The Race IndyCar Podcast

UPDATE: Due to a change in coverage plans, The Race IndyCar Podcast will appear exclusively in The Race Members' Club this season, as occasional episodes only. To access full episodes, you'll need to join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today (where, for a limited time, you can get 90% off your first month). In this feed we're presenting a sample of the most recent episode, where Jack Benyon and Glenn Freeman join Matt Beer to debate the perhaps surprisingly open first three rounds of the new season.Is Andretti finally consistently coming good, and has Penske got over its recent troubles? And do those two developments mean we really do have a title fight on our hands not just yet another Alex Palou/Ganassi walkover? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Indycar Split series concludes by looking at how the CART/IRL war finally came to an end after more than a decade of fighting.But before we get to that, we have to talk about one of the biggest fights that took place during the split: the battle over who really won the 2002 Indy 500.Glenn Freeman, Edd Straw and Indy Split book author John Oreovicz dig back in great detail over what happened between Penske IRL driver Helio Castroneves and Team Green CART driver Paul Tracy, who were battling for the lead on the penultimate lap of the race when the yellow flags came out for a crash.We also look into CART's decline and ultimate collapse, as its teams and engine manufacturers started switching full-time to the IRL.And finally we revisit the story of how the two sides finally came together, as well as asking if there really was a winner once the war was over and Indycar racing was reunited again in 2008. Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today and enjoy bonus F1 podcasts and ad-free listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to bring you episode 2 of our special three-part series on the infamous story of how Indycar racing was torn apart in the mid-90s.This episode deals with CART's US 500 nightmare as it attempted to go head-to-head with the first 'IRL' Indy 500 in 1996. Glenn Freeman, Edd Straw and John Oreovicz then look back on CART's strength in the late-1990s, and the IRL's struggles to become established. Then at the turn of the century, Chip Ganassi Racing became the first big hitter from CART to go back to Indianapolis, starting a gradual shift of more teams crossing the divide each May, which eventually led to the first big full-time defection to the IRL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to bring you the first episode of a special three-part series focusing on how Indycar racing was torn apart in the mid-90s, shortly after Nigel Mansell had helped make the North American series so popular that Bernie Ecclestone saw it as a threat to F1.In episode one, Glenn Freeman, Edd Straw and 'Indy Split' book author John Oreovicz head back to early-1994 and the moment Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Tony George announced he would be forming his own competitor to the CART Indycar series.We look at what drove George to make his bombshell announcement, and how the world of Indy racing reacted and evolved in the two years before the Indy Racing League hit the track for its first race.There's also discussion around the silly move the CART teams made that helped the IRL get up and running, and how both sides of the war fired major shots at each other with their plans for the weekend of the 1996 Indianapolis 500. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the champions edition of The Race IndyCar Podcast, as we speak to this year’s overall and rookie title winners, plus the victor in the Indy NXT support series.Alex Palou returns to discuss Will Power leaving Team Penske (the interview was done before Power’s Andretti switch was confirmed), his most likely future contenders, how he intends to repeat his near-perfect season and what his focuses are to improve on next year.Louis Foster - IndyCar’s rookie of the year - joins to discuss the breathtaking drama which helped him to his title in the dying minutes at Nashville, his incredible qualifying performances and why there’s positivity over the future at Rahal Letterman Lanigan.And finally, Dennis Hauger of Andretti appears to discuss his monstrous title-winning Indy NXT season, and what’s next for him in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IndyCar silly season dominates this episode of The Race IndyCar podcast.Jack Benyon is joined by Josh Suttill to discuss the bombshell news that Will Power is leaving Penske and Colton Herta will become a Cadillac Formula 1 test driver next year, likely twinning that role with a switch to Formula 2. What do these moves mean for the individuals concerned and the rest of the IndyCar grid?There's also plenty of chat about the Nashville season finale, which saw Josef Newgarden return to winning ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a dramatic finish to the Milwaukee IndyCar race last weekend, the person responsible for that drama, Christian Rasmussen, joins the pod exclusively to talk about becoming IndyCar’s newest race winner.The Ed Carpenter driver walks through how he went from sixth to first with outrageous overtakes in the final stint, why he tried so hard to overtake lapped cars in the closing laps, and the reason his car had so much oversteer which he dealt with incredibly.He also discusses the bigger picture of being given the faith of his eponymous team owner who stepped back from his own IndyCar seat for Rasmussen late last year, how new investment in the team is helping now and promising a lot for the future and of course, he addresses the people who say he’s too aggressive in on-track combat.Host Jack Benyon also picks