They saw and very much appreciated.

That was the sentiment of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers to FOX’s 45-second commercial centered on Josef Newgarden, the two-time and reigning winner of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, that aired during last weekend’s NFL playoffs.

“(It) put a smile on everyone's face,” Conor Daly said. “Got to make stars, right? Josef is a star, and some people hate him now, which is funny, but boy, that (FOX commitment) is a huge deal for us. … It shouted at your face, like, ‘Hey, whatever is going on (in INDYCAR) is sweet.’ I thought it hit everything exactly how it needed to.

“Fastest racing on Earth right at the end. It burned in my brain. I was like, ‘I need to see what's going on here.’”

Santino Ferrucci called the commercial “stout.” Graham Rahal said it was “phenomenal.”

“Having Tom Brady in that advertisement validates the whole sport,” Rahal said. “That's as big of a name as you're going to get on an international or national sporting scale.”

Alexander Rossi said the FOX commitment is going beyond the commercial, with the announcement that NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan is driving the “500” Pace Car – an announcement during another key NFL show that included Will Power’s new Team Penske livery – one of the many examples.

“Is a commercial with Josef or a commercial with Pato (O’Ward) or Alex (Palou) going to change the perception of INDYCAR racing? No,” Rossi said. “Is it a huge step in a direction that we've all been looking for in terms of out-of-the-box thinking and cool, trendy marketing and all of the buzzword stuff that you want to be a part of and be doing? Yeah, 100 percent.”

Newgarden said the commercial turned out even better than he thought.

“The best part was Alex’s bit (scoffing at Newgarden’s children’s book),” he said, laughing. “(FOX has) done a good job – more than a good job – a tremendous job. It’s been a long time since we've had a partner like FOX that has fully bought in and understands the significance of INDYCAR … they’re not scared to try things. I think we have needed that for a while, and they’re going to help push the sport where it deserves to be.”

Newgarden said he didn’t learn that Brady made a cameo until he saw the commercial the day before it aired. He was surprised and honored, and he expects to see the seven-time Super Bowl winner at the “500” in May.

Who’s Next at FOX?

FOX Sports announced this week that Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell will call NTT INDYCAR SERIES races from the booth. No pit reporters were named, although two Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers spoke Wednesday about their interest in the positions.

The only driving Ryan Hunter-Reay and Jack Harvey have scheduled for this year are the “500.”

“I'd certainly love to do some broadcasting work,” Hunter-Reay said. “I've done just a little bit here and there … (at) Long Beach, Indy, Detroit (where) I did some pit reporter stuff. I did some booth stuff at Long Beach. Yeah, I really enjoyed it. It comes naturally for me, having raced these cars for 20-plus years, (and I have) the freshest perspective on the current car (that) I can contribute.”

Harvey said he “heard that rumor” that he is pursuing a role with FOX.

“Yeah, I've been pretty vocal about it,” he said. “I think what FOX is doing right now is very cool. I came in yesterday to see part of Content Day, and I think it looks absolutely fantastic. I've said that I'd like to do it. Whether it comes together is not really in my hands.”

Both drivers insisted they don’t know if they will have a role in FOX’s 19 national broadcasts (17 races plus two “500” qualifying sessions).

Veteran motorsports pit reporter Jamie Little, an Indianapolis resident who works on FOX’s NASCAR broadcasts, attended Content Days, although she has not formally been linked to an NTT INDYCAR SERIES role.

Daly: It’s the Little Things in Racing

Daly is relishing the opportunity to have a full-time series ride for the first time since 2022. There are many perks that come with that designation.

For example, he will use a new seat for the first time since 2020.

“My seat has been painful in the last however many years,” he said. “But guess what, it costs money to make a seat, and none of these teams I (was with) for one race was going to spend money to get me a seat.

“Now I can have my own steering wheel grips. That's very nice. All those small things are (things) that all of the people winning and contending have. You (need) those things because this is the most competitive (motorsports) championship right now, and it's like, everything has to be perfect.”

Daly even noted he has a desk in JHR’s engineering office.

“I want to have a computer so I can finally be fully integrated in the team systems,” he said.

Power Aligns with A14 Management

For the first time in his career, Power has a management company representing him, important as it will soon be contract negotiation time for the two-time series champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner.

It was announced Wednesday that Power has joined A14 Management, led by fellow drivers Fernando Alonso and Oriol Servia. Power considers Servia a close friend, having been KV Racing teammates in 2008.

Power said he hopes Alonso, a two-time Formula One World Champion with deep international motorsports connections, can one help him get a ride in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Odds and Ends

• INDYCAR’s Content Day usually has some form of driver shenanigans, but this one seemed free of it. But leave it to Daly to assess the highlight of it, saying Power had “dad hair.” Power was dumbfounded by that remark.

• Scott McLaughlin is three months into fatherhood, and he said he and wife Karly now have a routine for Lucy. “It’s bed, (bottle), book, bed,” he said.

• These drivers know their football. McLaughlin has Buffalo as his Super Bowl pick. Marcus Armstrong, who correctly picked Kansas City and San Francisco to reach last year’s Super Bowl, is sticking with Detroit’s NFL finale. “They’re going to get healthy at the right time,” he said, adding that they might struggle this weekend with Washington’s mobile rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels.

• Armstrong has joined Rahal in picking Ohio State to win Monday night’s College Football National Championship. But Armstrong admitted he felt an obligation to publicly select the Buckeyes because his new team, Meyer Shank Racing, is based just east of the university in central Ohio.

• Hunter-Reay said his three sons have been so focused on playing basketball, soccer and football to go too deep into racing. He joked that golf might be the best alternative, although that’s not going to happen.

• The next full gathering of the series will be an Open Test at Sebring International Raceway on Feb. 17-18.