Why IndyCar Is Growing Again: Mike Shank, Honda, and the Series' Quiet Momentum

Viewership is climbing, teams are optimistic, and Indy Car finally has something to build upon.

It’s no revelation that motorsports as a collective entertainment entity has been experiencing a bit of a boon during the past several years. The easy answer is that Netflix’s Drive to Survive Formula 1 “reality” show was the most obvious catalyst for this, quickly pouring gallons of fuel on what began as more of a curious spark that subsequently propelled F1’s breakthrough in the U.S. market. But as someone who’s followed various racing series for more than 30 years now, with a decade spent as a full-time motorsports editor and journalist, I’ve repeatedly experienced things I not long ago never would have imagined when it comes to F1.

It’s mostly arrived in the form of I don’t know how many people on the street striking up a conversation with me about the sport simply because I happened to be wearing a random F1-related hat or maybe a T-shirt. Even immediate family members who never took any interest or cared about it despite seeing me watch it and hearing me talk about it and even making it a big part of my job are suddenly texting me ahead of every race asking for thoughts and predictions. I’m not sure if this is ever going to stop feeling at least a little bizarre. But since it’s happening, I’ve also taken the opportunity to tell these people, “If you like F1, it’s time for you to start watching IndyCar.”