yCar got here out earlier in December and introduced the formation of INDYCAR Officiating Inc., which will likely be an impartial officiating physique for the American open wheel racing sequence beginning in 2026. IndyCar star Alexander Rossi just lately got here out and instructed that former IndyCar drivers to be in rivalry to steer the officiating physique.
An Impartial Officiating Board (IOB) was set as much as govern the brand new impartial officiating system. Ray Evernham and Raj Nair had been two of the members chosen through a vote from the IndyCar groups. The third member was chosen by the FIA, named Ronan Morgan.
The board comprising the three members has now been tasked with deciding on a Managing Director of Officiating (MDO). The MDO will report back to the Impartial Officiating Board with no interference from IndyCar or Penske Leisure.
As soon as the MDO is appointed, he/she’s going to then be tasked with constructing a race management staff, technical staff, and hiring for different areas required for full officiating oversight.
With the IOB nonetheless within the decision-making part relating to the MDO, Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi got here out on the Off Monitor with Hinch and Rossi podcast and revealed that two former IndyCar drivers are in rivalry for the MDO position. Nevertheless, Rossi did not identify both of the 2. He stated
“I’ve. I undoubtedly cannot share (the names), however I can say that two of them had been ex-racing drivers. Like IndyCar drivers.” (31:00 onwards)
“Oh, and the opposite one was an individual that was very influential on the American aspect for the FIA. And that is all the small print I will give,” added Rossi as he revealed the third individual in rivalry for the MDO place.
FIA President reacts to the formation of IndyCar’s Impartial officiating system
The American open-wheel racing sequence hosted a delegation of the FIA on the Milwaukee Mile in 2025 to grasp the workings of an exterior governing physique for motorsports. Over the following few months, a choice to kind an impartial officiating physique was made relatively than having an exterior governing physique as F1 does within the type of the FIA.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reacted to the formation of the impartial officiating physique for IndyCar, as he stated,
“INDYCAR is an American icon and I’m happy with the connection we’re constructing collectively. The FIA’s impartial experience in delivering constant officiating oversight throughout our World Championships, mixed with INDYCAR’s innovation and aggressive spirit, will help the continued development of the sequence. I stay up for the work forward of us.”
The FIA is not going to be part of any means aside from the appointment of one of many three members on the Impartial Officiating Board.
Edited by Pranay Bhagi
