Brown pens latest 'State of IndyCar' letter

Yesterday at 11:13 AM

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has penned his latest takes on the IndyCar Series ahead of the first race where his three-car Arrow McLaren team will attempt to earn its first championship and Indianapolis 500 win:

Dear IndyCar fans,

After five long months since the 2024 IndyCar Series season finale in Nashville, we're finally back on track this weekend in St. Petersburg, where Pato is the reigning race winner after a late trophy exchange from our friends down the paddock.  

I couldn't be more excited to tune into FOX's broadcast this weekend. In the list of things that we can do to improve IndyCar, number one was finding the right broadcast partner, and to have FOX on board is fantastic. Eric Shanks has a personal commitment to and passion for IndyCar, and I think that will come through in the broadcast quality.  

FOX is clearly invested in doing this the right way as they take on full broadcast rights for the series. We've already seen the next-level promotions they've produced this offseason beginning with announcing my good friend Michael Strahan in the pace car for the Indy 500, to the top-notch production sets at media day, and of course the commercials that aired through the NFL Playoffs and ultimately with Pato on Super Bowl Sunday. 

Those commercials epitomize what the series needs to embrace across the board – edgy, fresh, fun and out-of-the-box thinking and action. I'm impressed with what FOX is doing straight out of the gate, and from the conversations I've had with Eric and other FOX leadership and its production teams, that will continue through their broadcast coverage each race weekend. They're focused on learning about the history and future of IndyCar and what works best, intent on evolving their broadcast through the season. Continuous improvement, I love that.  

We'll have to look to 2026 and beyond for other big moments that will hopefully propel the series forward. The race in Arlington, Texas, in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers should be mega. I've always been a firm believer that being around successful people leads to more success happening. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to success, and having this link to the NFL is beneficial for exposure and much more for IndyCar. Hopefully we'll see more large market races on the schedule moving forward.  

The new car for 2027 is a positive move for the series. While the Dallara DW12 has been a safe and prolific car that has provided some outstanding racing, we've waited too long before taking the next step forward. I'm glad we're embracing newer technology and refreshing a great product from Dallara. 

Talking about the sport, I think we're making some good progress, but of course, we can never go fast enough, so there is a lot more we can be doing to get more eyeballs on the series and maximize its potential.  

The drivers are the stars of the show, and FOX has creatively promoted them in recent months, but we need to keep pushing as a collective. We need to continue searching for new successful avenues to promote their talents and personalities to in turn expand our audience. It will take a new and innovative approach, but the framework is in place to take monumental steps that will reward our sport immensely. 

Across McLaren, we're always pushing the boundaries, finding that extra 10% in innovation, creativity, competition, etc. That's what I expect of my team, and that's what we need to do collectively to grow IndyCar. 

IndyCar currently has some of the most committed fans in sport with the access it gives, but we have to make the investment and do the work to multiply that tenfold to get the series where it needs to be. And to the fans reading this note, we can't wait to be back with you trackside. I love seeing the sea of papaya through the paddock and in the grandstands. You are what it's all about. Now let's go racing! 

Cheers,  

Zak