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After Acquiring NASCAR, iRacing Strike Down A Multiyear Deal With The IndyCar Series And Fans Love It

Published 01/09/2024, 8:12 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

If you’re a motorsports enthusiast who loves playing video games, the latest iRacing news sure will make you happy. In 2023, the developers acquired the rights from Motorsport Games to produce a new NASCAR video game slated to release in 2025. That alone was enough to bring a lot of joy to racing fans but the company has one-upped itself and recently announced a new multi-year deal with IndyCar. As expected, fans have gone absolutely bonkers over the news.

IndyCar and iRacing used to be partners until a move took place that shocked a lot of people. In what was a controversial decision, IndyCar decided to ditch iRacing for Motorsports Games. However, things did not work out with MSG and IndyCar officials announced in November last year about the termination of their contract. This came as an aftermath of MSG stopping the development of a mainstream Indy console game in almost 2 decades.

Some epic events will be making their return to iRacing

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Now that iRacing and IndyCar are back together, the future will see the return of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the fan-favorite iRacing Indianapolis 500 on the platform. The return of IMS means that iRacing can finally officially have virtual events of some of the greatest motorsport races in American motorsports, like the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400, and the Battle on the Bricks.

“The INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are racing properties that need to be included in iRacing. There is no better way for fans to experience sim racing than on iRacing, and whether it’s the INDYCAR SERIES’ Indy 500, NASCAR’s Brickyard 400, or IMSA’s Battle on the Bricks, there is nothing like racing at Indianapolis. I am so pleased to be able to bring these events back to the iRacing community,” iRacing President Tony Gardner said in a release.

When IndyCar left iRacing, fans were left distraught. The IndyCar Series on iRacing was incredibly popular. With its return, there is a buzz in the air from both the fans’ and the executives’ points of view. IndyCar’s senior manager of eSports and emerging virtual experiences, Ben Hendricks, expressed his excitement after the partnership was reignited.

“We are very excited that our most avid gamers and fans will have full access to the INDYCAR SERIES through this licensing agreement with iRacing. They are longtime partners, and we look forward to official INDYCAR SERIES racing on iRacing for many years to come,” he said.

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But what are the fans saying? Well, it’s safe to say that social media has been overflowing with positive responses to the news. Perhaps iRacing or IndyCar did not expect this much of a reaction but it will be a massive source of confidence and validation for everyone involved in bringing the 2 parties together again.

Fans take digs at IndyCar but are overjoyed with the latest development

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A lot of fans remember what it was like when IndyCar left iRacing for Motorsports Games. They were happy about the recent development, but that did not stop anyone from taking a dig at IndyCar and reminding them on X of the grave error they committed in the past.

“Took you long enough to notice your mistake, IndyCar,” one user commented.

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“Biggest L in the history of sim racing is slowly transforming into a W,” expressed another.

Some fans admitted to deactivating their iRacing account after the Indy move, and they are back in full force to go racing virtually again. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! I am so getting my account reactivated,” commented one fan.

The overall feeling was one of joy and excitement, which was expressed in the majority of the comments under the official post. “THANK YOU,” one user wrote while another commented, “Let’s stinking go @iRacing best news of the year so far.”

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It’s safe to say that iRacing and IndyCar won’t be parting ways anytime soon, given the initial reaction. It will be interesting to see how this partnership grows in the future.

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Written by:

Nilavro Ghosh

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Edited by:

Shivali Nathta