Brown's Vision for the Future of IndyCar Racing

In an open letter published Monday, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown (pictured) shared his vision for the NTT IndyCar Series, calling for strategic changes to elevate the championship’s appeal and secure its future.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Reflecting on the recently concluded 2025 season, Brown highlighted three key areas—calendar restructuring, a cutting-edge new car, and enhanced digital engagement—to sustain IndyCar’s momentum and attract new audiences.

Revamping the Racing Calendar

Brown emphasized the need for a more impactful racing schedule to replicate the electrifying atmosphere of the Indy 500 across the season. “We need to shake up our racing calendar to be more impactful,” he wrote. “How can we bring the blockbuster energy of the Indy 500 to the rest of the schedule? What can we learn from other series?”

The 2025 IndyCar season, spanning from early March to late August, has drawn criticism for its brevity and six-month off-season. Brown suggested advancing the calendar to avoid clashing with the NFL, which begins in September, and to reduce downtime. “I fully get the concern over not going up against the NFL,” he said. “Perhaps we should pull the calendar forward to avoid a short season with too much downtime from September to March.”

He also advocated for expanding IndyCar’s geographic reach, particularly into larger markets. While praising the upcoming Arlington, Texas race, Brown noted a gap in the Northeast, where no race is currently scheduled. “We need to shift away from smaller markets and trend toward bigger markets where we can turn the whole race weekend into truly unmissable events,” he said. One potential cut could be Iowa Speedway, which has seen declining attendance since losing Hy-Vee’s sponsorship, despite its history of blockbuster crowds.

A New Car to Ignite Excitement

Brown stressed the importance of IndyCar’s next-generation chassis, set to debut in 2028, as a pivotal opportunity to refresh the series. While acknowledging that the current DW12 chassis delivers thrilling racing, he admitted it’s outdated. “We need to get the car right,” Brown said. “Fans should feel the excitement of the new car when it debuts. The end result needs to be worth the wait.”

He also called for an enhanced engine sound to amplify the visceral thrill of attending races. “It would be great to get a bit more sound out of the engine to really add to that experience,” he noted, emphasizing the need to create a memorable on-track spectacle.

Boosting Digital Engagement

Drawing from his experience in Formula 1, Brown urged IndyCar to capitalize on the digital space to attract younger fans and tap into the motorsport fandom sparked by F1’s North American surge. While commending Fox Sports for a 27% audience increase over NBC Sports in 2025, he identified digital platforms as an untapped opportunity. “We’re still far from where we need to be to attract a younger audience,” Brown said. “We’re missing out on the new motorsport fandom that Formula 1 has created in North America.”

He proposed more engaging online content to bring the sport closer to fans who may never attend a race in person. “Let’s find ways to expose this new generation of fans to our great racing in IndyCar and tap into that incredible momentum,” he urged.

A Bright Future Ahead

Brown expressed optimism about IndyCar’s trajectory, noting significant progress in recent years. However, he stressed the need for relentless focus to maintain this upward trend. “We’ve taken real steps forward, and I’m encouraged by the direction the IndyCar Series is heading,” he concluded. “But let’s stay laser-focused on what needs to be done to grow our fan base and tell the incredible stories our sport has to offer.”

With the 2026 season expected to maintain a similar 17-race schedule, Brown’s call for a bolder, more dynamic IndyCar signals an ambitious roadmap to elevate the series’ global standing and captivate a new generation of fans.