Despite Immense Controversy, Dale Earnhardt Jr Calls IndyCar’s Big Change “Great News”

In December 2022, the news of IndyCar pulling out of iRacing to join forces with another platform created an uproar in the community. The move did not sit well with racing enthusiasts, including Dale Earnhardt Jr in particular, causing dismay among the 170,000 plus iRacing users owing to the deletion of their favorite race tracks.

However, it looks like IndyCar couldn’t hold the fort against the outrage for long as they have rekindled the partnership with iRacing. But the decision to turn the tables seems to have backfired, after which a legendary NASCAR racer changed his stance and applauded their significant change.

IndyCar’s shift: from iRacing to Motorsport games and back, Dale Jr’s enthusiastic approval

IndyCar parted ways with the iRacing platform and signed an exclusivity agreement with Motorsport Games. With their shift, not only their support for sim racing was revoked but many maps were struck off as well. Being popular among enthusiasts for games like rFactor 2 and NASCAR Heat, adding IndyCar to their roster boosted Motorsports Games’ dominance over iRacing.

Giving a heads up about IndyCar’s return to iRacing and its effect on the previously revoked contract, motorsports reporter Adam Stern shared the news and wrote, “.@IndyCar is moving toward a return to @iRacing’s platform with an official announcement likely coming early in the new year, per a Penske Entertainment Corp. official. The fresh deal between the sides would reverse what went away when IndyCar signed on with Motorsport Games.”

The revelation caught Dale Jr‘s eye, and he didn’t shy away from expressing his joy at IndyCar’s return and reshared Stern’s revelation on X with the caption, “This is great news!!! Awesome Penske Ent. and @iRacing.” 

Dale Jr seems pretty excited about the rekindling. However, despite the comeback news, fans’ excitement seems a distant thing for now. 

The online community has not welcomed IndyCar’s move

IndyCar would’ve probably thought that the news would bring joy to the community. But little did they know that this would brutally backfire as fans expressed their disinterest in having IndyCar back.

One fan brutally lashed at IndyCar for parting ways with iRacing in the first place and wrote, “Idk why they decided to leave iRacing (the biggest sim racing company) for a failing console game company that NASCAR and its fans were very unhappy with. This situation along with the Honda debacle are major fails for the Penske group since taking over.”

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Another fan wasted no time and bluntly commented, “We dont want them back.” Another user suggested that IndyCar should go to EA Sports instead and wrote, “They should’ve tried to go to EA instead of heading back to IRacing because no one wants to use IRacing or can afford it to.” 

One fan pointed out the monthly payment that could prove costly for the users and commented, “Sad, Indycar will be behind a monthly paywall on PC, if only they do a standalone PC game, that you only buy once…”

IndyCar’s move to come back to terms with iRacing didn’t get the expected welcome from the community. Are you excited to see the IndyCar’s tracks in simulator racing once again?

Read More: iRacing Interested in Getting Back in Business With IndyCar After Motorsport Games Disaster