The NTT IndyCar Series announced on Tuesday morning that longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles has been named the President of IndyCar.
Boles has served as IMS President since 2013 and has overseen, among other events, many iterations of the storied Indianapolis 500, including the historic 100th running in 2016.
He has been praised for this promotional aspirations, which have been crucial in bringing more than $150 million is strategic investment to the speedway.
In addition, Boles is seen as one of the most down-to-Earth executives in IndyCar. He often spends time talking directly with fans, watching race events from the general admission viewing mounds, and frequently personally addresses issues he is made aware of.
Boles will continue his role as IMS President as he takes on new duties with IndyCar, and will report directly to Penske President and CEO Mark Miles.
“Racing is in my DNA, and no form of racing resonates more personally and strongly with me than the NTT IndyCar Series,” said Boles.
“I’m honored to lead the amazing team at IndyCar, and I truly believe the future is bigger and brighter than ever for our sport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I’m extremely grateful to Mark Miles for this opportunity, and fans can rest assured the hard work is already under way and 2025 will be a fantastic season.”
As part of the move, the outgoing IndyCar president Jay Frye has left the series altogether.
Frye has worked with the series for 10 years, and has focused on sporting and safety developments including the introduction of the Aeroscreen in 2020.
He navigated tough development and supply chain issues to get the hybrid system across the finish line midway through the 2024 season.
No details were given about the nature of Frye’s departure or his future plans.
Other leadership moves
Other shifts in IndyCar’s leadership structure are occurring at the same time, changing the landscape within the series.
Mark Sibla, a senior member of IndyCar’s management for over a decade, has been named Senior Vice President of IndyCar competition.
Sibla will be tasked with special initiatives, such as the introduction of the new chassis which is planned for the 2027 season.
Race Director Kyle Novak will become IndyCar’s Vice President of Officiating and Race Control.
Novak has been a constant presence since joining IndyCar in 2018, and added a bit of dramatic flair as he sent drivers out for their qualifying runs during the Indy 500.
He will now lead both the Race Control and Race Tech teams, and will ensure compliance with the rules in all aspects of the weekend.
In addition, Alex Damron will continue his role as Vice President of Corporate Communications while also serving as Chief Marketing Officer.
Louis Kissinger has also been promoted to General Manager of IMS operations.
The list of leadership changes is long, particularly for an organization that has been relatively stable since Roger Penske purchased the series in early 2020.
The changes also come as the presentation of IndyCar is changing on account of FOX Sports taking over broadcast rights from NBC starting this season.
