Drivers Impressed by IndyCar’s Plans for the Future

After a meeting between a select elite IndyCar drivers and series executives, the drivers walked away impressed with IndyCar’s plans for the future. In other business of motorsport this week you will get an update on Ford’s F1 plans, the importance of Porsche’s one-make series and the legend that is Ann Bradshaw.

All this and much more in this week’s edition of the Business of Motorsport Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. Your source for the best curated motorsport-business news that racers can use.

Motorsport Industry News

Formula 1

Drivers Impressed by IndyCar's Plans for the Future

Two possible circuit changes could be heading to the Formula 1 calendar in the near future. It had been rumored for some time that Formula 1 was going to host a Grand Prix in Madrid from 2026 and now this looks like a done deal. “Madrid would thus return to the schedule for the first time since 1981 and likely replace the Barcelona, which has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix every year since 1991. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s contract expires in 2026, however it seems very likely that Barcelona will disappear from the calendar after 2025.”

Meanwhile in Japan, there are moves to host the Grand Prix on yet another street circuit, this time in Osaka, putting the race at the legendary Suzuka under threat. “The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau has confirmed plans to attract Formula 1 to the city, with plans for a street track circuit making use of public roads, as Osaka looks to capitalise on the aniticpated momentum from the Osaka-Kansai Expo which it will host in 2025.”

Ford has shared an update on its Formula 1 preparations ahead of its entry in 2026. Ford CEO Jim Farley shared a positive update on its progress as it continues to build towards its entry. “I had a chance to spend a lot of time with the team in Milton Keynes, and with Adrian Newey, and I think we’re on track,” he said, as quoted by Motorsport.com. “2026, even though it sounds like a long way away, we have a lot of work to do on the powertrain, but I’m really happy with the progress. I wish I could tell you more, but I would say we’re on track.”

The Race looks at where F1’s under-fire regulator stands after the recent spate of key exits. “What the FIA does next is only partly clear. Its announcement of the news was framed as the appointment of Tim Malyon as new sporting director, with the Nielsen and Goss exits demoted to the second half of an unusually long 800-word press release.”

Meanwhile, Toto Wolff is not a fan as he states that their investigation of himself and wife Susie Wolff “caused great damage.”

Formula One has promoted Emily Prazer to be the series’ global chief commercial officer. “Prazer, previously F1 Las Vegas’ chief commercial officer, will report directly to chief executive Stefano Domenicali She will run commercial partnerships, marketing and hospitality for the series Prazer will remain heavily involved in Las Vegas. The immediate goal will be sustaining overall growth for Formula One, which will likely see the successful commercial strategy from the Las Vegas race rolled out across the global series.”

In last week’s Motorsport Sponsorship & Partnership News I posted a link on the partnership between F1 and fashion. Well F1 has made the digital pages of Vogue UK in their feature Fast Fashion: Formula 1 Is The Sports World’s Most Stylish Event.

“And if that begs the question, “Why?” The answer is, “Is it any wonder?” With its high stakes, personal drive, team effort and intensive pressure leading up to a highly performative showcase with millions of eyes watching on, the worlds of F1, fashion and entertainment share plenty of common ground.”

General Motorsport Industry News

IndyCar

A few interesting tidbits of IndyCar news this week.

  • Racer reports that the series’ top 22 entries will see a an increase in the value of each Leaders Circle contract paid by Penske Entertainment.
  • After a meeting between 6 leading drivers and IndyCar management, all have come away hopeful and impressed with the plans that they have for the series according to a report in Forbes. “It was interesting to sit there and chat a bit with the people,” Ericsson said Thursday morning during the second day of IndyCar Content Days. “I think the biggest takeaways for me is all the work that’s going on in the series. There is a lot of work behind the scenes, people that’s pushing a lot to bring this series forward. You don’t see that from the outside, per se, but I think from what I understood and got told in that dinner, there’s a lot of good things that’s going to come out here in the next few months about the series, about the direction we’re going.”
  • Meanwhile, IndyCar is seeking clarity on its Argentina race plans. “But sources tell RACER the focus of holding an Argentinian IndyCar race could shift to 2025 as the country adapts to a new president in Javier Milei who, while finding his political footing, has been a big advocate for restricted governmental spending. It means receiving financial support for the event through Argentina’s tourism fund could prove to be a challenge in the first year of Milei’s presidency.”
  • Finally, IndyCar has indicated that a return to the Texas Motor Speedway is not a given in 2025. Mark Miles: “I don’t have any new news or inclinations or insights about 2025 and the Texas Motor Speedway. We obviously have a relationship there and a lot of history and when we can learn anything, we’re eager to learn about what’s possible. We also think Texas is an important market and don’t want to have all our eggs in one basket. So, if there were other options and we and Texas Motor Speedway just doesn’t come together, then it would be smart for us to see what else is out there.”

Paul Pfanner of Racer explains how IMSA is winning the race to tomorrow. “IMSA’s recent growth in popularity could be because its core ethos aligns perfectly with this unique moment of accelerated change in mobility, media and society. Regardless, IMSA’s resilient performance under pressure during this turbulent decade reveals that it is truly one of the great ones in our sport’s brave 130-year race to get to tomorrow, faster.”

NASCAR has agreed to extend the deadline for charter negotiations with teams, according to Sports Business Journal as reported by Blackbook Motorsport. Lauri Eberhart, co-founder of the Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group, told SBJ: “[Negotiations will include teams having more of a say in the] material changes to the schedule or to the car. Balance in everything is key, and so what I do like about the current plan is it’s a mixture.”

Porsche Motorsport

In a wide-ranging interview in BlackBook Motorsport, Director of Motorsport sales at Porsche Motorsport Michael Dreiser talks about their one-make series, Formula E, and why F1 “remains interesting.”

“It is indeed a broad approach which Porsche Motorsport is taking, from clubsport to the highest levels of international open competition, even fielding factory cars alongside customers. It is very important for us to underline that motorsport is the core of our brand, and the broad customer approach has always been our philosophy.”

In the latest edition of Revolution Magazine, Motorsport UK Chair David Richards CBE reflects on the way the governing body is changing and looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities for British motorsport in 2024.

LawInSport has an interesting analysis on the legal battle for the creation of new sporting competitions, and it’s only the end of the beginning.

“Other global sports, such as cricket, rugby, tennis, F1 and snooker, are likely to see challenges raised by rival institution-backed providers, especially as new, regional markets are established and alternative competition formats increase in popularity.”

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Drivers Impressed by IndyCar's Plans for the Future

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Drivers Impressed by IndyCar's Plans for the Future
Drivers Impressed by IndyCar's Plans for the Future

Motorsport Movers & Shakers

Business of Motorsport

Autosport Plus has a wonderful profile of legendary F1 PR guru Ann Bradshaw. “A pioneer in Formula 1 press work when she joined Williams in 1985, Ann Bradshaw worked with Frank Williams’ team for more than a decade, witnessing the championships won by the team’s greatest drivers. She worked with the likes of Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, and crossed paths with Ayrton Senna twice: first at Lotus at the start of his career, and again in 1994 at the tragic end of it. Here’s her story, in her own words.”

Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.