F1 vs IndyCar: What's the Difference?

Q: Which series is more popular globally?

Formula 1 is far more popular globally, attracting over 1.5 billion cumulative TV viewers per season across 180+ countries. IndyCar is primarily popular in the United States, though the Indianapolis 500 is one of the world's most-watched single sporting events. F1's global reach has grown significantly since the Drive to Survive Netflix series.

Q: Has anyone won both an F1 race and the Indy 500?

Only a handful of drivers have won in both series. Juan Pablo Montoya won seven F1 Grands Prix and later won the Indy 500 twice (2000, 2015). Several pre-war drivers achieved this, and Jim Clark famously won both the F1 title and the Indy 500 in 1965. Fernando Alonso attempted the Indy 500 twice but did not win.

Q: Where can I watch IndyCar in the UK?

IndyCar is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports F1, which shows live coverage of most races including the Indianapolis 500. Selected races may also be available on Sky Sports Main Event. Practice and qualifying sessions are typically available via the Sky Sports app or Sky Go.

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Overview

Two championships, two philosophies — what each series is actually about

Formula 1

The Pinnacle of Motorsport

Governed by the FIA
Global championship — 23+ countries
Bespoke car for every team
Manufacturer power units: Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Honda
Pushes the absolute limits of engineering
Teams: 10, drivers: 20

IndyCar

America's Premier Open-Wheel Racing

Sanctioned by INDYCAR LLC (Penske Entertainment)
Predominantly USA-based
Spec Dallara IR-18 chassis for all teams
Two engine suppliers: Honda & Chevrolet
Mix of ovals, road courses & street circuits
More predictable costs, closer racing

Both series represent the highest level of open-wheel racing in their respective markets — but the difference in philosophy creates two very distinct spectacles.

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Car Design

From bespoke engineering marvels to a precision spec formula

F1 Car (2026 Regs)

Bespoke Machine

1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid power unit
~1,000 bhp (ICE + electric motor)
768 kg minimum weight
Active aerodynamics (adjustable front & rear wings)
Complex floor & wing designs for huge downforce
Carbon-ceramic brakes
Each team designs & builds its own car

IndyCar (IR-18)

Spec Dallara IR-18

2.2L twin-turbo V6
~700 bhp (road) / ~800 bhp (oval, higher boost)
~730 kg without fuel
Aero kits optimised for ovals or road courses
Identical chassis for every team
Simpler aero vs F1 but genuinely fast
Chassis cost: ~$3M

Cost comparison: An F1 car costs $12–20M to build. An IndyCar chassis: approximately $3M. Total F1 team spend can exceed $200M per season versus $10–20M for a competitive IndyCar programme.

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Tracks

Circuits vs ovals — the most visible difference between the two series

Formula 1 Tracks

Road & Street Circuits Only

Road courses: Silverstone, Spa, Suzuka, COTA
Street circuits: Monaco, Singapore, Las Vegas
Venues worldwide across 5 continents
No oval racing since 2007 (IMS infield course)
Purpose-built F1 facilities with huge run-off areas

IndyCar Tracks

Ovals + Road + Street

Ovals: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Iowa, Gateway
Road courses: Barber, Mid-Ohio, Road America
Street circuits: Long Beach, Detroit, Nashville
Mostly USA, occasionally Canada
Oval & road aero kits = very different set-ups

The Indy 500 at 370+ km/h — oval racing demands a completely different skill set. Sustained high speeds, pack racing nose-to-tail, and wall impacts at 200+ mph make it one of the most demanding challenges in motorsport.

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Speed Comparison

Which is faster? It depends entirely on the type of circuit

Road Course Speed

F1 wins

~350–360 km/h vs IndyCar ~320–340 km/h. At COTA, F1 laps are 15–20 seconds faster over 5.5 km.

Oval Top Speed

IndyCar wins

Indianapolis qualifying speeds regularly exceed 370 km/h (230 mph). F1 does not race on ovals.

0–100 km/h

F1 wins

F1: ~2.6 seconds. IndyCar: ~3.0 seconds. The hybrid system gives F1 a significant launch advantage.

Braking Performance

F1 wins

Carbon-ceramic brakes and vastly superior downforce allow F1 cars to decelerate from 300 km/h to 0 in under 3 seconds.

