Formula One and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are two completely different championships, for one thing, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is a spec series, with only the engine being different with each team powered by either Honda or Chevrolet.
Making a comparison between the two championships is like comparing apples with oranges or cats and dogs. For one thing, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES competes on oval tracks and the cars don’t have power steering meaning that the cars are more physical in terms of handling.
Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen scored 19 victories out of the 23 races throughout the season, while in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Alex Palou had a fantastic 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season on his way to claiming his second series title. The Spaniard scored 10 podium finishes in 17 races and finished each of the races in eighth place or better.
Palou scored five victories throughout the season. The Spaniard also scored pole for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May. Palou went on to finish fourth in the Greatest Spectacle In Racing.
Despite dominating the 2023 season, Alex Palou had quite a bit of competition with Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood taking two victories, and Christian Lundgaard winning in Toronto for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden took four oval victories this season in Texas, back-to-back in Iowas, and of course, claimed his maiden Indianapolis victory in May.
Scott McLaughlin took victory at the Grand Prix of Alabama while Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon took three wins this season, the Iceman took back-to-back victories at the Gallagher Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the IMS road course and then took victory in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 and also at the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
When you look at Formula One in 2023, Max Verstappen won 19 races, with Sergio Perez claiming victory in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan giving Oracle Red Bull Racing 21 of 22 race victories in 2023 with the Emilia Romagne Grand Prix at the Imola circuit canceled. The only other driver to win a race in Formula One this season was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who took victory in Singapore.
It is certainly safe to say that while Formula One is the Pinnacle of Motorsport in terms of technology, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is head and shoulders above Formula One when it comes to competitive racing, entertainment, and value for money for the fan experience.
The only similarity between Max Verstappen and Alex Palou in 2023 is the fact that they were both powered by Honda engines.