out more of the key storylines from the penultimate race, ahead of Nashville’s finale.If you have questions or suggestions for the podcast, you can email us, [email protected]. We can feature voicenotes on the show, too.And don’t forget to sign up to The Race Members’ Club for ad-free listening and bonus content from across our network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Palou is the man of the moment in the IndyCar Series after winning his fourth title and his third in a row last weekend. And he’s on this week’s show just for you.Palou picks his favourite stat from the year and his Ganassi career so far, picks some of the reasons he feels this success has been possible, discusses Chip Ganassi taking a chance on him and sticking with him through tough times, and the crew behind him that has made this possible.There’s also special insight into his relationship with Dario Franchitti and how the Ganassi driver advisor has raised Palou’s game, plus a look at Palou’s driving style and what he’s learned from Scott Dixon.IndyCar radio commentator Ryan Myrehn joins Jack Benyon for the rest of the show, to break down the rest of the weekend’s action in Portland, including some humorous Will Power swearing after his win, Christian Rasmussen and Conor Daly’s crazy crash, and more on Pato O’Ward after an electrical issue for him handed Palou the title last weekend.Get 90% off your first month's membership to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

McLaren's Tony Kanaan joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast after his team bagged a record 11th podium of the season at Laguna Seca, having just announced a massive investment prior to the event.Kanaan discusses Christian Lundgaard’s assimilation into the team this year, Pato O’Ward’s maturation, a mega new factory for 2026 which was announced last week, and having a picture of Alex Palou “on his fridge” as he and his team try to topple the Ganassi driver’s dominance.Elsewhere there’s more from the Laguna Seca race including an absurd incident involving Marcus Ericsson and another big achievement by new team Prema Racing.Want ad-free listening? Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a bumper episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast this week with a typically bonkers street race in Toronto to assess.The Race’s Josh Suttill plays guest host with Jack Benyon this week, as Benyon outlines how the way Pato O’Ward won this race was symptomatic of his development as a driver, and how he has changed this year. Alex Palou’s 'terrible' 12th place finish is explained, Suttill outlines another Penske pummelling, and the slightly unusual look of the podium is examined, with two under the radar drivers getting their best results of the year...Want ad-free listening? Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Palou making a mistake is big news in the IndyCar Series, especially when it costs him a win, and that’s a huge talking point on this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand is back to discuss why this incident won’t matter for Palou, and also triggers a fascinating debate on what Palou’s form means for Scott Dixon’s career in light of his Mid-Ohio win.Hildebrand and The Race’s Jack Benyon also discuss Penske’s woeful form and its interesting decision to spurn outside help and promote from within to replace the senior leadership team it fired after the Indy 500 debacle.After hooning up Pikes Peak in a 1998 Hot Wheels NASCAR, Hildebrand provides an update from that event. And the hosting duo confirm that Hildebrand is scaling back his appearances on the pod for other opportunities, but he will be back!Want ad-free listening? Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an 'F1-only' tier! Check out the new items in The Race Shop - members get a 15% discount! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an insane Road America IndyCar race, 2012 series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay joins from the ground in Wisconsin, but is also here to tell us about his incredible Indy 500 bid which really could and should have ended with victory.Hunter-Reay and host Jack Benyon look at Palou returning to form and how likely it is anyone can stop him after winning six races halfway through the season.Key storylines from Road America are also delved into before Hunter-Reay tells the story of how a pitstop practice car - drafted in after his primary car caught fire in practice - nearly won the 500.It’s the kind of incredible story which makes the Indy 500 one of the best races in the world, and we hope you enjoy it.Want ad-free listening? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fox Sports analyst and six-time IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe joins Jack Benyon onthis week’s episode to review a brilliant Gateway race, discuss Will Power’s future and more.After being at the track, Hinch gives excellent insight into why this race - not normally an event he marks on his calendar - was a real thriller.And, with Will Power bagging a first pole since 2023, we discuss the two-time champion’s future, including why it’s such a complicated story and what might be causing any hold-up in a new deal.There’s also discussion of AJ Foyt Racing’s recent form, Christian Rasmussen bagging a first ever podium, and a look forward to next week’s race at Road America.Want ad-free listening? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast tackles a typically wild street course weekend, with Detroit throwing up plenty of controversy on and off track.Matt Beer joins Jack Benyon to break down Kyle Kirkwood’s win, assess his credentials as Palou’s closest rival long-term, and work out how he went from being rammed in practice to a barnstorming series of overtakes to win.Speaking of Kirkwood being rammed, the duo analyse IndyCar’s decision not to penalise Will Power for being the perpetrator.Santino Ferrucci’s post-race weight-rule infraction spurned a discussion over IndyCar penalties more generally, while there’s also time to chat about Rinus VeeKay and the “Einstein” of IndyCar...Want ad-free listening? