In-demand IndyCar Skills
IndyCar is a fast-paced, exciting motorsport that has a huge following in North America.
The big focus is on individual driver performance, but that doesn't mean there aren't other skills that are in high demand.
With IndyCar, the chassis and engine are pretty standardised, with only 2 engine manufacturers and only 1 chassis manufacturer in the racing series. So when there is room for teams to develop areas of the vehicles themselves, it's safe to say they go all-in on trying to do it the best they possibly can. But with these limited options for impactful difference, there are just as few talented people who are able to make these differences possible. Let's look into what skills are the most in-demand within IndyCar and how that will impact recruitment efforts.
Dampers
For those not in the know around the full ins and outs of the vehicles, dampers are the mechanism that stops the car from constantly bouncing up and down when they go over bumps. Whilst it's only a small part of the vehicle, reducing the bouncing can help greatly in gaining and maintaining high speeds consistently over the course of the race.
Not only that, but the damper is a part of the car that each team can make their own changes to as it's not produced to spec like most of the vehicle. Each IndyCar team will likely have one person solely in charge of the dampers section, with a team to support them as well. Having highly skilled talent leading this team can make a huge impact in the races, so every team is after the best of the best to give them an edge over the competition.
The key thing about dampers is that they're very technical. With this being a very specialised aspect of the vehicle, top talent is hard to come by so the talent that does exist are already being paid handsomely within their current teams. It will take big financial incentives to steal the knowledge and skills away from other teams in the industry, likely more than many teams can realistically afford for a niche skillset. If you want the best damper talent there is, expect to pay top dollar!
Data analysis & Simulation
Simulation and data analysis are crucial stages when testing a vehicle before each race. Something that is an aspect of IndyCar, along with many other motorsport series, is the concept of 'wind tunnel time'. Each team is allocated a certain amount of time that they are allowed to test their vehicles in a wind tunnel, just as a way to ensure competition remains tight between teams.
A lot of the skills regarding simulation and data analysis of these wind tunnel sessions are based in Europe. As IndyCar is based solely in North America (and mainly in the US), hiring managers face an additional challenge of navigating complicated work visas to secure the skills they need. Whilst hybrid and remote work has made it easier to appoint global talent, there are many roles within IndyCar that require an on-site presence. This is an important aspect of hiring to consider if you are truly looking to build out the best team.
If hiring internationally isn't your bag, then there is the option to 'home-grow' your own talent in these key areas. Taking on graduates with degrees in a relevant field can be a much more cost-effective route to acquiring these skills, if you are willing to give them the time and space to grow over the space of a few years.
Electrification
The electrification of IndyCar isn't new; there have been hybrid engines available since the 2024 season. But with this shift came the need for new skills and knowledge that many teams simply did not have in their ranks. An instant need for new skills across an industry naturally increases the cost it takes to acquire the necessary talent.
But electrification skills aren't just needed within IndyCar; they are sought after across the entirety of motorsports. Formula E is the most obvious competition for these skills; its whole competition is based around electric engines! This makes the demand for talent fierce, and teams will have to get creative in their talent acquisition methods. If you can't compete financially with other motorsport companies, what else can you offer as part of the compensation package?
There's also the option to look further afield for the electrification skills you need. Asia, and in particular China, is seen as quite the hotspot for EV skills due to the high concentration of Li-ion over there. If you're a team that is able to offer strong relocation packages, this is a great option to secure highly talented workers while facing a bit less competition from the rest of your market.
Sources:
https://www.indycar.com/videos/2025/04/04-23-hybrid-opentest-vid