F1 v IndyCar: Top speeds, engines, formats, calendars and safety measures all compared

F1 cars may look very similar to their IndyCar counterparts, but the two series differ quite a lot once you look under the surface of the machines. Here’s how different F1 and IndyCar really are…

To an untrained eye, the single-seater cars used in both F1 and IndyCar are quite similar in appearance. Low-slung, futuristic designs with front and rear wings and chunky tyres mean that, aesthetically, differences between the two series are not night and day. However, once you start peeling back the layers of IndyCar, it’s clear that the philosophy of the American series is very different to that of F1.

F1 v IndyCar: A quick history of both series

Both European and American open-wheel racing have existed since the turn of the 20th century, but the series we recognize as their pinnacles both have complex histories.

Let’s start with Formula 1. Derived from European Grand Prix racing, the Formula 1 World Championship was first founded in 1950 by introducing a unified set of rules (Formula 1) and stringing together a handful of the most prestigious events in the world. Those events largely took place in Europe — with the exception of the Indy 500!

Yes, between 1950 and 1960, the Indy 500 counted as an F1 race! Only Alberto Ascari ever attempted it during that time period, and he retired after just 40 laps.

IndyCar’s history is much more complex. While it can trace its roots to American open-wheel racing, whose first championship was hosted in the early 1900s, the prestige of the Indianapolis 500 compared to every other event on the series calendar has led to rampant in-fighting among the American open-wheel sect.

This resulted in something called the ‘split’ — which actually happened twice, though the most memorable one came in 1996.

The first split took place in 1979, when teams dissatisfied with the United States Auto Club (USAC) fractured into their own discipline called Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).

The second split came in 1996, when the owner of the Indianapolis Motor speedway created his own series called the Indy Racing League (IRL), which would compete against CART.

CART filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and became the Champ Car World Series, but both Champ Car and the IRL were in dire straits by 2007. In order to survive, both series would need to unite — and in 2008 came the modern incarnation of IndyCar that we know today.

What are the main differences between F1 and IndyCar?

One of the key differences between IndyCar and F1 is that IndyCar runs to a far lower budget – while F1 teams are ‘constructors’ in that they build their own chassis (or outsource it, in Haas’ case), IndyCar teams all use the same chassis, manufactured by Dallara.

While F1 focuses on development across a season, with teams introducing as many upgrades as they can afford to bring under the new budget cap, IndyCar machines stay broadly the same, with the focus being on each team understanding how best to set up the car for the demands of each individual track.

IndyCar’s focus is on a ‘level’ playing field, with the Dallara chassis paired with one of two engines: Honda or Chevrolet.

The tracks are also pretty different – F1 races on ‘road’ circuits specifically, using existing race tracks or custom-built street venues. IndyCar also uses road circuits, but sprinkles in ‘oval’ races throughout its calendar – a hugely different technical challenge that F1 teams simply do not have to concern themselves with.

F1 also focuses on uniformity across the field – there are 10 teams with two drivers each. The cars of each team must be presented in the same livery. In IndyCar, grid sizes can vary from around 20 to as many as 33 for the Indy 500. Teams can run single-car entries, to as many as six cars, and they don’t have to be presented in the same livery – making it more difficult to spot team-mates.

Is IndyCar faster than F1?

The fact that both series use differing track types means that the definition of which is ‘quicker’ is somewhat blurred.

Based solely on top speeds, then IndyCar wins out — Robert Shwartzman took pole for the 2022 Indy 500 with a 232.7 mph run. The ‘usual’ top speed for a Formula 1 car is around 205 mph, although Valtteri Bottas hit 231 mph while slipstreaming at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City in 2016.

While an F1 car is, in theory, capable of higher top speeds if set up to do so, the engineering focus of the cars means they wouldn’t be able to sustain it for as long as an IndyCar – it would only be a matter of time until something mechanical snaps, breaks, or fails.

F1’s focus in on downforce generation and cornering speeds – there is no road-going vehicle capable of faster outright lap times around most circuits than a Formula 1 car.

F1 cars accelerate faster, corner with far more agility and grip, while still being capable of incredible top speeds – where IndyCar wins out is at the very top end of the speedometer.

IndyCar raced at the Circuit of The Americas in 2019, a venue also used in Formula 1. This allowed for a direct comparison of lap times, with the pole time in IndyCar being a 1:46.0 set by Will Power at an average of 115mph. Later that year, Valtteri Bottas took pole for the F1 Grand Prix with a 1:32.0 – 14 seconds faster with an average speed of 133mph.

On oval circuits, where high g forces and banking combine for sustained periods, IndyCar can average higher speeds than Formula 1.

Indy 500 vs. Monaco Grand Prix: A tale of two crown jewels

The crown jewels of both IndyCar and F1 — the Indy 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix — predate their respective series.

The first Indy 500 was hosted in 1911 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile banked oval track that was paved in bricks at the time. A driver named Ray Harroun is credited with winning that inaugural event, which has now been held 108 times.