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and overlooking the yard of bricks, Alex Palou joins The Race IndyCar Podcast just hours after he became the winner of the 109th Indy 500.Palou - with a croaky voice after all of the screaming after the win - breaks down the race winning move and how it was shaped by his 2021 loss to Helio Castroneves.But we also get into his career path from being discarded on the ladder to F1 and identifying IndyCar as a future option, and how his dad, Ramon, fit into that journey.We also discuss what's next for Palou in the long-term (winning a third championship in a row) and in the more immediate future (breaking the funk for Indy winners in Detroit), plus there's chat about Chip Ganassi’s role in identifying Palou’s talent, giving him the tools to succeed, and backing him through a rollercoaster few years where Palou tried to leave but eventually recommitted to the team.JR Hildebrand also joins right after the race to break down Palou’s success, Josef Newgarden’s incredible run in the race, David Malukas’s breakthough podium and more.Want ad-free listening? Get 75% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting two of your three cars thrown to the back of the Indianapolis 500 grid is a bad look for any top IndyCar team. When you’re the team whose owner also owns the championship and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’s even more complicated.Matt Beer borrows The Race IndyCar Podcast Jack Benyon’s host chair so he can quiz Jack on the dramatic developments since Indy 500 qualifying in a bonus mini-podcast.Exactly what Penske did, the crisis over series regulating the fallout from it has created, whether the bumped Jacob Abel deserves one of Penske’s places on the grid and penalised pair Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s chances of victory from the back of the grid are all debated.Want ad-free listening? Get 75% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a stunning Sunday of Indy 500 qualifying action, Robert Shwartzman and Prema Racing gave us one of the storylines that will go down in the event’s long history, and he’s here to tell us about it.Shwartzman discusses the difficulty in putting his lap together, how the team went from nothing to being in contention for pole, what set up up to be able to achieve this, and more.JR Hildebrand - who calls Shwartzman’s Fast 12 run one of the most incredible things he’s seen at the Speedway, listen to find out why - joins to give a fascinating and in-depth look at how the hybrid unit has revolutionised this year’s event as well as breaking down Shwartzman’s performance.There’s also a run down of some of the other key storylines from qualifying. Please not this was recorded just as the news of two Team Penske cars being put to the back of the grid was announced, so that will be properly addressed in the next episode.Want ad-free listening? Get 75% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IndyCar dominator Alex Palou joins this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast, which also includes a full preview of the first week of Indianapolis 500 action as the event starts this week.Alex Palou - who has now won four of the first five races of the 2025 season - discusses what it would be like to win the Indy 500, how the new hybrid unit could effect the quality of the racing on track, and how the recent test shaped his expectations for his level of competitiveness at this year’s event.Indy 500 ace JR Hildebrand - now working for Arrow McLaren for the month - also joins to preview the event in more detail.He gives his take on how the hybrid unit is being viewed by teams and how it will work in practice, Palou’s recent form, and he and Jack Benyon run through some underdogs and storylines to keep an eye on.Want ad-free listening? Get 75% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to patreon.com/therace⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Romain Grosjean joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his plan to turn his reserve role at Prema into a series return, while James Hinchcliffe joins to break down Long Beach.Grosjean discusses how he’ll help Prema’s drivers, how he’ll balance giving away his secrets against potential future on-track rivals, his desire to get back into the series, plus he even gives his plan for what IndyCar’s next car should look like (if he was in charge!).Elsewhere, Hinchcliffe helps host Jack Benyon analyse Kyle Kirkwood and Andretti’s position as a rival to Alex Palou, they look at Christian Lundgaard’s rapid assimilation at McLaren, break down how crucial strategies played out at Long Beach, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Felix Rosenqvist has had another strong start to the IndyCar season with Meyer Shank Racing, and is part of an equally strong line-up on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.Among other things, Rosenqvist discusses Shank’s high-profile tie-up with the team that has won four of the last five IndyCar championships - Chip Ganassi racing. He outlines how the relationship is working in practice, how it’s impacted results, and suggests where he thinks Ganassi is ahead of McLaren, the team Shank used to have an alliance with. Jack Harvey also joins the show to discuss his new role as a pitlane reporter, plus his preparations for the Indy 500 where he’ll race for Dreyer & Reinbold in May, plus his desire to return to full-time racing.Finally, host Jack Benyon quickly rounds-up the Thermal IndyCar weekend and points to what to watch at the next race at Long Beach.Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today for ad-free listening and much more! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, X and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two stars of IndyCar’s season opener join this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, with Christian Lundgaard and Will Buxton joining the show.There was plenty of talk surrounding Lundgaard and what he’d be able to achieve entering a McLaren team built around Pato O’Ward, and he discussing that and the expectation he placed on himself before his eighth-place finish which was basically the worst result possible in a weekend that could have been even better.He discusses his affinity with Barber after a recent test and his transformation there in 2023, plus how the epic first weekend impacts his season expectations.Buxton joins off the back of making his debut as Fox’s lead commentator for the IndyCar Series. He breaks down how the first weekend went with behind the scenes insight, talks about what to expect for the rest of 2025 and talks season and St Pete storylines with host Jack Benyon.LAST CHANCE: Get 90% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, X and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Race IndyCar Podcast shakes off the off-season rust to get its teeth into the first race of the season in St Petersburg, which provided plenty of drama.Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand join forces to break down another Alex Palou series victory, how he undercut Dixon, Dixon’s radio dramas, how Scott McLaughlin and Colton Herta’s races fell apart, and some of the star names and drives in the top 10.There’s also a look at Fox’s first race as TV provider and what its big audience number could mean for the series.SPECIAL OFFER: Get 90% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, X and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Race IndyCar Podcast is back to preview the St Petersburg race which promises to start a new era of the championship and its future.Jack Benyon is joined by JR Hildebrand as they assess the impact of Fox Sports taking over the series’ TV coverage and the massive amount of additional promotion that’s allowed for.To help preview St Petersburg, Benyon asks Hildebrand to name who he thinks will win, who'll be on pole, who'll spring the biggest surprise, and which of the drivers who are absent he'd liked to have seen racing - which somehow spurs a tangent on Sebastien Bourdais! SPECIAL OFFER: Get 90% off your first month when you join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today. For ad-free listening and bonus episodes, head to Patreon.com/therace Follow The Race on Instagram, X and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IndyCar off-season always feels much longer than other series, especially for fans, but luckily The Race IndyCar Podcast is back to pick out five things to watch in 2025.Indy 500 runner-up, IndyCar podium finisher and former Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand is alongside The Race’s Jack Benyon to look in-depth at some big topics.What Andretti might look like with less Michael involved, how Prema’s new IndyCar team will fair, McLaren’s personnel reshuffling and Christian Lundgaard versus Pato O’Ward there, Josef Newgarden’s chances of an Indy 500 hat-trick and the latest with IndyCar’s new car plans for 2027 are all in the mix for in-depth analysis.Of course, we highlight some other big stories to watch for the year, too. The Race F1 Podcast is taking to the stage! Buy tickets to our live shows:London on 16th January - https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/the-race-f1-podcast-live-from-london-16th-jan-2025-ticketsBirmingham on 17th January - https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/the-race-f1-podcast-live-from-birmingham-17th-jan-2025-ticketsWant extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace Get your 2025 calendar from The Race Shop!Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the traditional The Race IndyCar Podcast post-season rankings episode, but did Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand get the top 10 right?Jack and JR offer their top 10s and had some pretty big disagreements in terms of where they placed some drivers (including Pato O'Ward and Scott Dixon) and both had drivers not included in the other's 10 on their list.Jack also discusses the last seats remaining in silly season to be filled.You can contact the show with questions (in a voicenote, if you prefer) and suggestions, via our email address: [email protected]. Let us know your top 10 drivers of the season and where we went wrong.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trialFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freshly-crowned IndyCar champion Alex Palou pauses his breakfast to chat with The Race IndyCar Podcast about his latest title success.Palou discusses some of his standout stats this year, sticking with Ganassi, how his analytical skill fits IndyCar so well, and his next goal of winning on an oval and an Indy 500.He also addresses his future, and talks about his previous efforts to get to Formula 1 and where he stands on that now - he says he is “not knocking on doors” to get there anymore.Co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon also discuss Palou’s position as one of the IndyCar greats, Herta’s breakthrough oval win and title credentials and Jamie Chadwick joins to discuss her upcoming IndyCar test.