IndyCar’s top 5 stories in the 2024 season

It’s been a good year for North America’s premier open-wheel series. In fact. 2024 brings with it big announcements of partnerships IndyCar signs multi-year deal with FOXthen there is Prema – a prestigious feeder team for racing greats – is joining next seasonAnd A new race is set on the horizon for Texas in Arlingtonall this Says a lot about the health and growth of the gameFans won’t necessarily see the fruits of these big news until the 2025 season and beyond. But regardless, there’s a lot to be excited about.

But, before waving the checkered flag in 2024, we’re taking some time to reflect on IndyCar’s other major, important stories from last season – good and bad – before things get underway again in St. Pete for 2025.

5. Charter

The charter system made the list, but there are still many questions over its actual significance. How it works: Revealed in September, nine team owners accepted charters for 25 entries. Under the charter agreement, each of those 25 starters is guaranteed a starting spot in every IndyCar race except the Indianapolis 500, which remains the standard practice of drawing the fastest 33 in the field.

Five teams each occupy three charters: Andretti Global, arrow mclaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing And Team Penskechoice of AJ Foyt Racing, dale coyne racing, ed carpenter racing, Jankos Hollinger Racing And meyer shank racing Each has two charters. loveNew to the series in 2025, it will operate its two entries without a charter. This sets next year’s field at 27 entries for each race outside of the Indy 500.

The unique aspect of this agreement is that the charter includes 25 entries, yet, the Leaders Circle awards $1 million to each entry in the top 22.

The terms of the initial charter agreements are set for the end of 2031.

4. Maluka Saga

Here’s a fact: No other driver in the series endured so much emotionally, mentally or physically. David MalukasReady for the ‘big time’ after signing as arrow mclarenAs the latest pilot in September 2023, he made his first race laps with a different team in 2024… leading to speculation over whether he would be able to return to the car again.

This was all due to the misfortune that the Chicago native suffered after a bicycle accident in the preseason. His serious injuries included torn ligaments in his left wrist, which required surgery. It pushed him over the edge considering the choice callum illott And Theo Porchaire Ride around in his car. When the month of May came, The team broke ties with Maluka citing his unavailability.Then, meyer shank racing Gave him a lifeline, and put him in the car that was already there tom blomquist Who was dropped from the team’s IndyCar program (but kept for IMSA) after several crashes that culminated with an opening lap crash in the Indy 500.

To his credit, Malukus responded with a strong performance that included a late battle with Team Penske. Will-Power For a potential breakthrough win before losing contact at the gateway. He was also in the mix at the end of the season finale at Nashville, before a strategy error left him on the wrong side of a battle with the actual race winner. colton herta,

While Meyer Shank has a passion for what racing did for his career, Malukas is ready for another fresh start with AJ Foyt Racing in 2025.

3. Pato who?

This coming Friday of the Milwaukee doubleheader weekend is likely a day that Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles won’t forget anytime soon, or at least, the fans and the paddock won’t let him.

The talk over the weekend was about how NASCAR swooped in to take over a race in Mexico for 2025, soundly beating IndyCar – something the Arrows McLaren driver Pato O’WardThe Monterrey, Mexico native expressed his disappointment. Miles shared some thoughts on a possible return, which also led him to question his popularity in comparison to O’Ward. Adrian FernandezAnother beloved driver from Mexico who raced in the series from 1993-2005. How did O’Ward respond? By going out and winning the opening race the next day – followed by the comment, “Pato who?” At the press conference after the race. And then, just like that, billboards began appearing around Indianapolis with the same phrase, no doubt to delight Miles on his way into office.

Whether this was Miles’ actual idea or a strategy to help move the needle, talks have since intensified for the series to potentially return to race in Mexico by 2026.

2. The hybrid engine is finally here

It took longer than expected, and debuted at one of the strangest possible times, but the long-awaited hybrid engine finally arrived in 2024. IndyCar officials, with help from Chevrolet and Honda, were able to push the new creation forward in mid-season. -Ohio Sports Car Course. The race got off to a rough start as six-time series champion Scott Dixon’s title hopes diminished on the pace laps, but it ended with a sensational finish between O’Ward and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Pallo.

However, the rest of the year was a mixture of feast or famine. The cars had trouble passing the heavy weight added by the hybrid, and the cost – especially after the crash – caused the anger of driver/owner Ed Carpenter.

Similar to the charter system, hybrid is in its infancy, so issues and shortcomings are expected during the learning period. The patience of the teams and drivers will be key to its development and eventual success.

1. Penske push-to-pass scandal

It’s no good owning a series, and having access to technology that other teams can’t use, and then, using it. Some might call this a conflict of interest. Some people may see this as cheating. In short, IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske and his race organization, Team Penske, have used a new push-to-pass feature He was put in the dock in the overtake scandal at the beginning of the season,

Officials became aware of the situation in Long Beach, which was the second points-paying event of the season, after several teams pointed out data flaws on the scoring monitors. After an investigation, the series concluded that Team Penske had illegally installed push-to-pass software (which provided an additional 50 horsepower), and used it. Punishment: Josef Newgarden lost his victory on the streets of St. Petersburg, and Scott McLaughlin lost his third place in the same weekend. Will Power, who did not use overtakes but had software settings fitted to his car, lost 10 points.

McLaughlin released a social post shortly after the details were made publicWhile Newgarden held a press conference to share his thoughts about the situation at Barber Motorsports Park during the weekend. In the wake of Penske’s black eye, team president Tim Cindric – who also serves as Newgarden’s strategist – was suspended from the Indy 500 along with Newgarden’s race engineer and assistant engineer.

Honorable Mention: Moving Music City, Kyle Larson’s Indy 500 Debut

Nashville was scheduled to host the season finale on a modified street course through downtown, but it was canceled a few weeks before the season began due to construction problems on the new NFL stadium, courtesy of the Tennessee Titans. Therefore, the series was called Audible and, with significant assistance from the event’s promoter, Big Machine, the event was able to move the Music City Grand Prix to Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval series on which a race had not been held since 2008. , in nearby Lebanon. The result was spectacular, with a good crowd witnessing one of the best races of the year, with Andretti Global’s Herta taking his first oval victory over O’Ward in a thrilling contest.

Before 2024, kyle larson He was set to become the fifth driver (and the first since Kurt Busch in 2014) to complete ‘the double’ by running the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the same day. Mother Nature dashed those hopes by delaying the start of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” but the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion opted to stay in Indianapolis. Despite having enough time to get in the car, the second leg of their Memorial Day weekend trek was also derailed by rain.

The California native is driving a Chevrolet-powered entry shared by Arrows McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, Entire month and race day affectedHe earned Rookie of the Year honors after setting a single-lap, rookie record qualifying time of 233.43 mph before ultimately starting fifth. Larson performed admirably in the race, fighting a mis-shift on an early restart. Ready for a possible top 10 before being penalized for speeding on pit road He slipped to 18th position on 131 laps out of 200. He will make another attempt of 1,100 miles in 2025 In a comeback attempt by Arrows McLaren and Cup team owner Rick Hendrick.