2025

[TravelGal]

SteveH has a 2025 thread in F1 so I'm putting this up for IC, openwheel. Intense planning going on now for possible meet up at next year's Long Beach Grand Prix. I already have a VRBO reserved for April 10,11,12. (Yes, I can book them. LOL). Race on April 13.

Ticket prices and packages are unknown at this time, of course. Attendance records fell last weekend and next year is the 50th anniversary but we can still get a general idea from this year. If you're at all interested, PM me and I'll put your name on a list. Not to make arrangements; just so we know to check back later to see if we should look for you. :thumbup:

[SteveH]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GP9W0SIWYAAW_zK?format=jpg&name=large

[SteveH]

FOX SPORTS CONFIRMED AS NEW HOME FOR INDYCAR WITH 2025 SCHEDULE RELEASED (https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/fox-sports-confirmed-as-new-home-for-indycar-with-2025-schedule-released/10623033/)

[Anteater]

FOX SPORTS CONFIRMED AS NEW HOME FOR INDYCAR WITH 2025 SCHEDULE RELEASED (https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/fox-sports-confirmed-as-new-home-for-indycar-with-2025-schedule-released/10623033/)

Not thrilled about this; I haven't enjoyed it when my favored open-wheel series has shared a broadcast channel with Nascab. :shakehead:

[SteveH]

Not thrilled about this; I haven't enjoyed it when my favored open-wheel series has shared a broadcast channel with Nascab. :shakehead:

As happened yesterday. I believe Laguna Seca was only broadcast on Peacock. Will be a ratings disaster.

Until IndyCar can elevate ratings, it is always going to be in danger of being bumped if whatever precedes it runs long. Fox might shift it from its main channel to Fox Sports 1 or 2, but they will have regularly scheduled programming. Maybe it will be provided on the Fox Sports streaming app only.https://www.foxsports.com/mobile

[Anteater]

Some of the post-race show was broadcast on CNBC; you had to be watching the race on Peacock to know about that, though. :irked:

Since my cable bill is already $300, I've been reluctant to pay extra to get Peacock. But being gypped out of the race on Sunday was the final straw, and my husband got streaming on Peacock up & running. We actually liked the picture quality better. Now that will be gone next year, and I guess we'll just see how the Fox deal works out.

[SteveH]

https://x.com/IndyCar/status/1808181370822300037

[TKGAngel]

https://x.com/IndyCar/status/1808181370822300037

An Arrow-McLaren driver announcement...it must be Tuesday.

In all seriousness, I did not have this on my bingo card. From what I had seen in Racer, it seemed like it was a done deal for Rossi to return to the team. So either Racer has their sources wrong or something went seriously kinky in negotiations.

[TravelGal]

Agreed. I thought he was the forever golden boy for having won the 100th running of the 500. He didn't do himself any favors by whining most of the time since then, however. Particularly wanting to pack it in a couple of races back because "there was no point" since he couldn't win.

[SteveH]

Replaced by Christian Lundgaard

[SteveH]

Chip Ganassi Racing confirms IndyCar downsizing; plans Indy NXT return
https://racer.com/2024/09/04/chip-ganassi-racing-confirms-indycar-downsizing-plans-indy-nxt-return/


The Chip Ganassi Racing team will be downsizing its presence in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2025 and returning to the Indy NXT series.

The move on the IndyCar side has been expected, and comes in reaction to the series’ new charter program. The structure of the charter limits the distribution of memberships to a maximum of three entries per teams who qualify for the program. With five current full-time entries, Ganassi’s newest entries — the No. 11 Honda added in 2023 and the No. 4 Honda, which debuted this season — will not be included once charters are issued.

This seems brilliant or something.

[SteveH]

Whoop, there it is
https://x.com/A_S12/status/1838216757007265897

[SteveH]

https://x.com/a_s12/status/1838239194440757718?s=46&t=FtBbY0VGTU6tkFPNjgS-pg

[SteveH]

https://x.com/A_S12/status/1838282477548212560

[SteveH]

Hy-Vee Scales Back IndyCar Involvement, Leaves Rahal Letterman Lanigan
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucemartin/2024/10/11/hy-vee-scales-back-indycar-involvement-leaves-rahal-letterman-lanigan/

Oops

[SteveH]

https://x.com/a_s12/status/1875210970106384733?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

[SteveH]

IndyCar 2025: A turning point in the race to what’s next (https://racer.com/2025/01/06/indycar-2025-a-turning-point-in-the-race-to-whats-next/2/?)

In the beginning it almost reads like a self-congratualtory piece on out lasting the various management failures of IndyCar, CART and the IRL. A pretty low bar. And patting themselves on their back for "(accurate) reporting and fact-based commentaries." But I recall RACER photoshopped the stands at an IRL race to make them appear to be packed. They were called out on this (http://www.deepthrottle.com/Essays/yellow_journalism.shtml). They do, however take the current state of IndyCar to task with "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was not built for nostalgia — it was built to drive progress. If the original vision is honored, the Indianapolis 500 remains a race to tomorrow, as does the NTT IndyCar series, and it’s a race that can be won by Penske Entertainment. But you can’t do that by rehashing the Dallara DW12 that ran its first of 217 races when IndyCar’s youngest driver, Nolan Siegel, was 7 years old."

[nrc]

IndyCar 2025: A turning point in the race to what’s next (https://racer.com/2025/01/06/indycar-2025-a-turning-point-in-the-race-to-whats-next/2/?)