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trialFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a packed episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast ahead of the series finale, with champions, podium breakthrough drivers, strategists and more all packed in.Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand preview what a Nashville oval IndyCar race might be like and look at the championship decider between Alex Palou and Will Power.Those drivers' respective strategists are also featured ahead of a big weekend for Penske and Ganassi.Elsewhere, the scorer of Juncos Hollinger’s first podium, Conor Daly, discusses that feat and being parachuted in mid-season, while seven-time Indy NXT winner Louis Foster also joins the show to discuss his amazing championship season and what could be next for him.To view the full IndyCar championship permutations, click here.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace to activate your 7-day free trialFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything from a lack of a race in Mexico to a brilliant Milwaukee double-header featuring a huge championship missed opportunity make up this week’s The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand is on hand for fascinating insight into how drivers bounce back from missed opportunities within their control after Will Power spun while looking set to erode the ailing Alex Palou’s points lead. Both drivers’ weekends are investigated.While talking about the race winners and Pato O'Ward, Hildebrand and Jack Benyon examine the furore over NASCAR getting a race in Mexico before IndyCar, with debates over getting the most out of a diverse driver base and if IndyCar really needs to focus closer to home rather than looking further afield.The fight for $1 million for the top 22 cars in the series also heated up and took a huge swing in Milwaukee as the event returned for the first time since 2015, while one team got its first podium ever and another got its first top fives of the year.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/therace for your free 7-day trialFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A shock first-time polesitter and a rare instance of Alex Palou's championship lead being reduced give The Race IndyCar Podcast plenty to review from Portland last weekend.More race control decisions in the spotlight, a much more traditional style of race and how that worked out strategically in race winner Will Power's favour, plus the changes made at AJ Foyt recently that made Santino Ferrucci's pole possible are all discussed by Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand.The duo also look ahead to the return of the Milwaukee Mile, home of this weekend's IndyCar double-header after which only one race will remain this season.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An under-the-radar wildcard who's impressing team owners makes a guest appearance on this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast, which also looks back at the Gateway round - where Penske team-mate drama and more issues for Alex Palou's title rivals made for a brilliant race.Jack Benyon is joined by JR Hildebrand to discuss the main talking point from Gateway: a controversial late-race restart. Hildebrand evaluates what he learned from seeing the data, which exonerates winner Josef Newgarden of any wrongdoing on a slow restart late on that resulted in a crash and eliminated title contender and Newgarden's team-mate Will Power.The pair also assess Linus Lundqvist's second podium and what that could mean for the rookie's IndyCar future as he battles to stay on the grid, Colton Herta's rollercoaster weekend and more.Joining the episode is Toby Sowery, the Brit who got a shock IndyCar debut at Mid-Ohio earlier this year and equalled Dale Coyne Racing's best result of the year. He has the best average finish of any rookie in 2024 after two starts and will be back racing this weekend at Portland.Sowery discusses his need to be adaptable, how his talks for next year are coming along, and how vital it is for his hopes that he performs well at Portland.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the driver move nobody saw coming, as David Malukas joins The Race IndyCar Podcast to discuss his blockbuster decision to switch to the AJ Foyt team for 2025.Malukas has his third team in a year - after being dropped by McLaren after his wrist injury and returning to action with Meyer Shank - and he outlines the reasons for his decision to switch.He also addressed rumours about this being a ploy to get to Team Penske - linked to Foyt - in the future, and answers those who think this is a backwards or sideways move, as well as discussing his strong form on his return.Kyle Kirkwood - and Malukas - preview this weekend’s race at Gateway, too.Andretti Global's Kirkwood also discusses his incredible consistency this year - something he’s been criticised for a lack of in the past - and talks about the adaptation to IndyCar from a successful junior career.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got a bonus episode in the feed this week, from our sister podcast Bring Back V10s.Glenn Freeman and Matt Beer are joined by longtime IndyCar reporter Curt Cavin to look back at the 1995 Indy 500 - a race won famously by Jacques Villeneuve - which was the last before US single-seater racing's dreaded CART vs IRL 'split' that changed the racing landscape in North America.But this episode isn't just a celebration of Villeneuve's incredible victory after getting a two-lap penalty. We also look at the pre-race shock of the Penske team failing to qualify, Firestone's stunning return to the Speedway for the first time since the 1970s, Honda's recovery from a humiliating 1994 attempt, and the moment that decided the race, when Villeneuve's fellow Canadian Scott Goodyear passed the pace car on the final restart, getting himself black flagged while leading. With 'the split' on the horizon, we also look at the political landscape in IndyCar racing in May 1995, when nobody realised just how bad the battle between CART and the IRL was about to become. Want MORE BBV10s? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon and get bonus episodes, including the 1997 Revisited Series! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IndyCar commentator Kevin Lee joins this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast to analyse Colton Herta's two-year win drought coming to an end in Toronto, and a shock call-up for Theo Pourchaire at the McLaren team which sacked him.Lee joins The Race’s Jack Benyon to discuss Herta’s path to redemption, plus the excitement in the paddock when it became clear Pourchaire would be flying from Nice to Canada to qualify and race for McLaren.The huge crash triggered by Pato O’Ward’s spin prompts discussion about the development of car safety in IndyCar, and the guys also chat about what to expect next from the title race after almost all of Alex Palou’s rivals stumbled while he went from 18th to fourth.Lee also explains how he came to be a commentator in IndyCar, discusses the new perspective he's got since his son Jackson started racing, and gives his take on what the new hybrid has done both for IndyCar and for him as a commentator.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A controversial Iowa double-header where overtaking was tough and an interview with race winner Will Power make up this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.Power won race two and discusses his journey to being a better oval driver, a first win at Iowa (and the rebound that required), plus his chances of taking a third title with just six races in the series remaining. He also discusses how he feels about his long-term IndyCar future after questioning whether he should race while his wife was ill last year.Elsewhere hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand assess Scott McLaughlin’s claim he felt he wasn’t an IndyCar driver before winning on oval, Penske’s dominance at Iowa, and what transpired to make one of the most exciting oval races become such a poor spectacle in terms of on-track passing.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward joins this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast in a special interview after his race win at Mid-Ohio on Sunday.O'Ward discusses the weight being lifted of his and the team's shoulders following the end of a near two-year winless streak, talks about his rollercoaster season so far, and describes how he feels about his championship chances after vaulting into third in the standings.He also discusses McLaren's fight to catch Ganassi as IndyCar's top dog and the impact of Tony Kanaan as the team's sporting director this year.Elsewhere, regular hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand break down the Mid-Ohio race and have a very detailed look at how the debut of IndyCar's hybrid unit really went.They also look ahead to this weekend's Iowa double-header where a repaved track alongside the hybrid's oval debut creates plenty to get stuck into.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A ranking of the top 10 drivers in IndyCar so far this year and what to expect from its new hybrid unit are the big talking points on this week's episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand is on hand to dissect Jack Benyon's top 10 rankings and ask some crucial questions of where Benyon has gone wrong, and pin down some of the areas he has right.Elsewhere the duo outline some key things to watch as IndyCar's hybrid unit makes a mid-season debut, and react to the news that Alexander Rossi will leave McLaren and be replaced by Christian Lundgaard.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Palou destroying the opposition, a wild weekend for record-breaking Romain Grosjean, and a controversial yellow flag trend make up the talking points of this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon are back together to analyse IndyCar's latest round in Laguna Seca, and how Palou came out on top again at a track he's made a habit of dominating at.They also assess Palou's title credentials, and who might be favourite with a host of ovals and the new hybrid unit ready to shake things up.Grosjean’s rise up the order to deliver Juncos Hollinger’s best IndyCar finish is also on the agenda, as is the trend of IndyCar delaying a yellow flag to avoid cars being caught out and not allowed to pit.The hosting duo also assess how David Malukas, returning from a wrist injury, and his 'replacement' Nolan Siegel (via Theo Pourchaire) got on in their new homes.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a huge episode as a driver dropped from McLaren discusses his return and an ace rookie talks his first pole position in exclusive interviews with The Race IndyCar Podcast.In our first episode since Road America, The Race’s editor Matt Beer joins to discuss that event and Will Power’s win and under-the-radar bid for a third title. He also gives his thoughts on Colton Herta’s amazing highs and disappointing lows and an ace comeback from Romain Grosjean.Linus Lundqvist was one of the stories of the weekend bagging his first pole, and he joins to break down that pole and how he’s feeling about what on paper might look like a poor season - even if so much has happened that's outside of his control.Meyer Shank Racing's new signing David Malukas is also interviewed, jumping on to explain his recovery from a wrist injury, how last week’s Milwaukee test went, and what comes next for him before and after his series return at Laguna Seca next week.Host Jack Benyon also brings us up to speed on all the big headlines that have happened in the last couple of weeks, including a new TV deal and 2025 calendar, the Agustin Canapino/Theo Pourchaire saga and intriguing information from Alex Palou’s lawyers in his legal defence from McLaren.Want extra podcast content? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon! Head to Patreon.com/theraceFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/therace Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend’s wild Detroit race is the subject of this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.Was it a good race? It was certainly entertaining, but co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon reckoned it crossed a line.They assess driving standards (and how drivers need to do better), how the race was officiated, Dixon’s winning strategy, and how Alex Palou’s incredible 23-race streak came to an end.Angst in the paddock is also discussed after tempers flared between Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood.Note: This episode was recorded before it was announced that Theo Pourchaire had received death threats from fans after a crash with Agustin Canpino during the race, so we’ll address that in the future.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or AndroidEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/therace Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special bonus episode features a heartfelt interview with 2016 IndyCar champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud, who drove his late mentor Gil de Ferran's car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week.Pagenaud raced for 2000-2001 CART champion de Ferran, who died in late 2023, when the former first came to America, and through the rest of his career de Ferran was a close friend and confidant Pagenaud could always lean on.Speaking to The Race, Pagenaud discusses the origins of that relationship, and how Gil's family asked him to run demo laps of de Ferran's Penske car at The Brickyard. Pagenaud even wore de Ferran's suit and gloves from 2003 and ran a special helmet design.We wanted to bring you the interview recorded on Thursday of race week because of Pagenaud's honest and emotional insight into de Ferran.We won't be discussing Pagenaud's 2023 crash in this episode as we respect his right to privacy during his recovery, and wish him all the best in that continued journey.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less than a couple of hours after his Indianapolis 500 win, Josef Newgarden joins The Race to discuss defending his title with a spectacular move on Pato O'Ward for the win.Newgarden discusses the move that won it, what it means given the controversy surrounding him and the team after he was disqualified at St Petersburg earlier this year, and how qualifying laid the foundations for the success.After that, JR Hildebrand joins Jack Benyon to analyse the key moments of the race with more detail on Pato O'Ward, NASCAR star Kyle Larson and more.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our annual Indy 500 retro special episode features special guest Kenny Brack, looking back on his landmark 1999 Indy win, 25 years ago.Brack explains how, after failing to get on the F1 grid, he landed in the newly formed Indy Racing League, first with Galles Racing in 1998, and then with Foyt, for whom he won the IRL title and the Indy 500 the following year.He recalls the 1999 race, what it did for his career generally (and in Sweden especially), and also packs in some other key career events like the 2003 Texas crash he was lucky to walk away from, and how his comeback in 2005 was enough for him to call time on his career. That comeback came with Rahal, a team he has joined again as a consultant in 2024 - and he explains that move, too.Ahead of the interview, host Jack Benyon is joined by The Race's Matt Beer, to provide background on the unusual racing landscape in the US at the time of Brack's victory, when top-level single-seater racing was split between the IRL and CART (and top teams like Ganassi and Penske weren't racing at the 500).Jack also speaks to journalist, podcaster and media ace Mattias Persson, a Swede who explains how important Brack’s win was for helping the country fall in love with motorsport again after a tough period, and how Brack helped inspired the current crop of Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features an interview with the winner of the fastest-ever four-lap pole run in the history of the Indianapolis 500, Scott McLaughlin.The Team Penske driver talks about how a change of line helped unlock speed, his journey from tin-tops to single-seater superstar in just over four years, and gives some insight into his race car for Sunday’s 108th running of the Indy 500. Tune in for more from McLaughlin.Elsewhere, co-host JR Hildebrand has been sleuthing in the paddock over the last week, identifying some of the key reasons for Chevrolet’s apparent gains over Honda and how a suspension part has been causing plenty of intrigue.Kyle Larson’s stunning run to fifth on his Indy 500 debut and Marcus Ericsson’s fight to make the race as he was under threat from going home after a crash on Thursday as part of the ‘Bump Day’ drama are also analysed.We’ll be back before the race day with a special annual retro episode featuring an interview with an Indy 500 winning driver on a special anniversary.To join The Race Members' Club, click here to sign up, or you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Palou’s Indy road course win, a host of expletive-filled spats and a look at the Indy 500 starting this week makes up this episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.Hosting duo JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon look at Alex Palou starting May in the same way as last year, with a pole and a win on the Indy road course, what that means for his title rivals and how Christian Lundgaard was hard done by.Of course, Colton Herta calling his team-mate Marcus Ericsson an “ass” and Romain Grosjean and Santino Ferrucci’s unusual wheel-banging feud are also analysed.After that, Hildebrand explains some intricacies of how Indy 500 qualifying works, and gives his thoughts on how badly impacted reigning winner Josef Newgarden will be after some of his crew have been suspended ahead of the event.There’s also a run through the schedule this week and some things to look for as practice unfolds.