IndyCar Officially Announces Charter System For 2025
IndyCar has confirmed the establishment of a charter system that 10 teams will participate in, starting in 2025.
It handed out 25 charters that guarantee the cars a spot in every race, except for the Indy 500, which will still require qualifying to make the field.
The initial agreement runs through 203. It doesn’t include a TV revenue sharing compoinent like NASCAR’s, but only chartered teams will be allowed to participate in the Leaders Circle program, which pays bonus money to the top 22 cars in the points standings.
“This is an important development that demonstrates an aligned and optimistic vision for the future of our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said in a news release.
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“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our team owners for their collaboration and ideation throughout this process. Ultimately, we’re pleased to have a system in place that provides greater value for our ownership and the entries they field.”
Teams were limited to a maximum of three cars, which led Chip Ganassi Racing to reduce its team from five to three entries. Andretti Global, Arrow McLaren, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske also secured three charters each, while A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Dale Coyne Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing and Meyer Shank Racing all got two. Prema Racing will operate a two-car team without charters when it enters the series in 2025.
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Several of the chartered team owners voiced enthusiastic support for the system, but Arrow McLaren boss Zak Brown told the Associated Press he doesn’t see the value without revenue sharing and a guaranteed Indy 500 spot.
“It really only helps, from my perspective, helps in an event if a race is oversubscribed. If we had a (crash) in qualifying … and couldn’t qualify, I’m protected to make the race. From what I can see, that’s what I’m getting,” Brown said.
IndyCar has entered a new broadcast deal with Fox Sports that will see the entire 2025 season broadcast on the Fox network. Charter holders can sell them to other teams in an open marketplace, with approval from IndyCar.
