Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson, Callum Ilott, Christian Lundgaard, Marcus Armstrong, Juri Vips, Jamie Chadwick, Matteo Nannini. These are some of the names linked to the world of Formula 1 already present or the subject of rumors for a possible future in America between the IndyCar Series and INDY NXT, the level series comparable to F2 on the American scale. With the exception of Grosjean and Ericsson – who arrived in America after the end of their Formula 1 careers – they are all young drivers looking for a career outlet, which they have not found in Europe. But why does the IndyCar Series attract so much attention?
Differences between IndyCar and Formula 1
Schedule and scope
Let's start from the analysis of the two series with a critical eye, and the first element we think about is the extent of the series. While Formula 1 is purely international, with races on five of the seven continents, the IndyCar Series is a purely American competition, with a more compact calendar – seventeen races for 2023 – and only one outside the US borders, namely the Gran Toronto Prize, Canada.
Speaking of the calendar, a difference can already be found in the number of races, with Formula 1 reaching 23 appointments (due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix), while the American series stops – so to speak – at 17 rounds. IndyCar also contains five races held on oval circuits, something that Formula 1 does not have within it. The entire IndyCar series is all about what the jewel is, namely the Indianapolis 500, always held in May (except in 2020 due to the pandemic) and which is worth double the points compared to the other races.
Teams and pilots
Formula 1 is an elite sport, which is very difficult to enter. Just think of the team of Michael Andretti, son of the 1978 world champion Mario: his team already has an agreement in principle with Renault for the supply of engines, but they have to wait for authorization from the FIA to be able to participate, which is not a given given the opposition of almost all the teams – made except for McLaren.
In IndyCar, on the other hand, there is no maximum limit set by the regulations, but it is based only on the number of cars that each track can support - such as, for example, the limit of 33 cars at the Indianapolis 500. Each team can also bring more cars, and in the past there have been cases where Andretti Autosport has shown up on the track with six cars out of the 33 available. In America what decides the seats is generally the budget, with drivers who often have to find money to be able to race – just think of Romain Grosjean, who finished his first year in IndyCar with a mid-ranking team thanks to sponsorships.
Cars and engines: a lot of Italy and well-known names
In Formula 1, each manufacturer builds its own cars and designs them from year to year, with various modifications linked to regulatory changes. Furthermore, at least for the 2023 season, there are four engineers to choose from based on contracts and agreements.
In IndyCar, on the other hand, teams buy their own cars – all the same, as it is a series spec – from a single supplier, in this case Dallas. The same company that builds Haas chassis in Formula 1 has been under contract with the American series to supply all cars since 2012. The first car, known as DW12 – in honor of Dan Wheldon, Dallara driver and tester who died in the race of Las Vegas of 2011 – made its debut right in 2012, remaining in use until 2023 with three major updates to the car. A new chassis was planned to be introduced in 2024 or 2025, but this was delayed due to the pandemic. As far as engines are concerned, there are only two manufacturers: Honda and Chevrolet. In the past there was also an aerodynamic kit linked to the engineer, but since 2018 the cars are all the same.
In summary, then… why IndyCar?
The question is not easy to answer, but the differences are clear: Formula 1 remains an element elitist in the world motor scene, while IndyCar is easier to access – if you have a good budget to start with. Generally, if a driver has talent, this result gradually comes out, and with the transition to more important teams you also start to see some net income. An example is always Grosjean, who has gone from a mid-table team to one of the top three. Callum Ilott, rookie in 2022, remains also for 2023 with a team (Juncos Hollinger Racing) which is undergoing reconstruction, but which already last year showed that it has good potential with two top 10s in the season and an excellent qualification which saw him start from the front row, only to be forced to retire due to engine problems.
A series spec has the advantage of showing the real talent of pilots, and this is why IndyCar is becoming the alternative to Formula 1. A hybrid part will also be introduced in the engines from 2023, and the American series is also moving towards the use of 100% bio-sustainable fuel. In short, IndyCar is establishing itself more and more as an alternative platform for success, from which to also aspire to Formula 1 (such as Alex Palou or Pato O'Ward, who made their debut in FP1 in Formula 1 with McLaren and are who run steadily in IndyCar), and the popularity seems to be on the rise.