When NASCAR 25 launched, most people saw it as a long-overdue reset for NASCAR games. And to be fair, it was. After years of inconsistent releases, iRacing Studios stepped in with something that actually resembled a modern racing sim built for consoles.
iRacing Studios somehow managed to land with a NASCAR game that managed to please both the series’s casual racing game fans and hardcore sim enthusiasts.
With their upcoming IndyCar game on the horizon, the expectations are already high. NASCAR 25 could be a blueprint for this next big project, instead of being a one-off success.
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If you’re trying to figure out what that IndyCar title might look like, NASCAR 25 already gives us a lot of clues.
The Physics Foundation Is Already There
The biggest advantage iRacing has over most racing developers is simple: they already have one of the most respected simulation platforms in motorsports.
The core iRacing service is built around laser-scanned tracks, realistic physics, safety ratings, and even dynamic weather conditions. Sure, NASCAR 25 didn’t have that much depth, but they still managed to land the physics right. It’s a good balance of simulation and arcade-y mechanics.
So, there’s a strong chance the upcoming IndyCar game will reuse and adapt that same physics foundation.
Even community discussions have pointed toward shared physics systems between the two games, which makes sense from a development standpoint. More importantly, IndyCar racing has its mix of oval, road, and street circuits, which demands a physics model that can handle a wide range of conditions.
NASCAR 25 already proves iRacing can deliver that balance.
Career Mode Will Likely Be A Major Focus
One of the standout features in NASCAR 25 is its multi-series career mode, where players start in lower-tier series and work their way up while managing contracts, staff, and car development. It’s bound to the highlight feature, as it’s usually these modes that studios make money off with microtransactions.
We already know the IndyCar title will include a “robust, multilevel career mode” featuring both the main series and feeder categories like Indy NXT. Just like they had different cups for NASCAR.
Basically, expect the IndyCar game to have a similar career mode and progressions like NASCAR 25, but this time with different motorsport series.
Simulation Vs Accessibility Will Be The Balancing Act
One of the more interesting things about NASCAR 25 is how it tries to walk the line between hardcore sim and accessible console racer.
It’s not as punishing as the full iRacing experience, but it still leans toward realism. That balance is crucial, especially if you want to attract both casual players and sim racing fans. NASCAR 25 already acts as a hybrid of simulation and arcade racing, which broadens its appeal.
That same approach will likely carry over to IndyCar. And honestly, it has to. IndyCar racing is arguably even more complex than NASCAR, with diverse track types and highly sensitive cars.
If iRacing gets that balance right, the IndyCar game could end up appealing to a much wider audience than traditional sim racers.
Licensing And Authenticity Should Be A Strength
NASCAR 25 features hundreds of licensed drivers, real-world series, and officially scanned tracks, which gives it a level of authenticity that previous NASCAR games struggled to achieve.
That level of licensing is already confirmed for the IndyCar game as well, with real drivers from the NTT IndyCar Series and Indy NXT expected to be included. Plus, iRacing is a big enough studio to easily get licensing for IndyCar.
Conclusion
To put it simply, the IndyCar game will take a lot of what worked for NASCAR 25 and improve on it. The track data, physics model, and career mode system could be pulled from the previous game and tweaked for the IndyCar game.
And if NASCAR 25 is any indication, that’s probably a good thing.
Published: Mar 19, 2026 04:30 pm