The question “which is faster?” has no single answer. F1 dominates road courses; IndyCar reaches higher sustained speeds on ovals. Different disciplines, different superlatives.

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Global vs US Focus

A worldwide championship versus America's premier open-wheel series

Formula 1

Truly Global

23+ countries on the 2026 calendar
1.5 billion+ cumulative TV viewers
180+ broadcast territories
Drive to Survive drove massive US growth
3 US races: Miami, Austin, Las Vegas
Teams based in UK & Italy

IndyCar

American Focus

Almost all races in the USA
Growing international following
Indy 500 = global reach beyond the series
Heavy North & South American driver representation
Primary broadcast market: USA (Peacock, USA Network)
UK coverage available on Sky Sports F1

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Cost Comparison

The financial gulf is enormous — and it shapes the on-track product

Formula 1 Costs

Big-Budget Engineering War

Car development cap$135M

Total team spend (top teams)$200M+

Car build cost$12–20M

Power unit development (excl. from cap) adds hundreds of millions for manufacturer teams.

IndyCar Costs

Accessible & Competitive

Total team budget (competitive)$10–20M

Dallara IR-18 chassis~$3M

Engine lease (Honda / Chevy)Largest single cost

Smaller teams can enter for even less, though they will struggle against Penske, Ganassi & Andretti.

Cost parity = closer racing. The gap between best and worst IndyCar team is far smaller than in F1, where a front-runner can be multiple seconds per lap quicker than a backmarker. IndyCar's spec formula deliberately levels the playing field.

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Driver Crossovers

The drivers who have conquered both worlds

Juan Pablo Montoya

CART Champ Indy 500 x2 7 F1 Wins

Won the CART title and Indy 500 in 2000, then moved to F1 with Williams and McLaren (2001–2006), winning 7 Grands Prix. Returned to IndyCar and won a second Indy 500 in 2015 — remarkable versatility across eras.

Jacques Villeneuve

CART Champ 1995 Indy 500 1995 F1 WC 1997

Won the CART title and Indianapolis 500 in 1995, then moved to Williams F1 and claimed the 1997 World Championship. One of the most successful crossovers in the history of either series.

Fernando Alonso

F1 WC x2 Indy 2017 & 2020

Attempted the Indianapolis 500 twice (2017, 2020) in pursuit of motorsport's Triple Crown (Monaco, Indy 500, Le Mans). A DNF in 2017 and 21st in 2020. His presence brought enormous global attention to the event.

Nigel Mansell

F1 WC 1992 CART Champ 1993

Won the F1 championship in 1992 with Williams, then immediately crossed the Atlantic to win the CART title in 1993 — the only driver to hold both championship titles simultaneously.

The FIA Super Licence points system does not heavily reward IndyCar results, making the jump from IndyCar to F1 increasingly difficult for aspiring drivers. The junior single-seater ladder (F2, F3) is now the dominant pathway to F1.

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F1 vs IndyCar: At a Glance

Every major category compared side by side

Category	Formula 1	IndyCar
Governing body	FIA	INDYCAR (Penske Entertainment)
Chassis	Bespoke (each team builds own)	Spec Dallara IR-18
Engine	1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid (~1,000 bhp)	2.2L twin-turbo V6 (~700–800 bhp)
Engine suppliers	Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Honda	Honda, Chevrolet
Car weight (min)	768 kg	~730 kg (without fuel)
Top speed (road course)	~350–360 km/h	~320–340 km/h
Top speed (oval)	N/A — no oval racing	370+ km/h (Indianapolis)
Track types	Road courses, street circuits	Ovals, road courses, street circuits
Races per season	24	17
Global reach	23+ countries, 180+ TV markets	Primarily USA
Team budget (approx)	$135M cap / $200M+ total	$10–20M
Top driver salary	$50M+	$3–5M
Points for win	25	50
UK broadcaster	Sky Sports F1 / Channel 4	Sky Sports F1
Marquee event	Monaco Grand Prix	Indianapolis 500

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Points System

How championships are decided in each series

Formula 1

Top 10 Finishers Score

P1

25Winner

P2

18Second

P3

15Third

P4

12Fourth

P5

10Fifth

P6–10

8–18 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 1

+1 Fastest Lap (if top 10) Sprint points (top 8)

IndyCar

All Finishers Score

P1

50Winner

P2

40Second

P3

35Third

P4–5

32–30Decreasing scale

All

1+Every finisher scores

500

x2Indy 500 = double points

+1 Pole position +2 Leading a lap +2 Most laps led

IndyCar's more generous scale means a single bad result is less catastrophic than in F1 — the championship stays closer, longer. The Indy 500's double points make it one of the most pivotal single events in any racing calendar.

