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Does Iracing Have Indycar

New to iRacing and wondering if IndyCar is included? Get a clear answer, what to buy, and easy steps to start turning laps—plus practical iRacing tips. For beginners.

If you’ve heard mixed messages about IndyCar in iRacing, you’re not imagining things. Labels change. Events come and go. And it’s easy to click around and feel lost. Here’s the steady truth—so you can get on track without the guesswork.

If you’re wondering “does iracing have indycar,” this guide gives you the short answer, the easy steps to try it today, and a few iRacing tips for staying sane as a beginner.

Quick answer: does iracing have indycar?

Yes—iRacing lets you drive modern and historic Indy-style cars (like the Dallara IR-18) on key oval and road courses, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Branding and official series names can vary by season and licenses, but you can practice, race AI, host sessions, and join open-wheel official series featuring this content.

Why this matters for beginners

  • Clarity saves money: iRacing sells cars and tracks individually. Knowing exactly what you need prevents impulse buys.
  • Pace vs. control: IndyCars are fast and unforgiving. For iRacing beginners, it’s crucial to understand how iRacing works—Safety Rating and iRating reward clean, consistent laps, not hero moves.
  • Seasonal changes: Official “IndyCar” events and labels can shift. Focus on the car and tracks first; the racing is the same, whatever the banner says.

Simple step-by-step guide

  1. Find the car: In the iRacing store, search “Dallara IR-18” (modern Indy car). Consider classic options too if you love history.
  2. Get a track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is iconic. Add a road course like Road America or an oval like Texas if you want variety.
  3. Test drive first: Use Test Drive or AI Racing to learn inputs, stops, and out-laps before any official race.
  4. Join a series: Look under Open Wheel for fixed-setup or series that list the IR-18. If you’re new to iRacing, start with fixed to reduce setup overwhelm.
  5. Build safely: Run practice and time trials to raise confidence and Safety Rating before jumping into busy splits.

Common mistakes

  • Buying everything at once: Start with one car and 1–2 tracks you’ll actually race this season.
  • Skipping fixed setups: Fixed series let you focus on braking points, tire temp, and traffic—ideal for iRacing beginners.
  • Overdriving cold tires: The IR-18 bites early. Two calm laps before pushing pace is the difference between learning and towing.

Quick pro tips

  • Map essential controls: Push-to-Pass (where applicable), tear-off, pit limiter, in-car tools (weight-jacker/ARB), fuel black box.
  • Use ghost laps: Load a faster ghost to copy braking references without race pressure.
  • Run longer stints: Learn how the car changes on lap 10, not just lap 2. Consistency boosts iRating.
  • Start on higher downforce: More stability = better learning. Trim later for speed.
  • Community helps: Join an open-wheel-focused Discord or the iRacing forums for setups and coaching snippets—low effort, high return.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a special license to race IndyCar in iRacing?
A: You’ll need the right license class for specific series. You can always practice, host, or race AI with the content you own.

Q: Is there an official Indy 500 in iRacing?
A: Special events and names can change with licensing. Check the current Season Schedule and Special Events page for the latest.

Q: What should I buy first?
A: The Dallara IR-18 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Then add the tracks used in your target series this season.

Q: I’m new to iRacing—should I jump straight into IndyCar?
A: You can, but many new to iRacing learn racecraft in Rookie open-wheel (like F4) first, then step up. It’s faster, cheaper, and kinder to Safety Rating.

Final takeaways

Yes, you can race Indy-style cars in iRacing right now. Start small: buy the IR-18 and one track, test with AI, then join a fixed series. Keep it clean, learn the feel, and build speed step by step. That’s how iRacing works—and how you’ll enjoy it most.