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a bumper episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast as Theo Pourchaire discusses his new deal with McLaren, and points leader Colton Herta is also interviewed.Pourchaire will do all of the remaining IndyCar races for McLaren this season apart from the Indy 500, replacing David Malukas who was released after a hand injury.Pourchaire discusses missing out on an F1 seat (so far at least), the crazy month where he went from “sitting at home” to becoming a full time IndyCar driver, how he's adapting to American culture, and more on his oval test at Gateway earlier this week.And in our second interview, Colton Herta discusses being the IndyCar championship leader for the first time. He outlines how that’s influencing his approach, the impact of Andretti dropping to three cars for 2024, and what it was like to drive his dad’s 1998 Reynard at Laguna Seca last year.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a lot to get into on this episode, with two of the biggest IndyCar stories in recent memory sandwiching a race weekend.Jack Benyon and co-host JR Hildebrand give their thoughts on the scandal engulfing the series last week as Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were disqualified from the season opener for illegal push-to-pass usage.McLaughlin rebounded in the perfect way to give Penske victory last weekend at Barber and the episode breaks down how he did it, as at one point it was certain his unassailable lead had been taken away from him.Elsewhere this week, the situation surrounding David Malukas being dropped by Arrow McLaren is addressed as he exits without having started a race and without a publicised recovery time. How the situation has been handled and what is next for Malukas and McLaren forms part of the discussion.Also from Barber, there’s chat about McLaren’s tough start to the year, how its old driver Felix Rosenqvist has scored top 10s in every race and is ahead of Pato O’Ward in the championship, and why a rejuvenated Colton Herta has jumped into an early points lead.If you want to join The Race Members' Club, click here to sign up, or you can sign up for all of The Race's bonus audio content (but not the other perks of membership) directly in the Apple Podcasts app.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand discuss Scott Dixon’s genius and how it led to a stunning victory in Long Beach.Dixon’s outrageous victory on the streets of California - underpinned by his insane fuel-saving abilities - drew praise from all corners of motorsport at the weekend. As well as discussing how he won and the qualities that mean Dixon can do things his peers can’t, Hildebrand outlines some memories of racing wheel-to-wheel with Dixon and what makes him great in the process.Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire’s excellent debut for Arrow McLaren is also analysed, along with his prospects for a repeat performance at Barber this weekend, plus the guys dive into how IndyCar officiated the Josef Newgarden/Colton Herta incident that impacted the finish of the race.Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast appFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A crucial test for the Indy 500, an extended injury delay opening the door for the reigning F2 champion and an F1 feeder series juggernaut entering a new two-car team left plenty to discuss on this week’s episode of The Race IndyCar Podcast.JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon are back to discuss Josef Newgarden and Team Penske’s form after topping the Indy 500 Open Test, and break down NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s second-fastest time performance with some key insight into how he’s approaching advice for his IndyCar debut as well.Prema Racing’s two-car team for 2025 is outlined with Hildebrand impressed with how well previous drivers and employees speak of the team.And of course, who to watch in this weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix, with F2 champion Theo Pourchaire looking likely to replace David Malukas adding to the storylines. Hildebrand explains why he thinks this is more of a long-term move by the team.Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast appFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Thermal $1 Million Challenge non-points race has been widely panned by fans, so The Race IndyCar Podcast does a deep dive into the event this week.JR Hildebrand joins Jack Benyon to discuss the things we liked and disliked from the event.Of course, the fact that it was so seemingly universally disliked - at least on social media - triggers a worry for Benyon that IndyCar will be scared to try new things - something it has been criticised for not doing recently.The venue, heat format, push-to-pass in qualifying, the prize money not being enough and addressing some of the wider problems with the event’s messaging all make up parts of the analysis.Join The Race Members Club for additional podcast content! Click here to sign upFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.