Yeah, strange article. I lost interest during all the self-congratulations. Kudos to them if they still have a print edition, though.

[TRDfan]

Have to admit, the FOX promo this weekend was pretty good.

https://x.com/i/status/1878472074416554008

[TravelGal]

Have to admit, the FOX promo this weekend was pretty good.

https://x.com/i/status/1878472074416554008

Made me look. I laughed. In a good way. Sorta of.

[Anteater]

Made me look. I laughed. In a good way. Sorta of.

The promo spot definitely made me laugh!:D I hope Fox does more of these for Indycar.

Speaking of Fox, the broadcast team has been announced, in case you missed it:
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/fox-sports-inaugural-broadcast-crew-indycar-coverage

I think I liked Will Buxton back in the SPEED days, so this should be interesting.

[SteveH]

https://x.com/a_s12/status/1892324360699928855?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

[devilmaster]

SteveH has a 2025 thread in F1 so I'm putting this up for IC, openwheel. Intense planning going on now for possible meet up at next year's Long Beach Grand Prix. I already have a VRBO reserved for April 10,11,12. (Yes, I can book them. LOL). Race on April 13.

Ticket prices and packages are unknown at this time, of course. Attendance records fell last weekend and next year is the 50th anniversary but we can still get a general idea from this year. If you're at all interested, PM me and I'll put your name on a list. Not to make arrangements; just so we know to check back later to see if we should look for you. :thumbup:

I'm still up in the air about this.

My texas two step baseball trip fell apart for april/May, so maybe. But I also have other ideas on the go....

[SteveH]

Hy-Vee No Longer Title Sponsor Of IndyCar At Iowa, Remains As An Event Sponsor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucemartin/2025/02/21/hy-vee-no-longer-title-sponsor-of-indycar-at-iowa-remains-as-an-event-sponsor/


the big-name entertainment that provided the IndyCar doubleheader at Iowa with a big-event festival, is no longer part of the race weekend.

Because of that, ticket prices will be “significantly reduced” according to officials at the IndyCar Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.

[Anteater]

I'm planning to be at Long Beach on Friday and Sunday.

[SteveH]

Why do IndyCar team budgets keep climbing?
https://racer.com/2025/02/25/why-do-indycar-team-budgets-keep-climbing/


ANNUAL BUDGET INCREASES FROM 2023 TO 2024

ZAK BROWN, CEO of McLaren Racing, Arrow McLaren: “Our budget went up about 25 percent.”

DALE COYNE, Owner, Dale Coyne Racing: “It was up around $2 million for the hybrid, and another $1 million for everything else.”

LARRY FOYT, Team President, AJ Foyt Racing: “It has been substantial. We had a 22 percent increase. I just never thought it would get to that point. It was a tough year.”

MIKE SHANK, Co-Owner, Meyer Shank Racing: “The increase for ‘24 was ridiculous. It was beyond 40 percent. Sustainably, we cannot keep doing that. And IndyCar knows that. Prior to that, we were up 10, 12 percent prior to the big hybrid spend.”

BOBBY RAHAL, Co-owner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “We were up 20-25 percent.”

Ouch, not sustainable

[nissan gtp]

Why do IndyCar team budgets keep climbing?
https://racer.com/2025/02/25/why-do-indycar-team-budgets-keep-climbing/



Ouch, not sustainable

from the article, seems like a lot of the increases were driver salaries

[SteveH]

https://x.com/rinusveekay/status/1896024958939365445?s=46&t=FtBbY0VGTU6tkFPNjgS-pg

POW

[TravelGal]

https://x.com/rinusveekay/status/1896024958939365445?s=46&t=FtBbY0VGTU6tkFPNjgS-pg

POW


:eek::eek:

[SteveH]

FOX DROPS BIG PLANS FOR THE INDY 500: "BLOW THE DOORS OFF" (https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/fox-drops-big-plans-for-the-indy-500-blow-the-doors-off/10701288/)


“We have personalities that we probably haven’t announced yet, but there will be an enormous amount of FOX personalities and non-FOX personalities doing everything that you could imagine there.

probably?

[stroker]

https://x.com/rinusveekay/status/1896024958939365445?s=46&t=FtBbY0VGTU6tkFPNjgS-pg

POW

Domestic arguments in that household must be very civil and diplomatic.

[SteveH]

Fox/IndyCar has the tech now
https://x.com/indycar/status/1903416379879145779?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

[TravelGal]

Fox/IndyCar has the tech now
https://x.com/indycar/status/1903416379879145779?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Fox is really going all out. I have to give them that.

[SteveH]

https://x.com/A_S12/status/1904534328081621296

[TravelGal]

https://x.com/A_S12/status/1904534328081621296

It didn't help that it cr@pped out in the middle. :irked: It came back but really poor performance on their part.

[SteveH]

I've read this a few places "it did peak at 829k after the blackout"

[SteveH]

Insider slams FOX’s decision for televising NASCAR and IndyCar alongside each other (https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-insider-slams-fox-s-decision-televising-nascar-indycar-alongside)

[TravelGal]

Some times I think Jenna Fryer is the only one with any sense left.

[SteveH]

https://x.com/by_nathanbrown/status/1907142307138191782?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

[SteveH]

https://x.com/by_nathanbrown/status/1907142671686139978?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

[SteveH]

https://x.com/nascarman_rr/status/1912598726876463143?s=42

Wow, that’s terrible