Making the series more attractive to the racing marketplace also includes an increase in the scholarship check for the series champion. Prior to Penske Entertainment’s acquisition of the series, champions earned a total scholarship package of nearly $1.2 million.
However, 2022 series champion Linus Lundqvist received a check at the IndyCar postseason awards banquet for $500,000, causing many to question why the check was for a much smaller amount. These concerns were valid, since Indy Pro 2000 champion Louis Foster earned a scholarship of $614,425 to graduate to Indy NXT.
During the Andersen Promotions era, IndyCar provided $500,000 of that scholarship award with Andersen Promotions providing the rest. In that era, there were no race purses, but that changed last year as the series paid more than $700,000 in race winnings.
“So the total amount was just shifted around (with) how it’s paid out,” Jones explained. “In discussion with teams and drivers about what we need to do to make it all work, a little bit of money has been added, but money has (also) been shifted a little bit more toward the scholarship. Which, it’s racing. We know that very rarely is there ever enough money or that you couldn’t use more (money) to make something happen, and it’s no different.”
In response to feedback, IndyCar officials have raised the Indy NXT scholarship amount to $850,000 and included an opportunity to test on the IMS road course. The increased scholarship also comes with allocation requirements. With Indy NXT’s limited number of oval races, IndyCar decreed that the additional funds will go toward an oval test at Texas Motor Speedway and the IMS open test/Rookie Orientation Program. The scholarship will also apply funds toward a seat in the Indianapolis 500 and another IndyCar race.
As of press time, Lundqvist had not secured an IndyCar ride and could be the first Indy NXT champion to not race in IndyCar the following season since 2010 champ J.K. Vernay went sports car racing after his opportunities vanished.
While the Indy NXT rebrand has revived interest in the series, there is still a glaring omission from the championship. The series has not raced at Texas Motor Speedway since June 2005 and the popular Freedom 100 at IMS has remained dormant since Oliver Askew defeated Ryan Norman by .0067 seconds in 2019.
The IL-15’s first design parameter was being strong enough to survive a 200 mph crash at Indianapolis and the series often gained massive amounts of publicity after incredible finishes during the Carb Day staple, most notably after the four-wide finish in 2013. Could the Freedom 100 return?
“That’s a question I get if not daily, every other day,” Jones said. “I think there’s always a chance of anything in racing, right? I’d never say never. So just right now it’s not on the radar to run that race right now.”
This story appeared in the Feb. 22, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
