorsports’ Laurin Heinrich of Germany held the late-race lead – comfortably, in fact – but he knew a five-second penalty was coming from an infraction on the final pit stop for the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Heinrich ran some of his best laps in the final minutes, but he crossed the finish line 4.74 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Dries Vanthoor and the Team WRT’s No. 31 BMW M4 GT3.Thus, Vanthoor officially won the eight-hour endurance event by .260 of a second. Last year, BMW’s margin at the finish was 53.110 seconds – and it actually was the car that took checkered flag first.
“I don’t know what to say at the moment,” said Vanthoor, who spent the final hour of the race virtually matching Heinrich’s lap times on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at the Racing Capital of the World.
“I gave it everything I had. It was an amazing fight. Yeah, I gave it everything I had. I’m exhausted. Yeah, we did it!”
Heinrich said he was told of the impending time adjustment quite a while after it was announced, and he didn’t have enough laps left to keep the necessary advantage. He was disappointed to have lost the top spot on the podium in that manner
.“It’s a bit of a shame (to) somehow lose the overall win,” he said. “I was told (on the team’s radio) nine minutes before the end of a five-second penalty. I drove my heart out. I could extend the gap a bit but, I mean, I was clearly faster.”
The late-race drama as darkness settled over the historic motorsports facility was heightened by the fact both frontrunners were low on fuel. In fact, Vanthoor’s machine ran out on the cooldown lap, and it had to be towed to Victory Lane.
“It was a fuel race to the end, but we managed to do it,” Vanthoor said. “I’ll need a few days to recover, but I’m very happy to be a back-to-back Indy winner.”
Vanthoor also won last year’s race co-driving with Sheldon van der Linde of South Africa. The new driver in this year’s group was Charles Weerts of Belgium.This event brings together the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. In an interesting twist,
Vanthoor and Heinrich both led their cars to Indy victories as their programs race in different categories. Heinrich also helped deliver a season championship for Florida’s Adam Adelson and California’s Elliott Skeer, who fought back emotions on pit lane after overcoming a 33-point deficit to ST Racing’s BMW.
“Funny enough, how we came into the race it was the exact same scenario,” Skeer said. “Two cars against each other and whoever (finishes ahead) comes out the champion. Ultimately, last year didn’t go to plan, but this year we won this thing overall on track. Not only did we beat the car we need to, we beat every single car on track. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
The 23-car field included several drivers with IMS ties, including reigning and three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who won the pole for last year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Palou’s No. 4 Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing was already three laps off the pace with electrical issues when the Spaniard climbed behind the wheel, and he helped bring it home in 13th position. Still, that was good for third place in the Intercontinental GT Challenge Pro class.
Former INDYCAR SERIES drivers Zach Veach and Gabby Chaves co-drove the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 with Luca Mars that finished fourth overall and second in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America event. They finished 53.149 seconds behind the race winner, one of six cars on the lead lap.The No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW that included INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly finished 21st.
Bell, Rowe Shine in Saturday’s Support Races
Saturday morning’s single-make Toyota Gazoo GR Cup North America race featured many drivers with familiar motorsports names and celebrities
.Jaxon Bell, the son of 10-time Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starter and NTT INDYCAR SERIES television analyst Townsend Bell, battled back from a drive-through penalty to become the highest finisher of those drivers – in 18th place in the 33-car field — in the No. 98 Copeland Motorsports Toyota.
Driving for Eagles Canyon Racing powered by Fast Track Toyota were YouTube star Cody Jones finishing in the 23rd position and Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves 25th as the last driver on the lead lap.
USAC standout Jade Avedisian finished 27th in the No. 24 Nitro Motorsports Toyota GR86.The race was won by Gresham Wagner, the driver of the No. 5 Copeland Motorsports Toyota who beat pole sitter Lucas Weisenberg (No. 46 Lucas Racing Toyota) by .733 seconds.
The series’ second race of the weekend is Sunday at 11:55 a.m.
INDY NXT by Firestone veteran Myles Rowe earned a spot on the podium in his class in the first Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend, held Saturday. It was the first sports car race of Rowe’s career.Rowe and co-driver Isaac Sherman finished third – seventh overall – in the Pro-Am division in the No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4.
The 60-minute race was won by Corey Lewis and Tyler Gonzalez driving Smooge Racing’s Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO. Lewis crossed the finish line 5.172 seconds ahead of the field. The season-ending race is Sunday at IMS at 10:35 a.m. ET.

Dallas Street Race and Other Thoughts

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I am just catching up ona few happenings in the Indycar world during an offseason that hasn’t really been off.

Last week a new street race in Dallas was announced for 2026. I understand- the desire of the series to race in that area. NTT’s headquarters are there. But I find it aggravating that the race will be less than an hour from Texas Motor Speedway, which can’t find a date suitable for IndyCar.

The event will be run around AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. I suppose the good news is that it won’t be on tight city streets where passing is nearly impossible. Parking lots allow for more flexibility in track layout. The bad news is it will be an unremarkable setting for a course.

Will this new race the 18th race or will a current race be cut? We already lost an oval t=race this year for the 2025 Thermal Club event. Which race would be cut if the series plans to stay at 17 races? My guess would be the second race at Iowa. I hope not, since the series needs at least six oval races a year.

Where will Dallas land on the schedule? I hope it is a spring race, before temperatures get too hot in the area. We will have to see how this plays out, but if the series wants to add new venues, I think they should look for more ovals.

Filling the Seats

As of today, there are seven seats still open on the 2025 Indycar grid, although one is believed to be spoken for. PREMA is thought to have Robert Schwartzman in its second car, but no official announcement has been made yet.

The other six- two each at Coyne, Rahal, and Juncos, are still up for grabs. Rinus VeeKay is the top free agent right now, but teams may be too far along with other drivers to add him into the mix. I think VeeKay is worth considering.

Testing

Felipe Drugovich and Jamie Chadwick tested at Barber Monday. Drugovich tested for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Chadwick had her first IndyCar experience in an Andretti Global car.

Jamie Chadwick after winning the IndyNXT race at Road America

Chadwick used the session to assess her readiness to race in the series, and she feels she needs to gain more upper body strength. Rahal constantly tests drivers to keep in mind for the future. Chadwick may get to do a race next year, but with the charter system in place, she would have to compete with the PREMA cars for the final spot in the field.

IndyCar teams will have a single car test at IMS October 10 and 11. One car from each team, 11 total, will participate. The focus of the test is the hybrid unit.