RENEW YOUR 2025 TICKETS

INDYCAR vs. Formula One Stats Comparison: Overtakes, Speed, and Races

September 23, 2024

While INDYCAR and Formula One both feature open-wheeled cars, the race dynamics and statistics could not be more different. This article quantitatively compares the statistics for both series relating to overtakes, speed, and the races in general. These statistics highly correlate with fan satisfaction from the race, as many racing fans may be interested primarily in speed, while others in the strategy involved or the number of overtakes. 

 

Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve included:

 

Overall Stat Comparison: INDYCAR vs. Formula One

 

The table below compares INDYCAR to Formula One. The figures are based on averages of available data.

 

Statistic INDYCAR Formula One
Number of Winning Drivers (2023 Season) 7 drivers 3 drivers
Highest Number of Overtakes in a Race 653 overtakes 188 overtakes
Average Number of Overtakes per Race ~ 425 overtakes ~ 45 overtakes
Average Race Time Races run to pre-defined distance Two hours
Average Race Length Varies by race, generally 200 - 500 miles Minimum of 190 miles
Average Track Length 1.89 miles 3.31 miles
Track Types 24 ovals, 10 road courses, 11 street circuits 46 race circuits, 19 street circuits, 12 road circuits
Average Turns per Track 8.15 turns 14.18 turns
Average Pit Stop Duration 6 - 10 seconds 2 - 2.5 seconds
Average Pit Stop Frequency 5 - 10 pit stops 2 pit stops

 

 

INDYCAR offers viewers a more suspenseful race, with the maximum percentage of races any one driver (Alex Palou) winning in the 2023 season was 29.4% of the races, compared to Formula One, where Max Verstappen took home 86.36% of the wins in the 2023 Formula One season. Additionally, we observe more overtakes in IndyCar, with some races nearing more overtakes than the entirety of the Formula One season. The average speed in IndyCar is faster as well, with the plethora of oval tracks giving drivers the chance to average well over 200mph for the duration of the race. 

 

Regarding Formula One, many fans enjoy the tracks because of the high number of turns and longer average tracks offered by that series. 

 

Car Comparison: INDYCAR vs. Formula One

 

This table offers a side-by-side look into INDYCAR and Formula One racecars. 

 

Car Statistic INDYCAR Formula One
Engine Size & Type 2.2L twin-turbocharged V6 1.6 liter, turbocharged V6
Power Output 900 horsepower 1,000 horsepower
Top Speed 236 mph 246.9 mph
Acceleration 0-60 mph in ~3.0 seconds 0-60 mph in ~2.6 seconds
Weight ~748 to 766 kg (without driver and fuel) ~798 kg (without driver and fuel)
Tire Specifications Firestone Firehawk race tires, primary & alternate variations Pirelli, varying compounds (soft, medium, hard, wet)
Fuel Type E85, an Ethanol-based fuel blended with 15% high-octane racing fuel E10 fuel – 10% renewable ethanol
Gearbox & Transmission 6-speed sequential gearbox 8-speed semi-automatic paddle-shift

 

The primary difference between these two series comes down to one factor: the freedom of each team to make their own car. INDYCAR restricts teams in their ability to customize the cars, leading to more competitive races with more weight on the driver than the engineering team. Each INDYCAR team must select either a Honda or Chevrolet engine and are only able to make adjustments to their dampers, aero kits, and other minor parts of the car. 

 

On the other hand, Formula One teams build their cars from the ground up, from the chassis to the engine, to the suspension. Formula One rules stipulate regulations for the cars, but in many ways, F1 is “pay to play” as teams with more to spend on R&D inevitably come out ahead. For some viewers, this is part of the entertainment, but many would like to see a more level playing field. 

 

INDYCAR Tracks, Lengths, & Turns

 

This table displays INDYCAR tracks throughout history and the lengths and turns on each. 

 

* Current Circuits

 

INDYCAR
Circuit Track Length (mi) # of Turns
Atlanta Motor Speedway 1.54 4
Auto Club Speedway 2.0 4
Baltimore street circuit 2.04 12
Barber Motorsports Park* 2.38 17
Charlotte Motor Speedway 1.5 4
Chicagoland Speedway 1.52 4
Circuit of the Americas 3.427 20
Detroit Belle Isle Street Circuit 2.35 14
Dover International Speedway 1.0 4
Edmonton street circuit 2.224 13
Homestead–Miami Speedway 1.485 4
Houston Street Circuit at NRG Park 1.634 10
Indianapolis Motor Speedway* 2.5 4
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)* 2.439 14
Iowa Speedway* 0.894 4
Kansas Speedway 1.52 4
Kentucky Speedway 1.48 4
Las Vegas Motor Speedway 1.544 4
Long Beach Street Circuit* 1.968 11
Michigan International Speedway 2.0 4
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course* 2.258 13
Milwaukee Mile* 1.015 4
Nashville Street Circuit 2.17 11
Nashville Superspeedway* 1.333 4
Nazareth Speedway 0.935 4
New Hampshire Motor Speedway 1.025 4
NOLA Motorsports Park 2.74 13
Pikes Peak International Raceway 1.0 4
Pocono Raceway 2.5 4
Portland International Raceway* 1.967 12
Phoenix Raceway 1.022 4
Richmond Raceway 0.75 4
Road America* 4.048 14
St. Petersburg Street Circuit* 1.8 14
São Paulo Street Circuit 2.536 11
Sonoma Raceway 2.385 12
Streets of Detroit* 1.7 9
Kansas Speedway 1.52 4
Surfers Paradise Street Circuit 2.795 12
Texas Motor Speedway* 1.455 4
Toronto Street Circuit* 1.75 11
Twin Ring Motegi 1.549 4
Twin Ring Motegi (road course) 2.983 14
Walt Disney World Speedway 1.0 4
Watkins Glen International 3.45 11
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca* 2.238 11
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway* 1.25 4
Average: 1.89 miles 8.15 turns

