Doug Boles was named president of INDYCAR on Feb. 11, 2025, adding to his tasks in the same role with Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

One year and one day later, INDYCAR and its two engine manufacturers, Chevrolet and Honda, announced multiyear commitments to continue as the series’ official original equipment manufacturers.

“This was the main priority,” Boles said. “This was one of the first things I was tasked with, to work with Chevrolet and Honda to figure out how we can put together a program to ensure that two of the most important partners the INDYCAR SERIES has can continue to remain in the series.”

The groundwork for the agreements began in September 2024, when the series unveiled its new charter system. Charters were awarded to teams based on full-time participation in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with a maximum of three per organization. In total, 25 charters were distributed.

As discussions with the manufacturers progressed, INDYCAR introduced an added incentive by awarding a charter to Chevrolet and Honda if each committed beyond the 2026 season. While both Chevrolet and Honda said the provision wasn’t the sole reason for extending, a charter provided additional value that could shape the sport and manufacturers for years to come.

“It came organically out of conversations about how to get there,” Boles said. “We got creative in finding ways to allow them to go back to the boardroom and say, ‘We’re not just a sponsor or an engine supplier, we have a real stake in the growth of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.’”

That stake represents both continuity and opportunity for Chevrolet. The brand has won nine manufacturer championships since returning to INDYCAR competition in 2012 and owns 16 titles overall.

Chevrolet

“This is a bonus with the charter,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance and Motorsports. “It’s new ground for us. I really feel like we have a seat at the table with other stakeholders to voice our opinion and point of view. This puts it one step further.

“There’s a lot of opportunity.”

Honda, which entered INDYCAR competition in 1994 with no departures, also viewed the extension as a reflection of the series’ upward trajectory.

“We’re thrilled where the INDYCAR SERIES is going,” said David Salters, president of Honda Racing Corporation USA. “We always evaluate things. It’s really growing. FOX does a fantastic job. The calendar is great. We love the competition.”

Honda

Attention now turns to how each manufacturer might use its charter that begins for the 2028 season.

Teams holding three charters are not eligible to field a fourth entry through a manufacturer. Among Honda-affiliated organizations, only Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian and Dale Coyne Racing are not at the three-car maximum. Andretti Global, Chip Ganassi Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing each field three full-time Hondas.

Salters acknowledged Honda is in discussions with MSR about aligning on a chartered entry, mirroring a partnership the two share in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“We’re in discussions with Meyer Shank on how we would run a car with them,” Salters said. “We do it already. We know what to do. We would think of a similar model. We’re there to build on what we’ve invested in and further develop our people. It works very well with MSR.”

Chevrolet has not identified a specific partner but has options. Team Penske and Arrow McLaren operate three-car programs, while Juncos Hollinger Racing, AJ Foyt Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing field two entries apiece.

“I would expect us to be in that lane, but we’ll evaluate to see if there’s another way to do it,” Campbell said. “It’s an opportunity not only to develop our people but to test advancements in technology we may want to consider across the rest of our Chevy teams. This could be an opportunity to do just that.”

Even with long-term commitments from its current manufacturers, Boles does not believe the agreements close the door on a potential third manufacturer.

That possibility could be aided by an upcoming engine reset. INDYCAR SERIES machinery uses a 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine, but the series plans to introduce a new 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 formula in 2028.

“One of the stumbling blocks to getting a third manufacturer in the past has been how long we’ve used the 2.2-liter engine and how much development it’s had over time,” Boles said. “You’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars our manufacturers have invested to get where they are today. For someone to come in five or 10 years behind and expect to be competitive right away is a tall task.

“What we have now is a reset in terms of engine rules. That gives us the opportunity to present interested manufacturers with a more even playing field.”

Both manufacturers welcome the addition of a third competitor and believe the series hasn’t been this stable with such an opportunistic outlook in years.”

“The future is bright, and it’s one of the key reasons why we said we’re going to go on for another chapter,” Campbell said.