IndyCar Is Keeping Trump and RFK Jr. Promos Out of the Indianapolis 500
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IndyCar has reportedly denied a request to field a car promoting two presidential candidates in the Indianapolis 500. The car would have promoted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump, two rival candidates for the presidency in November's election.
According to a report from Racer, the entry would have promoted both candidates on the same car despite the obvious ideological inconsistencies that come with supporting two different options in the same election. The series opted to stop the deal, telling Racer in a statement that "IndyCar does not approve sponsorships associated with elected officials, candidates for political office or political action committees."
By avoiding the question, IndyCar has again dodged any direct relationship with a candidate in the election. The issue comes up just a month after Trump himself was reportedly part of the broadcast plan for a non-championship race at the Thermal Club. That was ultimately dropped before the race, and the broadcast continued with no mention of Trump or any other candidate. Thirteen years prior, when he was merely a real estate celebrity and reality TV star, Trump was first confirmed as the pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500 and then dropped in favor of four-time race winner AJ Foyt. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has no known connection to IndyCar, but he has appeared on Danica Patrick's podcast.
Unlike IndyCar, NASCAR has allowed direct promotion of presidential candidates in the past. That includes a Trump car fielded by Go FAS Racing ahead of the 2020 election, but that car was sponsored by a political action committee rather than by the campaign itself.
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