Today’s question: This has been a busy offseason of news for INDYCAR, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone and both series’ teams. What is the most significant piece of news that has broken since the end of the 2024 season in September?
Curt Cavin: Let me start by saying I’ve covered this sport since 1988, and I’ve witnessed the announcement of scads of new events – street races, road courses and ovals, and they all had their levels of pizzazz at introduction. But what I saw with this Arlington event was as strong as strong gets. The Cowboys had Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin leading a high-energy video and high-profile owner Jerry Jones seated next to Roger Penske at the public unveiling. The reigning World Series-champion Rangers were all-in, too, with their leadership and Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez on hand. Then, there was the showcasing of the circuit itself, a street course with a proper long straightaway and at least three corners for excellent overtaking opportunities and the double-wide pit road that has been an interesting element to the downtown version of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Add the entertainment district that will support this three-day Texas event, and it seems Arlington has all the stars lined up to become a cornerstone piece to the 2026 schedule. I was blown away by everything I saw and heard, and that, after all these years covering the sport, takes some doing. Bravo!
Eric Smith: I think the charter agreement and what it does for the paddock were historic. Chip Ganassi called the introduction of a charter system a top-three moment in the modern era of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Michael Shank called this the single-most important piece for the future of the series. The charter likely helped Ed Carpenter secure a new partnership with Ted Gelov of Heartland Food Products, and that influx of capital helped ECR sign veteran Alexander Rossi to the team for 2025. When something this unified reverberates through the paddock, that’s a big deal. I also feel with the midseason debut of the hybrid unit, a new TV contract with all races on FOX (network) beginning in 2025 and now a charter system for the teams, the anticipated future of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has become the now. There are not many opportunities for a series operating as long as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES where a first-time moment occurs, let alone one that is universally welcomed by all parties involved. That’s what the charter system does.
Paul Kelly: Curt and Eric picked huge headlines that will affect the future of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for a long time. But I’m going back to the future with my pick: the acquisition of the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix by Penske Entertainment Corp. It’s not a stretch to call Long Beach the second-most prestigious event on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule behind the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and the Beach is the crown jewel of street races in North America. It’s America’s Monaco – with a hell of a lot better racing! The event already has great organization and infrastructure, so it stands to strengthen even more as a pillar of the INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Plus, let’s get real: The Los Angeles market is very attractive for all series as the second-biggest city in America and the entertainment capital of the world. The NASCAR Cup Series and F1 don’t race in Tinseltown, but the NTT INDYCAR SERIES does and will for years to come after this deal. That’s good for INDYCAR.