About the Indycar Series
Just like F1 racing, the Indycar Series is more than just a ride. It is a racing sport solely built on performance, technology, speed, and teamwork. Initially, the series was made up of two different sports—the Indy Racing League and CART, popularly known as Champ Car. Years later, they merged to create one of the biggest racing sports—the IndyCar Series. Today, the series has developed far enough to include oval circuits, street circuits, and road courses across different parts of the world.
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Indycar Drivers
Year after year, the IndyCar Series has been thrilled by some of the fastest drivers around the world. Here is the driver lineup for 2025.
- Alex Palou
- Pato O’Ward
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Christian Lundgaard
- Scott Dixon
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Will Power
- Scott McLaughlin
- Colton Herta
- Marcus Armstrong
- Santino Ferrucci
- David Malukas
- Alexander Rossi
- Christian Rasmussen
- Rinus Veekay
- Josef Newgarden
- Conor Daly
- Graham Rahal
- Marcus Ericsson
- Kyffin Simpson
- Nolan Siegel
- Robert Shwartzman
- Sting Ray Robb
- Louis Foster
- Devlin Defrancesco
- Callum Ilott
- Jacob Abel
- Takuma Sato
- Helio Castroneves
- Ed Carpenter
- Jack Harvey
- Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Kyle Larson
- Marco Andretti
Indycar vs. F1
Generally, IndyCar and Formula 1 cars might appear similar because they are both car racing sports. However, their differences are quite significant. The IndyCar Series has been representing the official USA open-wheel championship for quite some time. On the other hand, the F1 racing began years later and is known for representing the Grand Prix championship. At some point, the two different competitions overlapped. The Indy 500 was eventually included in the F1 World Driver’s Championship. This connection means that every American driver in any of the competitions is a part of Formula 1 history.
The two series, however, operate quite differently. While F1 has always been known for its sophisticated engineering and heavy emphasis on design and development, IndyCar focuses more on creating a level playing field with significantly lower budgets.
In comparison, F1 cars typically hit around 205mph on road courses, propelled by turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 hybrid engines. However, in specific scenarios like Monza and Mexico City, F1 cars have reached speeds as high as 223.5mph. The lower top speeds in F1 are due to regulations favoring downforce and cornering speeds.
Although IndyCar cars boast superior straight-line speed, they aren’t necessarily faster around an entire road course lap. F1 cars accelerate more quickly and gain significant time in corners thanks to their higher downforce levels. For instance, in 2019, both IndyCar and F1 raced at the Circuit of the Americas for direct comparisons. Will Power set the pole position with a lap averaging 115mph, while almost nine months later, Valtteri Bottas achieved a lap averaging 133.5mph, 14 seconds faster.
How Much Do Indycar Drivers Make?
Salaries in IndyCar racing vary widely among drivers, and even the same driver might earn different amounts at different events. Many drivers don’t have a fixed salary but rather earn a portion of their compensation through various means, with several factors influencing the remainder.
One significant factor is the sponsorship a driver brings to their team. For example, if a driver secures $4 million in sponsorship, they might allocate $1 million of that for their own salary. However, if they are aiming to join a higher-tier team and want to be part of their program, they might accept a smaller portion of the $4 million sponsorship to secure their spot.
How Much are IndyCar Tickets?
While Monaco GP tickets come at a steep price, witnessing the Indy 500 is more budget-friendly. Fans can watch this event live with a general admission ticket as low as $60.
In the competitive world of F1, success translates to big money in 2024. For those seeking premium views of the pits from the top level of the stand, the Paddock Press Penthouse is the place to be. However, this would cost more than the average price of Indycar tickets.
