The
IndyCar Series (known as the
Verizon IndyCar Series for sponsorship reasons) is the premier level of
open wheel racing in North America. Its parent company began in 1996 as a competitor to
CART known as the Indy Racing League (IRL) which was created by then
Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner
Tony George. In 2008, the IndyCar Series merged with the Champ Car World Series (formerly CART). The series is sanctioned by
IndyCar.