IndyCar's history: the CART and IRL split

IndyCar, home of the Indianapolis 500, has a chequered history. Its championship reached a peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s under the sanctioning body CART, which drew international attention and drivers who were 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 is known for spectacular racing with a single-specification chassis and a varied calendar of road, street and traditional oval circuits.