Spanish driver Álex Palou entered the season as the defending champion, having obtained his second IndyCar title in 2023, while Josef Newgarden entered the season as the defending Indianapolis 500 winner.
Background and series news
The 2.2-liter engines used in the series are scheduled to have hybrid technology implemented after the original plans to debut a new 2.4-liter hybrid engine formula were scrapped.[1] The original plan was to introduce the hybrid powertrain at the start of the season in St. Petersburg, but on December 7, 2023, IndyCar announced a delay to its introduction, until after the Indianapolis 500.[2] IndyCar announced on May 14, 2024 that the new hybrid powertrain would debut at Mid-Ohio.[3]
This is also the final year of IndyCar's current television contract with NBC Sports, which began in 2019 and was extended in 2021.[4][5]
New race restart procedures were introduced for 2024. On restarts, a new "restart line" was introduced, which drivers must pass before making overtaking attempts. The rule was introduced in response to a large number of incidents in 2023 that occurred from cars attempting to overtake early on race restarts.[6]
For all oval events, the series mandated new, stronger rear suspension uprights on all cars. The new components were introduced in response to an incident during the 2023 Indianapolis 500 where a rear wheel assembly broke free from a car and was launched over the catch fence meant to contain cars to the race circuit.[7]
On January 12, 2023, Arrow McLaren confirmed reports that 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson would drive for the team in the Indianapolis 500, with the entry to be co-owned by Larson's Cup Series car owner Rick Hendrick.[23]
On August 11, 2023, Meyer Shank Racing confirmed reports that its IMSA driver Tom Blomqvist would drive for its No. 66 entry full-time in 2024, with 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner Hélio Castroneves moving to an Indy-only role for the team, as well as receiving an ownership stake in the team.[41]
On September 2, 2023, NBC Sports reported that Romain Grosjean told them that he would be departing Andretti Autosport after two seasons with the team.[51]
On October 4, 2023, Grosjean released a statement confirming his departure from Andretti, and that he has commenced an arbitration proceeding in Indiana against the team, saying that he had expected to continue racing with the team "in the coming years."[52]
On September 5, 2023, 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2016 IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud released a statement confirming his departure from Meyer Shank Racing after two seasons, saying that he would be focusing on his recovery from injuries sustained in a crash during practice at Mid-Ohio in 2023.[53]
On September 7, 2023, Chip Ganassi Racing confirmed reports that Marcus Armstrong had re-signed with the team on a full-time basis with a multi-year contract, having served as road/street course driver alongside Takuma Sato in 2023.[29]
On September 8, 2023, Arrow McLaren confirmed reports that David Malukas had signed to drive the No. 6 entry full-time in 2024, departing Dale Coyne Racing after two seasons.[54]
On September 18, 2023, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that development driver Kyffin Simpson would join the team full time in 2024, expanding the team to 5 cars.[24]
On October 23, 2023, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that Haas F1 Team reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi would drive the team's No. 30 entry full-time in 2024, making his first start in the series since the 2021 season. The same day, RLL confirmed that Jüri Vips, who drove the No. 30 entry in the final two races of 2023, would remain under contract with the team, with the possibility of part-time competition in a fourth entry, testing duties and opportunities in IMSA competition.[45][55]
On October 25, 2023, Ed Carpenter Racing announced that 2023 Indy NXT champion Christian Rasmussen would drive the team's No. 20 entry on road and street courses in 2024, and in a third entry at the Indianapolis 500. Team owner/driver Ed Carpenter will compete in all oval races in the No. 20, having driven for the team's third entry for the last two seasons.[37]
On October 26, 2023, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that they had mutually decided to part ways with driver Callum Ilott after three seasons together.[56] On November 2, 2023, Juncos confirmed that Romain Grosjean signed for the team, replacing the outgoing Ilott.[39]
On December 15, 2023, A. J. Foyt Racing announced that Sting Ray Robb would drive the No. 41 entry full-time for the 2024 season, leaving Dale Coyne Racing after one season. Initial reports covering the announcement stated that Robb was to replace Benjamin Pedersen, with the entry being renumbered to 41 from the 55 which Pedersen drove in 2023.[9] However, later that day, Pedersen released a statement on social media implying that he had not left the team and that Robb would be joining as his teammate, with team director Larry Foyt being non-committal when directly asked if Robb was replacing Pedersen during a teleconference with media.[57] On January 9, 2024, Larry Foyt confirmed that Pedersen was departing the team as his contract had "lapsed".[58]
On February 13, 2024, David Malukas confirmed that he had injured his wrist while mountain biking and would miss the first race of the season to recover.[59]Callum Ilott was announced as his replacement on March 5,[17] and also competed at the non-championship event at The Thermal Club.