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Calendar

When and where each series races across the season

F1 2026 Season

March – December

24 Grands Prix across 5 continents
Traditional venues: Silverstone, Monza, Spa, Suzuka
Modern venues: Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah
Street circuits: Monaco, Singapore, Las Vegas
Up to 6 Sprint weekends per season
Compressed schedule with back-to-back races

IndyCar 2026 Season

March – September

~17 races, almost exclusively USA
Highlight: Month of May at Indianapolis
Indianapolis 500 practice, qualifying, race
Mix of ovals, road courses & streets
Compact championship — no two weekends the same
Finishes well before the F1 season ends

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TV Coverage in the UK

Where to watch both series from the UK

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Sky Sports F1

F1: Live coverage of every practice, qualifying, sprint, and race — the complete package.

IndyCar: Live coverage of most races including the Indianapolis 500. Some sessions via Sky Go / NOW TV.

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Channel 4

F1: Free-to-air highlights of every race weekend, plus the British Grand Prix live.

IndyCar: Not broadcast on Channel 4.

IndyCar timing warning for UK fans: Most IndyCar events start in the US afternoon / evening, which means late-night viewing (typically 9 pm–midnight BST). Plan ahead for race day. F1 European races kick off at convenient afternoon slots. For full F1 broadcast listings, see our TV schedule page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions about F1 vs IndyCar, answered

Is F1 faster than IndyCar?

F1 cars are faster on road courses and street circuits due to superior aerodynamics and lighter weight. However, IndyCar reaches higher top speeds on oval tracks, with qualifying speeds exceeding 370 km/h (230 mph) at Indianapolis. On a comparable road course such as COTA, an F1 car would lap 15–20 seconds faster than an IndyCar.

Can IndyCar drivers switch to F1?

It is rare but possible. Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve both moved from CART/IndyCar to F1 and won races and championships. However, the path has become increasingly difficult — the FIA Super Licence points system does not heavily reward IndyCar results, favouring drivers who progress through the European junior single-seater ladder.

How much does an F1 car cost compared to an IndyCar?

An F1 car costs between $12 million and $20 million to build, with annual team budgets up to $135 million (budget cap, car development only). An IndyCar chassis (Dallara IR-18) costs approximately $3 million, with full competitive team budgets of $10–20 million per season. The cost difference is enormous.

Do F1 and IndyCar use the same tracks?

Both series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, and have historically shared some venues. However, IndyCar also races on oval circuits including the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway — which F1 no longer visits. F1 races worldwide, while IndyCar is predominantly US-based.

Which series is more popular globally?

Formula 1 is far more popular globally, with over 1.5 billion cumulative TV viewers per season across 180+ countries. The Drive to Survive Netflix effect significantly boosted F1's US fanbase. IndyCar is primarily popular in the United States, though the Indianapolis 500 is one of the world's most-watched single sporting events annually.

Has anyone won both an F1 race and the Indy 500?

Yes — but very few. Juan Pablo Montoya won seven F1 Grands Prix and the Indy 500 twice (2000 and 2015). Jim Clark famously won both the F1 World Championship and the Indy 500 in the same year (1965). Several pre-war drivers also achieved the double. Fernando Alonso attempted the Indy 500 twice (2017, 2020) but did not win.

Where can I watch IndyCar in the UK?

IndyCar is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports F1, with live coverage of most races including the Indianapolis 500. Selected races may also appear on Sky Sports Main Event. Practice and qualifying are available via the Sky Sports app or Sky Go. Be aware that most races start in the evening US time, meaning late-night viewing in the UK.

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F1 vs IndyCar

Overview

Car Design

Tracks

Speed Comparison

Global vs US Focus

Cost Comparison

Driver Crossovers

F1 vs IndyCar: At a Glance

Points System

Calendar

TV Coverage in the UK

Frequently Asked Questions

Further Reading