IndyCar discussed changing its championship format similar to NASCAR
IndyCar discussed changing its championship format similar to NASCAR
The NTT IndyCar Series is nearing the start of its 2025 season, and the sport has never been in a better spot. FOX Sports will begin its deal as the sole provider of IndyCar coverage this year and has done an incredible job marketing the upcoming season. However, the new TV deal with FOX Sports reportedly wasn't the only significant change mulled for 2025.
According to IndyStar's Nathan Brown, IndyCar discussed changing its championship format to a similar system used in NASCAR. Scott Borchetta, the former promoter of IndyCar's season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, approached the sport about the idea to ensure the championship was decided in the last event.
IndyCar discussed the idea of a smaller playoff system similar to NASCAR, but Penske Entertainment and its stakeholders determined that change was unnecessary. Brown noted that none of the format changes were given more than an exploratory look. For now, IndyCar will continue with its current full-season format, which has worked for several years with excellent returns.
More: Jimmie Johnson, Tom Brady linked to shocking entry for 2025 Indy 500
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Simone Biles speaks out after ugly feud with Riley Gaines over trans athletes explodes
Simone Biles expanded on her 'fair competition' stance in the transgender athlete debate Tuesday after her feud with Riley Gaines exploded on social media over the weekend. In a lengthy post shared on X, the 11-time Olympic medalist gymnast addressed how 'the current system doesn't adequately balance' principles such as 'competitive equity' and 'inclusivity,' often igniting 'heated exchanges' such as her sparring match with Gaines, to which Biles, 28, apologized for. 'I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I've always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for,' Biles wrote. 3 Simone Biles spoke out in June 2025 on the transgender athlete debate following her social media feud with Riley Gaines. AP 3 Riley Gaines pictured here in January 2025. Getty Images The social media drama between Biles and Gaines, 25, unfolded last week when the political activist and former collegiate swimmer reacted to a Minnesota high school softball team winning a state championship with a transgender pitcher on the roster. When Gaines took note of the comments on the team's post being turned off, she expressed, 'To be expected when your star player is boy.' In response to Gaines' comment, Biles fired back and stated she was 'truly sick.' In a follow-up message, the seven-time Olympic gold medalist told Gaines, 'Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' 'These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don't have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect. I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women's sports,' Biles wrote. 'My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over. I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition.' 3 Simone Biles is an 11-time Olympic medalist gymnast. Getty Images Biles concluded her post by sharing her hope for the future of sport, one 'that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.' The fallout has only continued with ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick recently weighing in.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick weighs in on Riley Gaines and Simone Biles' social media feud over trans athletes
Danica Patrick threw her support behind Riley Gaines in her bitter online feud with Simone Biles over transgender athletes. Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick proudly confessed to taking the 'red pill' as the racing star publicly backed political activist Riley Gaines in her ongoing feud with decorated Olympian Simone Biles over transgender athletes competing in women's sports. 'This issue has a shelf life. I truly believe common sense will prevail,' Patrick, 43, said on Instagram Sunday. 'But until then, I am grateful for people like Riley Gaines who are making sure no one gets away with it. Not to mention the fact that she actually lived it.' Danica Patrick defended Riley Gaines in her ongoing feud with Simone Biles over transgender athletes. Getty Images 'Defending men in women's sports is the woke mind virus and/or another issue that requires therapy. Either way, it is so irrational,' she added. Advertisement Patrick's comments are the latest in an ongoing war of words between anti-trans activist and former University of Kentucky swimmer Gaines and Olympic gymnast Biles that broke out Friday – a spat that has seen cheap shots taken by both sides. The sparring began when Biles targeted Gaines with a seemingly unprompted tweet amid controversy over a Minnesota trans high-school softball pitcher's shutout in the state finals Thursday that helped secure the championship. '@Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,' 28-year-old Biles tweeted, referencing Gaines' tie during a race with trans University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championship. Simone Biles called Riley Gaines a 'bully' for her social media posts about transgender athletes. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / 'Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!' Biles wrote. Advertisement 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male,' she later added. Gaines, 25, fired back. 'It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest,' Gaines said. Gaines alluded to Biles' efforts to take down former Team USA gymnastics doctor and prolific sex criminal Larry Nassar. 'All the horrific sexual abuse @Simone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet [she] believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings,' Gaines wrote in another tweet. Riley Gaines pulled no punches in her bitter online feud with celebrated Olympian Simone Biles. Getty Images Gaines also unearthed an old comment of Biles and used it against her in the widening dispute. Advertisement 'ahhhh good thing guys don't compete against girls or he'd take all the gold medals !!' Biles wrote in the 2017 tweet, apparently responding to the men's division results at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. 'Oop don't you hate it when your past self completely undermines your current nonsensical argument?' Gaines wrote sarcastically, retweeting Biles' post. 'How has 2025 Simone reconciled with the fact 2017 Simone was a 'truly sick bully' by her own standard?' Danica Patrick said she cast a vote for the first time in her life in the last election when she pulled the lever for Donald Trump. Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Patrick's position comes after she announced she would be voting for President Trump in the last election. Last October, at a campaign event with now Vice President JD Vance Patrick announced that she would be voting for the first time at the age 42. Advertisement 'I just want to say I've never voted before, but this time around, I have to vote,' Patrick said, sharing the stage with Vance. 'It's that important.' She said she would be voting for 'the good guys.' 'I just want to be clear, I want to get on record — you're voting for us, right?' Vance then asked. '1,000%,' Patrick replied, joking that if she 'could vote twice,' she would. Patrick retired in 2018 after the 2018 Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Belmont Stakes draws in more than 3.8 million viewers as Sovereignty takes home victory
The showdown between Sovereignty and Journalism at the Belmont Stakes over the weekend brought in an increase in viewership, FOX Sports announced on Tuesday. FOX and FS1 saw 3,831,000 viewers tune into the race. FOX Sports said it was a 5% increase from last year. The company added that viewership peaked at 5 million viewers between 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. ET. FOX Sports said the Belmont Stakes was the most-watched sporting event on Saturday. The horse race had plenty of competition, including the women's French Open final, the WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, several baseball matchups, and pro wrestling events. Sovereignty charged down the final stretch to stun Journalism at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Sovereignty was a 2-1 shot to win the race after picking up a victory in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year. Journalism was the favorite to win after coming off a victory in the Preakness. Journalism just missed out on winning the Kentucky Derby. The race will definitely leave horse racing fans wondering "what-if" after Sovereignty pulled out of the Preakness. There have only been a handful of horses to win the Triple Crown. Justify was the last to complete the feat, in 2018. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
