IndyCar Signs Multi-Year Deal with Sim Racing Platform iRacing

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
IndyCar has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with iRacing, ending a two-year hiatus and bringing the series back to the simulation platform.
02
The partnership includes the return of the virtual Indianapolis 500 and broader integration of IndyCar series elements into iRacing's offerings.
03
This deal follows IndyCar’s termination of an exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games in November 2023, after that company failed to deliver a promised racing game.
04
With this agreement, iRacing now holds licensing for all three major North American racing series: IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA.
05
The deal also includes a license extension for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is owned by the Penske Corporation.
06
Financial terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed.

Summary

IndyCar has entered into a new multi-year licensing agreement with the simulation racing platform iRacing, marking a significant reunion for the two brands following a two-year hiatus. This partnership restores the digital edition of the Indianapolis 500 to the platform, a virtual event that has historically drawn thousands of global participants. While the financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, the deal ensures that IndyCar series elements and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—owned by the Penske Corporation—will be integrated into iRacing’s simulation environment.

The agreement follows the termination of IndyCar’s previous exclusive licensing deal with Motorsport Games in November 2023. That earlier partnership had failed to produce a promised racing title due to the financial and organizational instability of Motorsport Games. By securing this new contract, iRacing now holds licensing agreements with the three primary North American motorsport series: IMSA, NASCAR, and IndyCar.

This development highlights a broader trend of consolidation within the sim racing industry as platforms move to secure official series rights. iRacing, which has maintained a long-standing relationship with NASCAR since 2010, is also currently developing a simulation-style NASCAR console game slated for release in 2025. The return of IndyCar to the platform is expected to revitalize high-profile virtual racing events, similar to the successful NTT IndyCar iRacing Challenge held during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, which attracted significant viewership and featured both professional racing drivers and high-profile guest competitors.