Former F1 driver Jean Alesi has confirmed he will race in the Indianapolis 500 next year.
IndyCar articles archive
The most famous IndyCar race is the Indianapolis 500, held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of huge crowds. However American open-wheel racing has a chequered history.
The championship reached its peak in the late eighties and early nineties under the sanctioning body CART. It attracted huge international attention as Formula 1 champions including Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti competed in it.
However the creation of the rival Indy Racing League in 1996 created a split which badly damaged the championship. CART, which rebranded as Champ Car, fell into decline. By 2008, with Champ Car on the bring of collapse, the two series finally merged, but the damage had been.
Nonetheless today’s IndyCar championship retains a reputation for spectacular racing with its single-specification chassis and features a broad range of circuits including road, street and traditional American oval courses.
F1 may not have a close title fight but these five do
Why you should watch...
Posted onIf you’re looking for a close title battle, now’s the time to cast your gaze beyond F1.
Why are car makers shunning F1 for other series?
Debates and polls
Posted onWhy are car makers choosing Le Mans, DTM and other championships over F1?
Wheldon wins Indy 500 as Hildebrand crashes at last corner
IndyCar
Posted onDrama at Indianapolis as Wheldon wins again.
2011 Indianapolis 500 preview
IndyCar
Posted onA special edition of F1 Fanatic Live will follow the 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
The Triple Crown: a forgotten triumph
Posted onThis is a guest article by Tom Bellingham. Will anyone ever match Graham Hill’s incredible feat of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours? Guest writer Tom Bellingham thinks not. What is the greatest achievement in motor sport? Michael Schumacher’s seven world championships? Sebastien Loeb?������s six world rally titles? Valentino … Continue reading The Triple Crown: a forgotten triumph
Why you should watch… IndyCar
Posted onThink ‘IndyCar’ and many European racing fans think ‘ovals’. But this year’s IndyCar championship features more road and street tracks than ovals as the series becomes ever closer in spirit to its CART heyday.
Ten must-watch races of 2010 (Video)
Posted onWe’re all F1 fanatics here but even with a biggest-ever calendar of 19 races this year that still leaves 33 F1-free weekends. So what’s the other must-see racing action in 2010 this year? Here’s my top ten picks – name yours below.
Castroneves takes vital victory to stay in title hunt (Indy Car)
Posted onHelio Castroneves headed a Penske one-two at Infineon Raceway to breathe life into his championship effort. He ended a 29-race streak without a win after scoring seven second places so far this year. It came just days after Penske lost both their original race cars when one of their transporters cost fire. Castroneves and Ryan … Continue reading Castroneves takes vital victory to stay in title hunt (Indy Car)
2009 Indy Car calendar revealed: Long Beach and Toronto in, Nashville out (Indy Car)
Posted onThe 2009 Indy Car calendar has been announced and there are three big changes. The Nashville oval is out and two of the top ex-CART/Champ Car venues join the schedule. Both are street tracks: the first is Long Beach, the iconic CART venue once used for Formula 1, which will hold the second round of … Continue reading 2009 Indy Car calendar revealed: Long Beach and Toronto in, Nashville out (Indy Car)
Scott Dixon takes fifth win of 2008 at Edmonton (Indy Car)
Posted onScott Dixon won once again in the Indy Racing League thanks to rapid pit work by his Ganassi pit crew and a slice of fortunate with the race distance. Dixon had a quiet race until the late stages when one of his Penske rivals was knocked into a spin and the other fell back in … Continue reading Scott Dixon takes fifth win of 2008 at Edmonton (Indy Car)
Ex-Champ Car drivers shine at Edmonton (Indy Car)
Posted onThe former Champ Car drivers in the Indy Racing League have enjoyed their best qualifying session of the year at Edmonton. It’s the only time the IRL regulars and the ‘transition teams’ will compete together at an ex-Champ Car venue this year. Penske duo Ryan Brisco and Helio Castroneves locked out the front row but … Continue reading Ex-Champ Car drivers shine at Edmonton (Indy Car)
Scott Dixon lucks in to Nashville win (Indy Car)
Posted onA pit lane error handed the Ganassi team a lucky one-two at Nashville. Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon failed to make it into the pits during a late yellow flag period but when rain fell on the track it handed the pair a fortunate one-two. Helio Castroneves took third ahead of Tony Kanaan and Danica … Continue reading Scott Dixon lucks in to Nashville win (Indy Car)
Hunter-Reay takes maiden win at Watkins Glen
Posted onRyan Hunter-Reay scored a surprise maiden win at Watkins Glen in a dramatic conclusion to the race at the New York circuit.
Dario Franchitti should swallow his pride and return to Indy Car after being dropped by his NASCAR team
Posted onDario Franchitti has been dropped as a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver by Chip Ganassi Racing. He will no longer compete in the top tier of the championship, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll now race in the Nationwide or Craftsman Trucks series. I’m no fan of NASCAR and I thought Franchitti’s decision to … Continue reading Dario Franchitti should swallow his pride and return to Indy Car after being dropped by his NASCAR team
Birthday boy Dan Wheldon wins in Iowa (Indy Car)
Posted onDan Wheldon took a canny victory in Iowa after covering the final 90 laps without stopping for fuel – and he did it all on his birthday! He was able to stretch out his final stint thanks in part to a length caution period after Tony Kanaan crashed out of third on lap 212 of … Continue reading Birthday boy Dan Wheldon wins in Iowa (Indy Car)
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 9
IndyCar
Posted onThe final part of our look at Champ Car drivers who raced in Formula 1 includes one of the most incredible stories of survival in any sport – never mind just motor racing.
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 8
IndyCar
Posted onPart eight of our look at drivers who raced in both F1 and IndyCar.
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 7
IndyCar
Posted onNelson Piquet and Bobby Rahal are two of the most successful drivers in F1 and Champ Car respectively. Read more about them here plus the driver who started just one race in each category.
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 6
IndyCar
Posted onOne of the most exciting talents to join F1 from Champ Car, Juan Pablo Montoya, is among the names in today’s installment of the CART drivers who raced in F1 series.