Graham Rahal, a leading driver for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, expressed strong opinions about the current trajectory of IndyCar‘s development, urging significant growth efforts from owners Penske Entertainment. Speaking to the evolving landscape of American motorsports, Rahal emphasized the need for the series to enhance its market presence beyond current gains. The 36-year-old compared IndyCar’s progress to other top-tier motorsport competitions in the U.S., including NASCAR, highlighting a critical demand for the series to elevate its standing.
Since Roger Penske‘s acquisition of the IndyCar series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2019 from Hulman and Company, Penske Entertainment has pursued a revival aimed at restoring the series’ prominence. Among key initiatives was securing FOX as the exclusive broadcaster starting with the 2025 season, a move intended to boost exposure and engagement. Though viewership numbers are rising, with the iconic Indy 500 event drawing over seven million average viewers and an approximate 30% increase overall compared to 2024, Rahal believes these improvements remain insufficient.
Scheduling Conflicts and Viewer Challenges Discussed by Rahal
During a recent episode of the Pit Pass Indy podcast, Rahal confronted issues surrounding broadcast scheduling conflicts, particularly NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 coinciding with the IndyCar race at Laguna Seca. When asked whether this simultaneous scheduling harmed IndyCar’s viewership and visibility, Rahal acknowledged the difficulty such competition creates for expanding audience numbers.
IndyCar‘s audience dropped from one million to 700,000 during this overlap, a statistic Rahal cited as evidence that more aggressive promotion is necessary. He highlighted the insufficient marketing efforts of the series and placed the responsibility squarely on Penske Entertainment.
“You know what? The promotion of the series has got to get a lot better. And that starts with the series, period. That starts with, you know, Penske Entertainment, like we as a series need to market ourselves better, period. And so until that changes, I don’t know how much of a boost you’re really going to see. And we don’t need to be complacent and content with what we’re getting either.” —Graham Rahal, IndyCar driver
“We need to strive all the time, not just to be better, but to find a way to double or triple what we’re seeing continuously. So that’s something we got to look at.” —Graham Rahal, IndyCar driver
FOX’s Acquisition Marks a New Era for IndyCar and Its Future
On July 31, 2025, IndyCar revealed that FOX had purchased a one-third stake in Penske Entertainment, which owns both the series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This investment marks an expansion of FOX’s role beyond media rights, signaling a deeper commitment to the sport’s business and promotional efforts. The broadcaster also agreed to extend its existing media licensing deal for several more years, underscoring FOX’s strategic vision for the series’ future.
Following the announcement, Graham Rahal expressed enthusiasm for this development, recognizing the potential impact on the sport’s growth and influence.
“LFG. Big news for our sport. Thank you FOX, no doubt we’ll take our sport and marketing to another level that is much needed to match with that great TV package.” —Graham Rahal, IndyCar driver
With FOX’s significant investment and extended media partnership, there is an increased expectation that Penske Entertainment will intensify efforts to expand the fan base and commercial success of IndyCar. Rahal’s call for tripling growth reflects a widely shared ambition to recapture and surpass the series’ historical prominence in U.S. motorsport.
