IndyCar Expansion with Prema Racing Creates a Few 'Good Problems' for the Series

• The addition of the two-car Prema Racing entry into IndyCar is expected to swell the field to as many as 29 full-time entries in 2025.

• The expanded car count could lead to issues at a few venues when its comes to finding space on pit road and in paddock areas.

• IndyCar officials continue to discuss the use of a charter system that would give teams in the charter lineup automatic entry in all series races.

There are problems, and then there are good problems.

The NTT IndyCar Series sees itself landing on the positive side of that ledger.

With this week’s announcement that highly respected Prema Racing will field a pair of cars in the series next year, the car count will grow to 29. And other entities have expressed interest in joining the paddock.

In most motorsports series, “the more the merrier” is generally an acceptable approach, but, in IndyCar’s situation there will be pressure on some exciting facilities, particularly along pit road and in paddock areas.

IndyCar president Jay Frye said those issues are being addressed.

“There’s problems now with some of the places we go to, right?” Frye said Wednesday during a press conference announcing Prema’s 2025 plans. “It’s something we’ve got to evaluate, look at going forward. Certainly a problem, but a really good problem to have, and something we’ll sort out.”

IndyCar officials continue to discuss the use of a charter system that would give teams in the charter lineup automatic entry in all series races. Reports have placed that number tentatively at 25. Other entries would have to qualify. Officials have not talked publicly about a cap on the number of teams.

“We will do all we can to start as many cars as we can,” Frye said. “Obviously, there are limits. There will be a time where that has to be addressed, and we will address it.

“There’s a lot of interest in IndyCar. Going forward, we got a lot of good things going on.”

Rene Rosin, Prema Racing principal, said Wednesday the group hasn’t made a decision about pursuing charters if and when that system goes into effect.

“First we want to understand how everything goes, and we will decide what’s the best way to do,” he said.

The arrival of Prema next year will give IndyCar a certain cachet in Europe. Prema has a long and strong history in virtually every kind of racing in Europe, from karting to Formula 2. In 40 years of competition, the organization has produced upwards of 80 championships and developed a ladder system that has sent numerous drivers, including F1’s Charles Leclerc, into top series. Prema says "nearly half" of the current F1 grid has raced with Prema in the junior ranks at one time or another.

Prema officials haven’t announced drivers for its IndyCar entries, but Rosin said Wednesday the group prefers to pair an experienced driver with a rookie. “Everything is open at the moment,” he said.