 

 

Circuit, Length, and Turns for 2024 INDYCAR Circuits

 

 

Breakdown of Track Types

 

The following chart displays the split between the three types of Tracks utilized by INDYCAR: ovals, road courses, and street circuits. 

 

 

 

Formula One Tracks, Lengths, & Turns

 

This table displays Formula One tracks throughout history and the lengths and turns on each. 

 

* Current Circuits

 

Formula One
Circuit Track Length (mi) # of Turns
Adelaide Street Circuit 2.349 16
Ain-Diab Circuit 4.734 18
Aintree Motor Racing Circuit 3.0 12
Albert Park Circuit* 3.28 16
Algarve International Circuit 2.891 15
Autódromo do Estoril 2.709 13
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez* 2.674 17
Autódromo Internacional do Rio de Janeiro 3.126 11
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello 3.259 14
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari* 3.05 17
Autodromo José Carlos Pace* 2.677 15
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza* 3.6 11
Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez 2.646 18
AVUS 5.157 4
Bahrain International Circuit* 3.363 15
Baku City Circuit* 3.73 20
Buddh International Circuit 3.194 16
Caesars Palace Grand Prix Circuit 2.268 14
Circuit Bremgarten 4.479 14
Circuit de Monaco* 2.074 19
Circuit de Pedralbes 3.925 6
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps* 4.352 20
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve* 2.71 13
Circuit of the Americas* 3.426 15
Circuit Paul Ricard 3.63 14
Baku City Circuit* 3.73 20
Circuito da Boavista 4.831 9
Circuito Permanente de Jerez 2.751 12
Dallas Fair Park 2.424 20
Detroit Street Circuit 2.59 11
Fuji Speedway 2.835 16
Hungaroring* 2.722 13
Intercity Istanbul Park 3.317 27
Korea International Circuit 3.489 18
Las Vegas Strip Circuit* 3.853 17
Long Beach Street Circuit 2.035 11
Lusail International Circuit* 3.367 16
Marina Bay Street Circuit* 3.07 19
Miami International Autodrome* 3.363 18
Montjuïc Circuit 2.356 18
Mosport International Raceway 2.459 8
Nivelles-Baulers 2.314 10
Nürburgring 3.199 7
Pescara Circuit 16.031 15
Phoenix Street Circuit 2.312 24
Prince George Circuit 2.436 12
Red Bull Ring* 2.683 8
Riverside International Raceway 3.275 10
Rouen-Les-Essarts 4.065 14
Scandinavian Raceway 2.505 9
Sebring Raceway 5.192 13
Sepang International Circuit 3.444 10
Shanghai International Circuit* 3.387 12
Silverstone Circuit* 3.66 16
Sochi Autodrom 3.634 15
Suzuka International Racing Course* 3.608 18
TI Circuit Aida 2.301 11
Valencia Street Circuit 3.367 16
Watkins Glen International 3.374 10
Yas Marina Circuit* 3.281 15
Zeltweg Airfield 1.98 4
Average: 3.314 miles 14.18 turns

 

 

Circuit, Length, and Turns for 2024 F1 Circuits

 

 

Breakdown of Track Types

 

The following chart displays the split between the three types of tracks utilized by Formula One: race circuits, road circuits, and street circuits. 

 

 

INDYCAR vs Formula One: The Takeaways

 

While Formula One has hit peak popularity recently, in part due to Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, INDYCAR remains a home for true fans of American racing. Formula One remains a “pay to play” sport, with a high degree of success on the track dependent on the engineering team. INDYCAR stays true to the spirit of racing, where each driver has a chance to compete and win, even when the odds may be low. For more information on next year’s INDYCAR season, click here. 

 

Sources:

@MusicCityGP

Nashville Superspeedway
4847-F McCrary Road
Lebanon, TN 37090

GENERAL INQUIRIES
info@musiccitygp.com
MEDIA INFO
media@musiccitygp.com
TICKETS
tickets@musiccitygp.com

STAY CONNECTED

CONNECTED

DON’T MISS A LAP.

A LAP.

    
   
FOLLOW US FOR RACE UPDATES!
1 Vantage Way B105, Nashville, TN 37228