Motorsport is Always Political: IndyCar & ICE

IndyCar Championship 2025

Motorsport, especially F1, has always tried to separate itself from political means, but this week it has been all about IndyCar.

Earlier this week, the Department of Home Security posted a social media post announcing a new ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) immigrant detention centre in Indiana that they have dubbed “The Speedway Slammer.”

Accompanying this post was an AI image, which depicted an IndyCar-style car with ICE on the sidepods and with the number 5 on it, in front of the detention centre. Number 5 happens to be the same number used by the McLaren driver, Pato O’Ward, notably the only Mexican driver on the grid. It is also safe to say that Pato is a driver of significant support, being one of the most popular drivers on the grid and being known across the racing world, with his FP1 appearances in Formula 1, and is in the title fight this year with Alex Palou.

For everyone in the world of Motorsport, this came as a shock. Fans have been speaking out on social media, and IndyCar themselves have spoken out, but not on its website or social channels.

Indiana is a standout for motorsports. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the triple crowns for motorsport, along with Le Mans and Monaco. It is known worldwide, and now it is being linked to one of the worst things that this current US President is doing. Even without knowing about IndyCar, is destination and involvement in the post are focused on the series.

While IndyCar have released a statement regarding the image via news outlets, this is notably absent from their social channels and website. Instead, posts are regarding the next race at Portland this weekend.

IndyCar did release this statement on Wednesday:

“We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of today’s announcement. Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our IP not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.”

Pato O’Ward, on Wednesday, said:

“It caught a lot of people off guard, Definitely caught me off guard. I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and you know, of what it means. … I don’t think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.”

While it is good that a statement has been made, it not being fully visible by fans, has again faced backlash, as a series like IndyCar, with drivers from across the world, should stand up for them and its series as a whole and make it fundamentally clear.

Written by: Amy Powis