• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • KTM Summer Grill
  • SUPERCARS
  • F1
  • MOTOGP
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • GT & ENDURANCE
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • GT & Endurance
  • Karting
  • Bikes
  • Rally
Home IndyCar

McLaren boss pleas for IndyCar calendar ‘shake up’

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has urged IndyCar to be bold with its calendar.

Simon Chapman
Simon Chapman
16 Sep 2025
Simon Chapman
//
16 Sep 2025
// IndyCar
A A
0
McLaren boss pleas for IndyCar calendar ‘shake up’
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. Image: Joe Skibinski

expected IndyCar will drop its 2026 schedule on Wednesday with a variety of changes.

Several have already been confirmed, including the addition of a race in Arlington, Texas.

The street circuit will feature several landmarks, including the stadium at which the Dallas Cowboys NFL team and the Texas Ranger MLB team play.

IndyCar will also move its annual Ontario visit from Toronto to Markham as part of a new five-year deal.

One highly anticipated change that has not come to fruition is that of a Mexico City, south of the United States border.

IndyCar announced its plans had been thwarted by complications arising from the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

In an open letter, Brown said there was “work to be done” by IndyCar and a need to future proof the series, keep up momentum, as well as growing and attracting new audiences.

“We need to shake up our racing calendar to be more impactful,” said Brown.

“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 new race in Arlington, Texas is going to be awesome. But we still have a gap by not having a race in the Northeast.

“We need to shift away from some of the smaller markets and trend toward bigger markets where we can turn the whole race weekend into truly unmissable events.”

McLaren's Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing at Nashville Superspeedway.

McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing at Nashville Superspeedway. Image: James Black

IndyCar has been criticised for its relatively short season. This year’s first round took place on the first weekend of March and concluded on the last weekend of August.

It’s expected the number of rounds will not budge much from the 17-round schedule this year.

One event that could be reduced from its two-race program or scratched entirely from the calendar is Iowa Speedway.

After years of blockbuster crowds, the event has dwindled in attendance since supermarket chain Hy-Vee dropped its support.

Brown said IndyCar is too concerned with going up against the NFL, which traditionally begins in the first week of September.

“I fully get the concern over not going up against the NFL,” he said.

“So perhaps we should look at pulling the calendar forward a bit to avoid a short season with currently too much downtime from September to March.”

Brown straddles his motor racing interests across IndyCar and Formula 1. He said the former should be inspired by the latter in a bid to grow digitally.

He lauded US broadcast partner Fox Sports for its 27 percent audience increase on predecessor NBC Sports but said the online space was lacking.

“We’ve got so much room for growth in the digital space,” he said.

“We’re still far from where we need to be to attract a younger audience and are missing out on the opportunity to attract the new motorsport fandom that Formula 1 has created in North America.

“For the millions of fans who may never attend a race in person, we need to bring the sport closer by offering more engaging content across our digital platforms.

“Let’s find ways to expose this new generation of fans to our great racing in IndyCar and tap into that incredible momentum.

“All of this will help us grow our fan base and tell the incredible stories our sport has to offer.

“We’ve taken some real steps forward, and I am definitely encouraged by the direction the IndyCar Series is heading in, but let’s stay laser focused on what needs to be done.”



Tags: indycarntt indycar serieszak brown
Speedcafe Network 100 - logo representing the directory of leading suppliers to the motorsport industry in Australia

List your business today!

Sportsnet Holidays logo - Black text reads "sportsnet" with a red swirl at the beginning and "holidays" below in smaller text.

Sportsnet Holidays

Hospitality & Events

Sportsnet Holidays is Asia Pacific’s leading sports travel specialist. Founded in Melbourne in 1998, the company has more than 25 years of experience delivering unforgettable experiences for fans attending major sporting events around the world—including...

Sportsnet Holidays is Asia Pacific’s leading sports travel specialist. Founded in Melbourne in 1998, the company has more than 25 years of experience delivering unforgettable...

Discussion about this post

[postcode_search_form]

Latest from Torquecafe

Italian track weapon could be coming to an Australian circuit near you

20 December 2025

Can this iconic hot hatch rekindle its magic? We drive it to find out

20 December 2025

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: The Golden Credit Awards

17 December 2025

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing #74 with Dean Lillie

09 December 2025

Related Articles

Scott McLaughlin drives for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series.

Broadcast start times set for 2026 IndyCar Series

IndyCar
1 day ago
IndyCar
0
Scott Dixon (left) with son Kit at Sir Colin Giltrap Raceway.

Scott Dixon’s son first to lap new Auckland kart track

New Zealand
2 days ago
New Zealand
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Platinum Partners

Latest & Trending News

The stunning Brabham-themed plane. Image: Brisbane Airport

Brabham commemorative plane touches down in Australia

F1
20 December 2025
F1
0

GM adamant it can be a Supercars winner in 2026

Supercars
20 December 2025
Supercars
0

Brad Keselowski breaks leg in offseason skiing accident

NASCAR US
20 December 2025
NASCAR US
0
The Grove Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 by GetSpeed.

Allen to make GT3 debut in famous 24-hour race

GT & Endurance
20 December 2025
GT & Endurance
0

SUMMER GRILL: Inside GM’s response to T8 defection

KTM Summer Grill 2025/2026
20 December 2025
KTM Summer Grill 2025/2026
0
Valentino Rossi is returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour next February. Image: InSyde Media

Valentino Rossi seals Bathurst 12 Hour return

Bathurst 12 Hour
20 December 2025
Bathurst 12 Hour
0

Advertisement

Pirtek Poll

POLL: Who is your favourite Supercars driver?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls
2025 Supercars Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Chaz Mostert
Mobil 1 Optus Racing
25 4 1 5306
2
Will Brown
Red Bull Ampol Racing
1 2 1 5244
3
Broc Feeney
Red Bull Ampol Racing
88 14 19 5240
4
Kai Allen
Penrite Racing
26 0 0 5233
5
Matthew Payne
Penrite Racing
19 5 1 4461
2025 Formula 1 Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Lando Norris (GBR)
McLaren
4 7 7 423
2
Max Verstappen (NED)
Red Bull
1 7 7 421
3
Oscar Piastri (AUS)
McLaren
81 7 6 410
4
George Russell (GBR)
Mercedes
63 2 2 319
5
Charles Leclerc (MON)
Ferrari
16 0 1 242
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates KTM FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions bathurst
Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy /

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

[mailpoet_form id=”28″]