The Monaco Grand Prix was first held in 1929 after Antony Noghès and Louis Chiron designed a course that twisted through the street of Monte Carlo. The first event was won by a man named William Grover-Williams, and with the exception of pauses for war, the event has continued ever since.

Both races are included in the ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport,’ which also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only one driver has ever won all three: Graham Hill.

Juan Pablo Montoya is the only other driver to have won the Indy 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Can F1 drivers do the Indy 500?

Yes, Formula 1 drivers can race in the Indianapolis 500! In fact, many have done so — and several have won! Those major names include Jim Clark and Graham Hill.

Back in the 1960s, many European drivers made the trip to the Indy 500. The prize purse for that one race was greater than what they could expect to earn for the entire F1 season. Plus, not all F1 races counted toward the championship, which made it far easier for a driver to skip an F1 race to take on the 500.

In the modern era, though, seeing an F1 driver skip a race for the Indy 500 is extremely unlikely. That’s because every race counts for the championship now, and because F1 contracts are far more robust than they were several decades ago.

Only one driver has skipped an F1 race to compete in the Indy 500 in the past decade: Fernando Alonso.

In 2017, his McLaren team was struggling, and Zak Brown jokingly suggested Alonso skip Monaco to race at the Indy 500. To his surprise, Alonso ultimately decided it was a great idea!

He headed to the United States for the Month of May, where he qualified fifth. Sadly, his Honda engine let him down on the 179th of 200 laps, and Alonso retired from the event.

Which engines are more powerful: F1 or IndyCar?

There are two manufacturers of IndyCar engines: Chevrolet and Honda.

Both manufacturers build to the spec of 2.2 litre V6 twin-turbos that are now outfitted with hybrid elements that includes a low-voltage 48V motor generator unit (MGU) paired to an energy storage system (ESS), both of which fit into the bellhousing. The MGU creates power that is stored in the ESS.

Now, Indy cars can make 800 total horsepower, with 725 to 750 coming from the V6 engine in high-boost configuration, plus 60 hp from the ESS and another 50 from ‘push to pass,’ which provides a limited amount of extra boost during a race.

Formula 1 moved to hybrid technology for its ‘power units’ back in 2014 – highly complex, and expensive, pieces of engineering excellence that mate a 1.6 litre V6 to a turbocharger and hybrid ancillaries such as motor generator units like the MGU-H and MGU-K.

There are four F1 engine manufacturers currently: Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault (supplying Alpine), and Honda (suppliers of engines to Red Bull and RB), with two more joining in 2026 in Audi and Red Bull setting up their own engine division: RB Powertrains.

While there are no confirmed power output figures for the latest F1 engines (which have been frozen in terms of performance development since the start of 2022), it’s a safe assumption that 1000 horsepower has been achieved by all four manufacturers – Renault confirmed a 1000 horsepower figure back in 2019.

Both series have engine usage limits in place. IndyCar has a four-engine rule in place for each car, with grid penalties to be served if additional engines are required.

Power unit usage rules for F1 are a limit of three engines, as well as three of each component such as turbos and MGUs, plus two energy stores and control electronics.

What are the differences in qualifying formats between IndyCar and F1?

F1 uses a three-part qualifying session in order to determine the grid, known as Q1, Q2, and Q3. Q1 is 18 minutes long, and all 20 drivers head out to set their fastest lap time.

At the chequered flag, the five slowest drivers are eliminated, with the remaining 15 heading into Q2. The times are wiped, and the 15 drivers do the same thing again – the bottom five being knocked out at the chequered flag.

The top 10 move on into Q3, with the fastest times determining starting position for the race.

A shortened version of the Q1/Q2/Q3 format is used for Sprints, called ‘Sprint qualifying’, with the sessions lasting 12, 10 and 8 minutes respectively.

As of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign, the number of sprint weekends increased to six for the season.

IndyCar qualifying varies, and depends on the event. For road and street races, the drivers are divided into two groups. For the first segment, the six fastest drivers from each group goes through into the next part of qualifying, with the rest taking the positions of 13th and downwards.

The fastest 12 have 10 minutes to set a lap with the fastest six then going on to the Fast Six shootout while the remaining drivers slot into 12th to seventh. The final six have six minutes to set the fastest lap and achieve pole position.

For oval events, drivers go out one at a time, with the average of their two timed runs making up their qualifying time.

For the unique Indy 500, qualifying is split into three days, with every driver setting a time from the average of four laps on the first day. Those who are in the top nine go on to repeat the process in the Fast Nine Shootout, and those below 30th in the Last Row Shootout to decide the final grid.

What are the differences in race formats between IndyCar and F1?

F1’s race format is quite simple: the Grand Prix takes in 305km (190 miles) of action, or is time-limited to two hours – whichever comes first. The only exception to this is at the Monaco Grand Prix – the exceptionally slow average speeds (by F1 standards) mean the 78-lap race takes in just 160 miles while still taking up the best part of two hours.

In IndyCar oval races, there is no time limit and races run to a pre-determined distance (for instance, 500 miles at the Indy 500), while road and street course races usually run to a two-hour limit.

