IndyCar's history from CART split to 2008 merger

IndyCar is best known for the Indianapolis 500, held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The championship reached a peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s under the sanctioning body CART, attracting Formula 1 champions including Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.

The creation of the rival Indy Racing League in 1996 split the sport and badly damaged the championship. CART, which rebranded as Champ Car, went into decline, and by 2008 the two series had merged.

Today's IndyCar championship uses a single-specification chassis and races on road, street and traditional American oval circuits.