Are You a True IndyCar Racing Fan?

INDYCAR is an American-based auto racing sanctioning body for Indy car racing and other disciplines of open-wheel car racing. The organization sanctions five racing series: the premier IndyCar Series with its centerpiece the Indianapolis 500, developmental series Indy NXT, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship, and the U.S. F2000 National Championship. IndyCar is recognized as a member organization of the FIA through ACCUS. Indy Racing League was formed in 1994 under the name Indy Racing League by Hulman & Company, which also owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex, and began competition in 1996. The trademark name INDYCAR was officially adopted on January 1, 2011. Today, IndyCar is owned by Roger Penske via Penske Entertainment Corp., a subsidiary of Penske Corporation. The dispute between CART and IRL centered on the Indianapolis 500, long considered the flagship race of the sport. In 1996, CART retaliated by scheduling what was supposed to become its new showcase event, the U.S. 500, at Michigan International Speedway on Memorial Day, the traditional date for the Indy 500. The IRL began to draw top teams from CART starting in 2002, contributing to the latter's bankruptcy, re-branding as Champ Car in 2003, and ultimate demise and absorption by the IRL in 2008. The Indy Racing League announced it would rename their premier series the IndyCar Series for the 2003 racing season. Driver safety has also been a major point of concern, with a number of drivers seriously injured, particularly in the early years of the series. IndyCar was the first racing series to adopt the SAFER soft wall safety system, which debuted at the Indianapolis 500 and has now been installed at almost all major oval racing circuits.