While F1 races around the world in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Australia, IndyCar stays Stateside for pretty much the entirety of its calendar.

How does Formula 1 compare to US series in other ways?

👉 F1 v IndyCar v NASCAR: How do pit-stops compare in each of the three racing series?

👉 From F1 to NASCAR: The 10 F1 drivers who made the move to the US

What are the other key differences between an F1 car and an IndyCar?

While each F1 car is a bespoke design as interpreted by each team’s technical department, IndyCars are essentially ‘spec’ machines as the chassis and aero kits are purchased from Dallara.

While visually similar to an F1 car, one key difference is around the cockpit – IndyCar having chosen to go a different route to F1 when it comes to cockpit protection.

With IndyCar and the FIA looking into options for cockpit protection, F1 pursued the ‘Halo’ option that was introduced at the start of the 2018 season.

However, IndyCar pursued this option and introduced it as the ‘Aeroscreen’. This device was developed and manufactured by Red Bull Technologies, a subsidiary of Red Bull Racing.

On the tyre front, Firestone provide IndyCar with 15-inch compounds while, in F1, Pirelli are the sole supplier of the 18-inch tyres.

In IndyCar, refuelling is a key component of a team’s strategic approach to a race while, in F1, refuelling has been banned since 2010 – meaning the cars start the race with enough fuel to reach the chequered flag. This means that, in F1, pit stops are extremely fast – tyre changes are regularly achieved in about two seconds from the car being lifted from the ground to accelerating out of its pit box.

Another key difference between the two series is in the area of physicality. While F1 is quicker and more demanding on a driver’s neck due to extreme G-forces, IndyCar’s lower cornering speeds mean this is less of a concern for its drivers. However, IndyCar does not use power steering – meaning the drivers develop greater upper body strength as they wrestle their less wieldy cars around the track.

What overtaking aids are available in Formula 1 and IndyCar?

F1 uses the Drag Reduction System (DRS) which allows drivers to drop a flap on their rear wings to reduce drag and increase top speed. This is only used within pre-determined DRS zones on track, with the attacking driver using the system when within one second of the car in front.

F1 drivers also have the ability to deploy their limited hybrid energy as they see fit, meaning fascinating battles can develop as drivers engage in harvesting and deployment of this energy.

This can also be seen in the form of ‘Push to Pass’ in IndyCar, where drivers can press a button on the steering wheel to get a 60-horsepower boost of power. In contrast to F1, its usage is much less restricted.

Drivers can use it to attack or defend, on any part of the circuit they want to, and for as little or as long as they want to (up to a maximum of 15 seconds in one push). The only limitation is the number of seconds they’re allowed to use it in a race, which is usually set around 200 seconds per race.

Has anyone won championships in both F1 and IndyCar?

Yes, drivers have won championships in both Formula 1 and IndyCar!

Mario Andretti took four IndyCar championships in 1965, 1966, 1969, and 1984. In the mid-1970s, he made a foray into Formula 1 full-time with Lotus, where he won the 1978 World Championship.

Emerson Fittipaldi won the 1972 and 1974 World Championships in Formula 1 driving first for Lotus and then for McLaren. After his time in European open-wheel racing came to an end, he headed over to America, where he won the 1989 PPG Indy Car World Series.

Next came Nigel Mansell. After winning the 1992 F1 World Championship with Williams, he had a falling out with the team and found himself without a ride for the ’93 F1 season. Instead, he headed to America to compete in what was then known as the CART series, where he won the 1993 title.

Jacques Villeneuve is the last driver to win titles in both disciplines. His first was the 1995 Champ Car title; the following year, he joined Formula 1. It took him a season to find his footing, and in 1997, he took his World Championship.

Have F1 drivers ever raced IndyCar drivers?

Plenty of Formula 1 and IndyCar drivers have gone head-to-head various times throughout history. The first was in 1952, when F1 driver Alberto Ascari headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to try his hand at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing with Ferrari.

Since then, many F1 drivers have hopped across the pond to try the 500 before returning to their main series: Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, and even Fernando Alonso.

But there have been three instances where F1 cars and Indy cars actually competed against one another: The Race of Two Worlds in 1957 and 1958, and the 1971 Questor Grand Prix.

The Race of Two Worlds was hosted on the banked oval circuit at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy; the first year, no F1 drivers dared compete in what seemed like a ‘rigged’ competition against the American cars better suited to the oval track. As such, an American driver named Jimmy Bryan was crowned overall winner after taking victories in two of three heat races.

In 1958, the Americans returned to Monza to find stiffer competition, with Ferrari in particular entering a handful of Formula 1 cars to take on the American machines. But again, an American won: Jim Rathmann.

The 1971 Questor Grand Prix pitted Formula 1 machines against American Formula 5000 cars at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. The podium was a clean sweep for F1 talent: Mario Andretti (Ferrari), Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell), and Denny Hulme (McLaren). Mark Donohue gave the podium contenders a run for their money behind the wheel of his F5000 Lola, only to retire with fuel pressure issues.

Read next: F1 schedule: When is the next F1 race and where is it being held?