Take a look through some of the most striking and poignant pictures from the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season as chosen by the series’ photography staff.

CONTENT DAY

Photographer: Chris Owens

This photo of Simon Pagenaud is one of my favorite driver portraits of all time! I would reach out as far as to say Simon is one of my favorite drivers to photograph. His focus in the studio is the same level that he brings to the racetrack. Opposed to some drivers, when you let Simon know it’s time to get to business he’s all in! I let Simon know I wanted to take a picture of him with some attitude, letting the world know he’s here to win! This is what I got.

TEXAS

Photographer: Joe Skibinski

An empty Texas Motor Speedway at the start of the Genesys 300, which served as the season-opening race of the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was held without fans.

GMR GRAND PRIX

Photographer: Chris Owens

I really enjoy this photo of Josef Newgarden. The newly added aeroscreen on the current Indycar has added some challenges at times to get traditional cockpit photographs. In this case, the added colors and glares from the shield have made for a dramatic in-car portrait!

Photographer: James Black

Slow camera shutter speeds are typically used in racing photography to blur backgrounds and showcase the incredible speeds. In this case, it's able to show Oliver Askew's tire degradation sliding through Turn 14 of the GMR Grand Prix at IMS. 

ROAD AMERICA

Photographer: Joe Skibinski

There's nothing like a first-time winner. Felix Rosenqvist celebrates his first INDYCAR win in the second race at Road America in style.

IOWA

Photographer: Chris Jones

The new Aeroscreen made its debut in 2020 and Colton Herta and Rinus VeeKay put it to the test at Iowa where they both walked away from this Race 1 incident.

Photographer: Joe Skibinski

Graham Rahal at Iowa Speedway as the sun sets.

INDY 500

Photographer: Chris Owens

There is something special about photographing at IMS when it’s empty. A place that is normally filled with so much noise from music, race cars and fans can also have a defining silence. There is no place more active than a pit box during the Indianapolis 500. I enjoy this calm juxtaposition.

Photographer: Matt Fraver

Taken in the Sunday session after qualifying, the late day sun offered this pocket of light in Turn 1 - that all the photographers were waiting all afternoon for.

Photographer: Chris Jones

The Indianapolis 500 was much different this year as it was run in August without fans. One thing that didn't change was Takuma Sato's celebration in victory lane.

Photographer: James Black

Some series that race at IMS utilize a small hole in the wall near the Yard of Bricks as part of their timing and scoring system. I've always wanted to shoot through the hole as a unique angle for the yearly kissing of the bricks following the Indianapolis 500, but in years past the winning driver has always faced south. With the hole just a few feet to the north of the YOB, the shot wouldn't have worked. This year the decision was made to face the driver north towards Turn 4 which consequently allows this shot to work.

WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY

Photographer: James Black

The single-car oval qualification format allows for a wide range of emotions for a driver. They usually show up to the qual line laid-back and almost relaxed. As they begin to suit up and inch closer and closer to the burnout zone the mood changes as well. The process is always fun to document.

Photographer: Joe Skibinski

Josef Newgarden on track at World Wide Technology Raceway where he would win Race 2.

MID-OHIO

Photographer: Matt Fraver

Nothing to see here except $75,000 worth of carbon fiber chilling in an otherwise empty garage.

Photographer: Chris Jones

The start of practice at Mid-Ohio shows how hectic pit lane can be during weekend practice sessions.

Photographer: Matt Fraver

Scott Dixon is the king at Mid-Ohio and also is known to be able to "make fuel". When you get to be this close to the track, you get to hear Dixon coast by, with the engine shut off. Even with a caution on the opening lap, he's always thinking of how to set himself up for a victory.

Photographer: Chris Jones

After contact with another car, Felix Rosenqvist ran off course on the first lap of the second race at Mid-Ohio and slid right towards me.

HARVEST GP

Photographer: Chris Owens

I’ve never photographed race cars at IMS in such beautiful light as we had for evening qualifying during this year’s Harvest GP. Most of our sessions are after 10:00 AM and finish before 6:00 PM. The late fall session made for lots of beautiful glare on the lens, a very memorable experience!

Photographer: Matt Fraver

In a normal year, a driver who had just finished second at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would be surrounded by media, teammates, owners, sponsors and fans, but this year was so different. Here is Alexander Rossi walking down the stairs behind the Podium on Friday after Race 1, socially distant.

Photographer: Matt Fraver

One of the things that were common throughout 2020 was the change in schedules. We ran at different times and in this case, much later in the day than we normally would. That offered several creative shots around the track. Here is James Hinchcliffe during a late qualifying session for the Harvest GP.

ST PETERSBURG

Photographer: Chris Jones

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Rinus VeeKay gets close to the wall at Turn 10 at St. Petersburg. Usually, St. Petersburg hosts the opening race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, but this year it hosted the last race of the season.

Photographer: Joe Skibinski

Scott Dixon cruises to his 6th INDYCAR title

Photographer: James Black

With Chris Owens holding down INDYCAR's primary photographer role for the champion's celebration in St. Pete, my job was to shoot from an alternate angle. Trying to get as clean and clutter-free of a background as possible, I chose low and to the front right of Scott Dixon's PNC Bank Honda-powered Dallara.

Photographer: James Black

After an incredibly challenging year, it was great seeing the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon celebrating his sixth championship with his family. 

VICTORY LAP

Photographer: Chris Owens

I thought it was special to get this opportunity to photograph Chip Ganassi and Scott Dixon together. Chip and Scott have been a dominant force in modern INDYCAR times and arguably the best. I shot a handful of photos of them together. This one of Scott looking at Chip stands out easily as the best. What a special shoot that was.