IndyCar has created an independent arbitration structure in preparation for 2026.

This was a promise made by Roger Penske (owner of the championship) and Doug Boles (president of theIndyCar), made after the Indianapolis 500, it is now upheld. Penske had been, last May and during the biggest race of the season, caught at the heart of a cheating scandal that began more than a year ago.

When parts were discovered on two of the three cars entered by "The Captain" in the Indy 500 that had undergone unauthorized cosmetic modifications, the repercussions were numerous. Will Power and Josef Newgarden had to start the Indy 500 from the back of the grid, while the three highest-ranking members of Roger Penske's IndyCar team were simply dismissed.

The incident, however, highlighted one of the peculiarities of IndyCar's management. The race director, responsible for both sporting and technical regulations, was composed of individuals directly affiliated with Penske Entertainment, an independent company created by Roger Penske in 2020 to manage IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While the championship's management promised team independence, the confusion was palpable, and the mistrust understandable.

IndyCar has announced an overhaul of its management model to definitively separate IndyCar's sporting activities from its promotional and marketing operations. INDYCAR Officiating Inc., an independent non-profit company, has been created, and its independent Arbitration Commission will consist of three members responsible for electing the Chief Arbitration Officer, who will manage day-to-day operations.

The three members of the Commission were elected by the team owners of franchised teams (i.e., all IndyCar teams except Prema) for two of them, with the third being selected by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA's level of involvement is limited to the appointment of the third member of the independent arbitration commission, but this marks the first partnership between the world governing body and IndyCar.

Ray Evernham and Raj Nair have been selected by the team bosses. Former chief mechanic for Jeff Gordon in NASCAR Cup Series (he was responsible for the legendary "Rainbow Warriors" team in the 90s), Evernham later created his own team in the discipline to accompany the return of Dodge in 2001. Having become a television consultant, he is responsible, with Tony Stewart, for the creation of the Superstar Racing Experience championship in 2021.

Raj Nair, for his part, was Ford's Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Product Development, responsible, among other things, for overseeing all of the brand's motorsports programs, from 2012 to 2017. Ford's NASCAR programs therefore fell under his supervision, as did the development and racing participation of the Ford GT, which competed in IMSA and WECNair subsequently became Ford's president for North America in 2017 and 2018.

The FIA, for its part, has selected Ronan Morgan, the chairman of the FIA ​​Drivers' Commission. Morgan brings with him nearly fifty years of experience in motorsport, notably serving as sporting director of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 2009 to 2021. Morgan is also a member of the World Motor Sport Council and an advisor to the re-elected chairman, Mohammed bin Sulayem. The three men's first task will be to elect the Chief Arbitration Officer, who will report directly to the independent board, without oversight from IndyCar or Penske Entertainment officials. This individual will be responsible for overseeing all official activities, including the recruitment of race control and technical inspection staff in IndyCar, and will be responsible for ensuring the regulations are enforced as originally written.

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