IndyCar is notorious for having one of the longest (and most frustrating) off-seasons on the motorsport calendar.
For some reason, there is a near six-month gap between the last race of the season in mid-September, to the first race of the following season in March.
Without any racing, there’s a huge entertainment void to be filled by the series, which can be tricky to fill up when there aren’t any exciting driver moves to report.
Romain Grosjean’s 2025 situation is one of the more interesting stories, but even then, it isn’t much of a headline generator.
By extending the calendar and keeping the championship alive for longer, the interest would remain well into the final quarter of the year – but while we’re in the current predicament, what can we do?
Conor Daly wishes for more IndyCar ‘conversation’
Although he doesn’t have an IndyCar drive for 2025 currently, Conor Daly is still a fan of racing and wants to see more dedicated off-season content.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he mentioned that Formula 1 drivers do a good job on their social media and that fewer IndyCar drivers do so.
“I think you kind of see them more [F1 drivers], and again, I’m going to do some research this off-season because I’m unemployed.
“To just kind of see who stays out in the limelight, who puts some things out there, just for the fans to talk about? Because, as race fans I’m craving something all the time,” he continued.
“I’m still trying to refresh Twitter [X] and understand – what else is there that I can find out about motorsport today? Thankfully there has been some NASCAR, Formula 1 stuff.
“I wish there was a little bit more conversation, a little bit more ‘name a random driver’ [from IndyCar drivers]. I like what David Malukas is doing, kind of silly, kind of fun. But we see something.”
Where IndyCar must do better to attract fans
It’s no secret that IndyCar’s viewership figures are drastically down compared to its North American rival – NASCAR.
The aforementioned Grosjean criticised the series for poor marketing just a few weeks ago, which has multiple knock-on effects.
Less fans attracted means less funding for teams, less talent on the grid (as more pay drivers get hired) and generally, less exciting racing.
That then makes the six months of racing nearly as bad as the off-season, leaving everyone in a deep hole.
Everyone associated with IndyCar wants it to enjoy more success, and while the calendar could do with more work, the drivers could do with chipping in and contributing more on social media – much like Formula 1 drivers do, to keep fan engagement higher.