The IndyCar Series intends to create a new independent officiating board to start in time for the 2026 season.
As RACER documented at the Indianapolis 500, the original timeline for the board’s creation was focused on implementation for 2027, but according to IndyCar president Doug Boles, the new group which would police the events in race control and assess penalties across competition-related areas is in the works to debut next year.
“Our commitment is to have it in place by 2026,” Boles told RACER.
As RACER understands, the concept behind the group – which could be subject to change – is to form a brand new racing governance board that would be wholly unique to IndyCar, and would not involve the hiring of an existing sanctioning body like the FIA or USAC to take control of race officiating, technical inspection violations, procedural errors on pit lane, etc. The board’s structure is meant to contain a small number of members, and would have direct input from IndyCar teams and its auto manufacturers acting in support of the group. The group is also expected to be funded by Penske Entertainment, but would not have any connection to the owner of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beyond Penske providing the budget to be used to pay the board and cover their travel expenses for each event.