IndyCar parts ways with VP/Marketing S.J. Luedtke

IndyCar is parting ways with VP/Marketing S.J. LUEDTKE amid increasing calls from the series' paddock to shake up its marketing efforts. A former Nike exec, Luedtke joined the racing property in February 2019, which was about eight months before ROGER PENSKE bought the series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She oversaw initiatives like the "A Different Breed" pre-season marketing campaign. However, with increasing competition from F1 amid other factors over the last year, IndyCar's industry has started asking questions publicly and privately in recent months about whether the series was marketing aggressively enough. Her last full-time day is December 9th and she will consult part time until end of January. IndyCar says it will start a national search for her replacement. The series called the decision mutual and added: "We’re very appreciative of SJ’s leadership and contributions and wish her well moving forward."