Penske’s Independent Officiating Board Assembled
Indianapolis, IN — The newly formed Independent Officiating Board (IOB) under Penske’s IndyCar Officiating Incorporated convened for its inaugural meeting ahead of the Christmas holiday. This strategic assembly features three key figures: veteran NASCAR crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham, former Ford executive Raj Nair, and FIA representative Ronan Morgan.
IndyCar President Doug Boles emphasized the significance of the gathering, stating, “For the first time, our three IOB board members gathered together here in Indianapolis.” The meeting served as an opportunity for the officials to align on governance strategies regarding race conduct, technical inspections, and overall event oversight. They also began reviewing the bylaws of the newly established organization, which operates independently from IndyCar itself.
Boles expressed confidence in the collective expertise of the trio: “They’ve seen the best in all of the sport across the board.” This diverse backgrounds bolster their capacity to enhance the officiating landscape in IndyCar. Nair’s experience with the successful Ford GT program in the FIA World Endurance Championship complements Evernham’s leadership in grassroots and elite motorsports, while Morgan brings insights from the international regulatory perspective.
Boles noted, “Raj had an awful lot of investment and time in WEC seeing how they work… Ray does all kinds of things in motorsport.” He concluded that the collaboration would generate innovative ideas and establish the necessary independence for robust officiating.
As preparations for the upcoming IndyCar season advance, the IOB is poised to reinforce the integrity and professionalism of race officiating in America’s premier open-wheel series.
