IndyCar is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, featuring spec Dallara chassis with either Honda or Chevrolet engines on a mix of ovals, road courses, and street circuits.
The Split and Reunification
From 1996-2008, American open-wheel racing was divided between CART/Champ Car and the Indy Racing League, devastating the sport’s popularity. The 2008 reunification under the IndyCar Series banner began a slow recovery.
Safety Evolution
Dan Wheldon’s fatal crash at Las Vegas in 2011—his car launched into the catch fence at 200+ mph—led to major safety reforms: the Aeroscreen cockpit protection (2020, inspired by F1’s Halo), safer barriers, and restrictions on pack racing at high-speed ovals.
Champions of the 2010s-2020s
Scott Dixon (New Zealand) dominated with 6 championships (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020), becoming IndyCar’s most successful modern driver. Josef Newgarden (2017, 2019, 2022-2023) emerged as the American hope, while Álex Palou (Spain, 2021, 2023) proved international talent still thrives.
The Aeroscreen
Introduced in 2020, the polycarbonate windscreen saved multiple lives, most notably Felix Rosenqvist at Detroit (2021) when his car vaulted a tire barrier, and Colton Herta at St. Petersburg.
Sources:
- IndyCar official: https://www.indycar.com/
- Aeroscreen development: https://www.indycar.com/news/2019/05/aeroscreen