Scott McLaughlin started racing in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021, coming stateside following a successful run in Australia’s V8 Supercars series.
As his own list of accomplishments and popularity has grown, he has been witness to IndyCar itself gaining more and more popularity.
The series now regularly attracts more than a million viewers to its race broadcasts, and multiple tracks have been setting in-person attendance records.
Speaking on SPEED with Harvick and Buxton, McLaughlin described just how much change he has seen in the past six years.
“I think even from 2021 to now, the jump has been incredible. I think FOX coming onboard has been incredible.
“Just from an investment perspective, and exposure. Always being on network is really important. And it’s just being consistent and getting eyeballs on the sport.
“Anyone that I have brought to the track, whether it’s a friend or a sponsor or anyone that just wants to check it out, they come to their first IndyCar race and they’re like ‘Wow, this is incredible! What have we been missing?’
“It’s just a matter of getting people to the track, getting people to the race, getting people to watch the race, seeing the spectacle. Because it is an incredible, competitive sport and we’re very lucky to have it, but it’s getting those eyeballs.
“I think what we’re doing and the exposure that we’ve been getting from FOX and the investment this team has made has been special.
“Doug Boles has been incredible from the president standpoint, and Roger obviously has put a lot of money in from Penske Entertainment standpoint.
“It’s in a really good spot, and I’m excited to be on the curve.”
FOX has shown impressive growth in television audiences over the past two years, which has translated to improvement in nearly all of IndyCar’s popularity metrics.
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