After a season of positive momentum and foundation building that resulted in increased metrics for television and at-track spectator viewing, the NTT IndyCar Series season has hit a slight bump even before rolling over to 2024.
With the recent news that the new hybrid engine formula on which the series was heavily relying to kickoff their continued rise for next year is delayed, IndyCar is now edging closer to something no sport wants.
Staleness.
And IndyCar has a history of flirting with staleness.
It’s been covered by multiple outlets, all questioning whether the series is making the right strategic decision in moving forward with the Dallara DW12 chassis in parallel with the new engine formula. Leadership is taking a patient approach, introducing new technology and additional cost, via testing and components, on the teams in a dedicated manner. The business approach in that doesn’t seem too perplexing or questionable. After all, IndyCar isn’t ripe with the millions of dollars that other racing series like NASCAR and Formula 1 attract nor does it pull in the monster television revenue. The paddock is full of owners who are in this because they have a great passion for racing, not to make a fortune off selling their assets in exchange for a driver to put on track.
Still, the teams need to at least stay in the black to continue operation.
Is it good for the series, though, to have put focus on the engine and relegate a new car design to later?
Let’s see what the TV viewership says at St. Pete. Rather than touting the introduction of a new engine formula, and no new car look, the series is rolling into the season opener in March exactly the same way they did in 2023. The drivers will have their storylines: Will Alex Palou repeat? Does Josef Newgarden defend his Indianapolis 500 win? Which driver out of the crop of rookies jumps out? Does Palou spend a third consecutive season in as many court rooms as victory lanes?
Now look at the sports landscape across the nation and see what IndyCar’s professional, major league brethren are doing.
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