What McLaren CEO Zak Brown thinks FOX is acquiring a third of IndyCar

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has given many opinions about what Indycar owner Roger Penske and Penske Entertainment should do to increase the footprint of the NTT Indycar series. In the past he has talked about massive investments in promotion and marketing, even the possibility to attract a ownership partner to make that happen.

On July 31, Indycar announced that partner when Fox bought a third in Penske Entertainment, including Indycar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy NXT from Firestone and IMS Productions. Moreover, FOX Sports Media Rights partnership with Indycar and the Indianapolis 500 has been expanded.

The deal is worth between $ 125 million to $ 135 million and offers Penske Entertainment the opportunity to grow and expand Indycar awareness through extra marketing and promotion.

FOX Sports is in the first season as the broadcast partner for the NTT Indycar series.

Bag of brown incredibly impressed

In addition to the possession of the McLaren Racing Formula One team, Brown and McLaren also have the Arrow McLaren Indycar team with drivers Pato O’Ward van Monterrey, Mexico, Christian Lundgaard van Veersted, Denmark and Nolan Siegel from Palo Alto, California.

Brown is incredibly impressed by the promotional and marketing efforts of FOX Sports with regard to Indycar, especially the enthusiasm of FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks.

“The news about the acquisition and investments of Fox in the NTT Indycar series today is very positive for all involved,” said Brown after the announcement. “They believe in the series and the potential, and they have already shown the marketing power that they can bring to grow the sport and the exposure to new fans.

“Eric (Shanks) and I have had many conversations about his ideas to broadcast and promote Indycar, and there will be many exciting things to look forward to. With this new improved dedication with Fox, I am more confident than ever where the series is on its way to 2026 and then.”

This deal may seem unique because Penske gives a ownership of ownership in the company that Indycar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 owns, but it gives no control over.

When Liberty Media bought Formula 1 in 2017, it acquired the ownership control of the International Racing Series. Fox has a great importance in Indycar and will be actively involved in helping the series grow, but the ultimately control remains at Penske.

Media -ownership partnerships increase

In other sports, Disney’s ESPN is involved in discussions with the National Football League with an interest of 10 percent in ESPN, in exchange for the NFL network and redzone channels, according to numerous media reports.

FOX Sports owns the United Football League (UFL) and is involved in the Big Ten, including the ownership of the Big Ten network.

Warner Brothers, Discovery has a ownership of ownership in professional three-on-three women’s basketball competition, unparalleled.

Although Penske said he was not looking for extra capital, FOX’s created an annual improvement in viewers, including 7.1 million viewers for the Indianapolis 500 of this year, interested when he was approached by Fox.

With Shanks and Fox who offers daring vision, the Indycar offers the opportunity to work on new events, sponsorship options and increasing presence on the site on racing tracks on the schedule.

That is exactly what McLaren’s bag of Brown wanted.