Can You Hear The Engines Roar? IndyCar Records Meant to be Broken in 2023
You know you want it... the sound of IndyCars. Here is a flashback.. but our time is coming fast for 2023 engines .. March 5 is around the corner, race fans.
INDYCAR Prepares for Record-Making Season with Rising Momentum NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone Ready To Roll in St. PetersburgINDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 24, 2023) – Another winter is about to give way to a thrilling launch of NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone seasons along the palm tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 5 will see the most entries in each series in over a decade.
That’s only the beginning of the 2023 storylines:
Must-See TVFor the second consecutive season, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will appear on NBC network television a record 15 times, including two days of qualifying for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The first seven races of 2023 will be featured on broadcast TV and six of the final seven leading to the climactic season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Once again, all INDYCAR SERIES races will be simul streamed via Peacock.
For the second-consecutive year, Telemundo Deportes on Universo will provide Spanish-language coverage of the season-opening race, the Indianapolis 500 and the season finale. In addition, fans will see a new side to INDYCAR with a first-of-its-kind broadcast series, “100Days to Indy,” via the VICE Media Group and The CW Network.
Cameras and crews already are capturing and chronicling the bold and brash storylines leading up to “The Greatest Spectacle inRacing” on Sunday, May 28.
The premiere episode will air Thursday, April 27 on The CWNetwork. “This is a year of unprecedented coverage of the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Penske Entertainment Corp.
President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Between the front row seat that TheCW Network will provide fans and the best seat in the house provided by NBC, there won’t be astoryline without a spotlight.
Records Meant To Be Broken
2022 was a record-breaking season, with two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power becoming the sport’s all-time leader in pole positions (68). In addition, the Indianapolis 500 featured the fastest pole speed in history, the fastest front row in history and fastest field in history.
The most competitive open-wheel racing series on the planet was highlighted by the most on-track passes in seven seasons. The finish at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix – ScottDixon edged Scott McLaughlin by .1067 of a second – was the closest on a street circuit in INDYCAR SERIES history.
More records are in sight in 2023. Six-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon looks to add his name to the Astor Challenge Cup for a record seventh time – tying the legendary A.J.Foyt.
Helio Castroneves returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May for a second attempt ata record fifth “500” victory.“2022 was another record-setting season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “Each offseason, in collaboration with our owners, teams and drivers, we evaluateall aspects of competition-related initiatives and believe our updates will make 2023 even morecompetitive.
This season, 19 drivers from nine countries will pursue the 2023 championship and an increased$1.4 million purse. The INDY NXT by Firestone champion will receive $850,000 to be applied to an oval test atTexas Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 Open Test and Rookie Orientation Program, an entry for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and an entry for an additional 2024 NTTINDYCAR SERIES event.
For the first time, the championship team will receive a prize of$35,000. After an expansion of teams and car count in 2022, the 2023 season will feature the highest entry list for the developmental series since 2009.“Incorporating this series with the rest of the INDYCAR paddock has increased the profile andexcitement for the drivers and teams,” INDY NXT Director Levi Jones said.
“Firestone’senthusiastic return also is another important step in developing the new generation of racers and growing the series to new levels.”All 14 INDY NXT races will again be available in the United States via Peacock with coverage on INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, in those countries not covered by international agreements.
The first entry to win on all three types of circuits – road course, street circuit and oval – will split $1 million with the racetam and the driver’s chosen charity. In 2022, two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden claimed the grand prize with wins at Texas, Long Beach and Road America.PeopleReady is continuing to offer an additional $10,000 to the winner of every race this season,also to be split with the driver’s favorite charitable organization.INDYCAR’s season begins March 3-5 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season debut, Sunday, March 5 will be available at noon ET on NBC with a simulstream available on Peacock.