IndyCar’s high 5 storylines of the 2024 season

North America’s premier open-wheel collection had a superb yr. Actually. 2024 introduced with it enormous partnership bulletins like IndyCar’s multi-year settlement with FOX. Then there’s Prema — a storied feeder staff for racing greats — becoming a member of the ranks subsequent season, and a brand new race on the horizon set for Texas in Arlington. All of it says quite a bit in regards to the well being and development of the game. Followers might not essentially see the fruits of those massive information objects till effectively into the 2025 season and past. However regardless, there’s loads to be excited for.

However, earlier than the checkered flag waves on 2024, we’re taking a second to replicate on different main, pivotal storylines of IndyCar this previous season — the great and the unhealthy — earlier than issues begin again up in St. Pete for 2025.

5. The constitution

The constitution system made the listing, however in actuality many questions nonetheless stay over its significance. The way it works: Revealed in September, 9 staff house owners accepted charters for 25 entries. Every of these 25 entires, underneath the constitution settlement, is assured a beginning place in each IndyCar race, excluding the Indianapolis 500, which stays at the usual means of the quickest 33 making the sphere.

5 groups occupy three charters every: Andretti International, Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Workforce Penske. The likes of A.J. Foyt Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing and Meyer Shank Racing have two charters every. Prema, new to the collection in 2025, will function its two entries and not using a constitution. This leaves subsequent yr’s discipline set at 27 entries for every race exterior of the Indy 500.

The peculiar aspect of this settlement, is that the constitution consists of 25 entries, but, the Leaders Circle awards $1 million to every entry within the high 22. 

The phrases of the preliminary constitution agreements are set by means of the top of 2031. 

4. The Malukas saga

Here’s a truth: No different driver within the collection endured extra emotionally, mentally or bodily than David Malukas. Primed for the ‘massive time’ after signing on as Arrow McLaren’s newest pilot in September 2023, he laid down his first race laps in 2024 with a special staff… after hypothesis ran wild on whether or not he would have the ability to get again right into a automotive once more. 

All of this was due to the misfortune the Chicago native suffered after a biking accident within the preseason. His extreme accidents included torn ligaments in his left wrist that required surgical procedure. It put him on the sidelines, watching the likes of Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire take turns in his automotive. When the month of Might hit, the staff parted methods with Malukas, citing his unavailability. Then, Meyer Shank Racing threw him a lifeline, placing him within the automotive beforehand occupied by Tom Blomqvist who was jettisoned from the staff’s IndyCar program  (however saved on for IMSA) after a number of mishaps that capped off with a gap lap crash within the Indy 500.

To his credit score, Malukas responded with a powerful efficiency that included battling late with Workforce Penske’s Will Energy for a possible breakthrough win earlier than contact crashed him out at Gateway. He was additionally within the combine late within the season finale at Nashville earlier than a technique miscue left him on the flawed aspect of the battle with the precise race winner, Colton Herta. 

Whereas there’s a fondness for what Meyer Shank Racing did for his profession, Malukas is ready for one more recent begin in 2025 with AJ Foyt Racing.

3. Pato Who? 

The Friday main into the Milwaukee doubleheader weekend is probably going one which Penske Leisure CEO Mark Miles received’t neglect anytime quickly, or on the very least, the followers and paddock received’t permit him to. 

The excitement going into the weekend was how NASCAR swooped in to seize a race in Mexico for 2025, beating IndyCar to the punch — one thing Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward, a local of Monterrey, Mexico, voiced his frustrations over. Miles shared some ideas on a possible return, which additionally led to him calling into query O’Ward’s reputation in comparison with that of Adrian Fernandez, one other beloved driver from Mexico that raced within the collection from 1993-2005. How did O’Ward reply? By going out and profitable the opening race the following day — following it up with the remark, “Pato who?” within the post-race press convention. After which, similar to that, billboards started popping up round Indianapolis with that very same phrase, little question for viewing pleasure on Miles’ means into the workplace. 

Whether or not it was a real thought by Miles or a technique to assist push the needle, talks have since ramped up for the collection to probably return for a race in Mexico by 2026.

