INDYCAR, LLC, is an American-based auto racing sanctioning body for Indy car racing and other disciplines of open wheel car racing. The organization sanctions five racing series: the premier IndyCar Series with its centerpiece the Indianapolis 500, developmental series Indy Lights, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship and the U.S. F2000 National Championship, which are all a part of the Road to Indy and the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup.
The term “Indy Car” began as a nickname for the cars that competed in USAC’s “Championship” division of open-wheel auto racing in the United States, deriving from the sport’s most popular competition, the Indianapolis 500. The term continued to be used by USAC’s replacement as the dominant governing body for open-wheel racing, Championship Auto Racing Teams, which called its main series the “CART PPG Indy Car World Series” despite the body not sanctioning the 500. In February 2008, Indy Racing League founder and CEO Tony George and owners of the Champ Car World Series completed an agreement to unify the sport for 2008, with all races becoming part of IndyCar Series.