On March 5, Dale Coyne Racing announced that Jack Harvey would drive the No. 18 entry in 14 races this year, with 2023 Indy NXT rookie of the year Nolan Siegel partaking in events that do not clash with his Indy NXT commitments, including the Indianapolis 500. Coyne also confirmed sports car and former NASCAR driver Colin Braun would drive the No. 51 in at least the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the non-championship event at The Thermal Club.[31]
Mid-season
Throughout the season, Dale Coyne Racing would announce multiple drivers for its No. 51 entry:
On April 9, that Katherine Legge would drive for the No. 51 entry for the Indianapolis 500.[34]
On April 15, that Nolan Siegel would switch from the No. 18 to the No. 51 at Long Beach, and that Jack Harvey would race the No. 18 at Long Beach, extending his program in that entry to 15 races.[32]
On April 25, that former Williams F1 test driver Luca Ghiotto would drive the No. 51 at Barber Motorsports Park and the Indianapolis Grand Prix.[33]
On April 9, Arrow McLaren confirmed that David Malukas would miss the second round at Long Beach and that Callum Ilott was unavailable due to a conflicting FIA World Endurance Championship round.[60] On April 18, reigning Formula 2 champion Théo Pourchaire was announced as the driver of the No. 6 car for Long Beach.[19] On April 23, Pourchaire was confirmed to drive at Barber.[20]
On April 29, Arrow McLaren announced the release of Malukas from his contract, citing the reason that he still had no confirmed return date from the wrist injuries sustained in the mountain bike accident on February 11.[61] On May 9, Pourchaire was confirmed to drive the No. 6 for the remainder of the season,[21] bar the Indianapolis 500 in which Ilott will drive.[18]
Team changes
Preseason
On September 5, 2023, Andretti Autosport announced a rebrand that would take effect for the 2024 season, with all of its race teams running under the Andretti Global banner.[62]
On October 3, 2023, Arrow McLaren and Juncos Hollinger Racing announced the formation of a strategic alliance that "may evolve over time," beginning with a "commercial and strategic focus" and "talent development opportunity."[39]
On November 10, 2023, Andretti Global confirmed that they would reduce to three entries from four for the 2024 season.[63]
Mid-season
Abel Motorsports was planning to enter the Indy 500,[64][65] but the team shelved its efforts on May 3 due to lack of sponsorship.[66] On the same press release, team manager John Brunner stated the team could look into competing at other races later in the season.
Schedule
The schedule was released on September 25, 2023.[67]
NOTE: Race names are preliminary and subject to change.
O Oval/Speedway R Road/Street course NC Non-championship race
Schedule changes
On August 3, IndyCar announced that the Music City Grand Prix would host the season finale from 2024 onwards. The 2024 race was scheduled to feature a new layout running through Broadway in Downtown Nashville, but still featuring the Korean War Memorial Bridge.[73]Laguna Seca's date was moved to June to accommodate this. On February 14, 2024 – and due to anticipated construction beginning on the New Nissan Stadium which would interfere with the circuit – the race was moved 30 miles (48 kilometres) east to Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee,[72] for the first IndyCar race at the track since 2008.
On September 25, IndyCar released the 2024 schedule. The Texas race, which had been a feature of the schedule from the 1996–97 season, will not return in 2024. Besides Texas, the Gallagher Grand Prix will not return in 2024, ending the joint IndyCar–NASCAR weekend (where both series raced at the same venue on the same weekend) established in 2020. Both races were replaced by the Milwaukee Mile Doubleheader.[74] Night races will also be reintroduced for the Saturday Iowa race and Gateway.[67]
Ties are broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc.; then by finishing position in the previous race; then by random draw.[78]
Position
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th+
Points
50
40
35
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
Driver standings
At all races except the Indy 500, the pole position qualifier earns 1 point (unless qualifying is not held).[79] The twelve Indy 500 qualifiers who qualify for the fast 12 session receive points based on the results of that session, descending from 12 points for first place.[80]
Drivers who lead at least one race lap are awarded 1 point.[81] The driver who leads the most laps during a race scores an additional 2 points.[81]
Entrant-initiated engine change-outs before the engine reaches their required distance run result in the loss of 10 points.[82]
^Josef Newgarden led 92 of the 100 laps, but was disqualified from the race. Christian Lundgaard led the second highest number of laps, with seven. No points were awarded for leading the most laps.[75][76]
^Pruett, Marshall (September 9, 2022). "New deal for Power next on Penske checklist". RACER. Retrieved July 8, 2023. "We just did Scotty and we're on a long-term contract with Josef right now," Penske told RACER.
^Kelly, Paul (March 23, 2024). "Rosenqvist, Palou Capture Poles for Thermal Heat Races". IndyCar Series. IndyCar. Retrieved March 24, 2024. Palou will start on the pole for the 20-lap Sprint for the Purse – divided into two-lap segments [sic] – if he wins his heat race because he produced the quickest lap of the two qualifying segments.
Josef Newgarden
Kyffin Simpson[N 4]
Pato O'Ward[N 6]
Álex Palou[N 7]
Felix Rosenqvist
Scott Dixon
Honda
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