Fox Corporation has acquired a one-third stake in Penske Entertainment, including INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and extended its media rights deal, signaling a new era of growth with innovative events, digital expansion, and increased promotion for the series, which has seen rising viewership and attendance.
Penske Entertainment has unveiled a proposed design for the 2027 IndyCar to team owners, sparking mixed reactions. The design, seen as a modified version of the current Dallara DW12, features a large rear wing similar to Formula 2 cars. Some owners, like Michael Shank and Dale Coyne, are calling for a more innovative and visually striking design, citing Adrian Newey's X1 concept as inspiration. Penske aims to retain many mechanical components from the DW12 to reduce costs, but feedback suggests a desire for a bolder approach. The design process remains open to changes.
Penske Entertainment has acquired the Long Beach Grand Prix, adding the iconic Southern California street race to its portfolio, which includes the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The acquisition comes as the event approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025. Penske plans to retain the current promotions team led by CEO Jim Michaelian, ensuring continuity and growth for the race, which is a key event in the IndyCar calendar and also features the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
IndyCar returns to a downtown street circuit in Detroit, replacing the Belle Isle venue on the calendar. The track is 1.7 miles long and features a split pitlane, with half the field pitting on the left and half on the right. The event is supported heavily by Penske Entertainment and promises to be one of the most fan-friendly events of the year, with more than half of the circuit open to the public free of charge. The track is similar to the Detroit Grand Prix Formula 1 layout of the 1980s, with tight corners and a long straight where cars will reach around 190mph.
Penske Entertainment, the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series, will replace the car of a fan whose Chevrolet was damaged by a flying tire during the Indianapolis 500. The tire came off driver Kirk Kirkwood's car and landed in the parking lot, crushing the Chevrolet owned by Robin Matthews. Matthews' car will be replaced, but it is not yet known what kind of car she will receive.
Penske Entertainment will replace a fan's car that was damaged by a flying tire during the Indianapolis 500 race. The incident occurred after a wreck involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood's cars, causing one of Kirkwood's tires to fly over the barrier and damage the fan's car. One spectator suffered minor injuries from debris from the wreck. Josef Newgarden won the race.
During the Indianapolis 500, a tire from Kyle Kirkwood's car flew into the parking lot and hit a fan's car. Penske Entertainment has offered to replace the damaged vehicle. The incident occurred when Felix Rosenqvist's car made contact with the outside wall, causing it to spin out and make contact with Kirkwood's car. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured, and both drivers were able to get out of their cars under their own power. Roger Penske spoke with Dallara executives to see if there is anything that can be done differently to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
The first event held in a new contract between Penske Entertainment and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated’s Texas Motor Speedway produced a double-digit percentage increase in attendance for the NTT IndyCar Series PPG 375 race, won by Josef Newgarden. TMS did not release a figure for crowd size, but the visible growth in the grandstands is a positive sign for the SMI circuit, which is working to recapture IndyCar’s glory days. TMS EVP and GM Mark Faber said that there is still much to be done to build on the momentum created last weekend, but they are moving in the right direction.