IndyCar driver addresses 'illogical' rumor about introducing a NASCAR-like playoff system

IndyCar driver Santino Ferrucci has addressed the rumors about the series introducing a playoff format similar to NASCAR. The AJ Foyt Racing driver commented on the recent playoff controversy in NASCAR and why it would be 'illogical' to emulate it.

The 2025 NASCAR playoffs sparked a fiery debate about the need for the playoff system. In the Xfinity Series, Connor Zilisch, who was the best driver throughout the season and dominated with 10 wins, couldn't win the title simply because he had an uncharacteristic bad day at the Phoenix finale.

In the Cup Series, Denny Hamlin led most of the Phoenix finale, but a late caution followed by a restart pushed him further behind, and Kyle Larson won his second championship. Hamlin's heartbreak wasn't a direct result of the playoff format, but an unexpected caution, and Larson would've won the title even if the normal season-long results were considered.

Nonetheless, the concept of a single race having the possibility to crown a relative underperformer the champion in comparison to the season-long best came under the scanner yet again. On Wednesday, Santino Ferrucci explained why a playoff format in IndyCar would make no sense.

"The correct answer for the playoffs is, it worked for NASCAR to create a different set of championships. We race also 30-plus times a year... you're running 17 times a year... that's essentially what their playoff is. It doesn't make any logical sense for us to do that," Ferrucci said via ASAP Sports.

"It's also not really fair when you get down to a race, if someone has a bad day, they lose a championship. You saw it happen both in Xfinity and in Cup. I'm not quite sure who came up with the rumor, but I highly doubt that we'll go to a playoff-style championship," he added.

IndyCar president is firmly against playoff format for the series

2025 IndyCar Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 - Source: Getty

In July this year, IndyCar president Doug Boles flat-out rejected any theories about the premier American open-wheel racing series adopting a playoff format like NASCAR. There was reportedly one series promoter who was interested in a playoff format, but that desire didn't find takers at the top.

Speaking about emulating the NASCAR Cup Series, Boles said (via RACER):

"We pay attention to what others are doing. The one thing I know is that we don't have any interest in doing a playoffs-type situation like NASCAR has. That's not something that's on our bingo card."

Though Boles was uninterested in the playoff format, he was open to IndyCar having a challenge race, like the Marlboro Challenge in the past, to add some spice to the season. However, there has been no update on that front since his statement in July.

In mid-September, Boles seemingly re-emphasized his point about no playoffs in IndyCar with an indirect statement after the 2026 schedule reveal. Drivers like Kyle Kirkwood and reigning champion Alex Palou had also vetoed the possibility when asked about it during the season.