2. The hybrid engine cometh… lastly

It took longer than anticipated, and debuted at one of many weirdest potential occasions, however the long-awaited hybrid engine lastly arrived in 2024. IndyCar officers, with assist from Chevrolet and Honda, had been capable of push out the brand new creation midseason on the Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course. The race started with a dud as six-time collection champion Scott Dixon’s title hopes diminished on the tempo laps, nevertheless it ended with a sensational end between O’Ward and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou. 

Patricio O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photographs

The remainder of the yr, although, was a mix of feast or famine. The heavier weight the hybrid added to the vehicles damage passing, and the fee — particularly within the wake of crashing — drew the ire of driver/proprietor Ed Carpenter.

Just like the constitution system, the hybrid is in its infancy, so points and disadvantages are anticipated by means of the training interval. Groups’ and drivers’ endurance might be essential in its growth and hopeful success.

1. The Penske push-to-pass scandal

It isn’t a superb look to personal a collection, and have entry to know-how the remainder of the groups cannot use, after which, use it. Some would possibly name it a battle of curiosity. Some would possibly see it as dishonest. In a nutshell, Roger Penske, the proprietor of the IndyCar Collection and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and his race group, Workforce Penske, put to make use of a brand new push-to-pass characteristic that put them within the crosshairs of an overtake scandal in the beginning the season. 

Officers realized of the state of affairs in Lengthy Seashore, the second points-paying occasion of the season, courtesy of a number of groups having identified the information flaws on the scoring screens. Following an investigation, the Collection concluded that Workforce Penske did illegally have the push-to-pass software program (that offered an additional 50 horsepower) put in, and utilized it. The punishment: Josef Newgarden misplaced his victory on the streets of St. Petersburg, and Scott McLaughlin misplaced his third-place end from that very same weekend. Will Energy, who didn’t use the overtake, however his automotive was fitted with the software program settings, was docked 10 factors.

McLaughlin issued a social publish shortly after particulars turned public, whereas Newgarden held a press convention to share his view of the state of affairs in the course of the weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. Within the wake of Penske’s black eye, staff president Tim Cindric — who additionally serves as Newgarden’s strategist — was suspended from the Indy 500, together with Newgarden’s race engineer and assistant engineer.

Honorable mentions: Shifting Music Metropolis, Kyle Larson’s Indy 500 debut  

Nashville was set to host the season finale on a revised avenue course by means of downtown, nevertheless it was cancelled just some weeks previous to the season beginning because of building woes courtesy of the Tennessee Titans’ new NFL stadium. So, the collection known as an audible and, with the numerous assist of Massive Machine, the occasion’s promotor, occasion was capable of transfer the Music Metropolis Grand Prix to Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval the collection hadn’t raced at since 2008, in close by Lebanon. The result was stout, with an honest crowd that witnessed among the finest races of the yr, which noticed Andretti International’s Herta rating his maiden oval victory in a thriller over O’Ward.

Earlier 2024, Kyle Larson was set to grow to be the fifth driver (and first since Kurt Busch in 2014) to finish ‘The Double’ by working the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the identical day. Mom Nature put a damper on these hopes by delaying the beginning of “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” however the 2021 NASCAR Cup Collection champion opted to remain in Indianapolis. Regardless of attending to Charlotte with sufficient time to leap within the automotive, the second leg of his Memorial Day Weekend trek was derailed by rain as effectively. 

Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Phoenix testing

Photograph by: Arrow McLaren SP

The California native, driving a Chevrolet-powered entry shared by Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, impressed all through the month and on race day. He earned Rookie of the Yr honors after setting a single-lap, rookie file qualifying time of 233.43 mph earlier than finally beginning fifth. The race noticed Larson carry out admirably, combating again from a mis-shift on an early restart and poised for a possible high 10 earlier than a pit highway dashing penalty on lap 131 of 200 relegated him to 18th. He’ll make one other try in any respect 1,100 miles in 2025 in a returning effort by Arrow McLaren and Cup staff proprietor Rick Hendrick.