IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced a $1M Race for Equality & Change fund that "will support internal and external programs 'that will create fundamental change,'" according to the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. One of the focuses of the initiative will be "recruiting and developing a diverse workforce throughout all levels of IndyCar and IMS" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/5). IndyCar CEO Mark Miles said, "This isn't a program that has a beginning and an end. This is the way we see ourselves in the future. We want to work on involving people of color in our work force, team owners, drivers and crew members, really throughout the entirety of the people engaged in the sport and across from teams to our organizations, to our promoters." Miles on how to get people in disadvantaged communities to fall in love with racing said, "We're going to put aside $1 million to try to fuel these various initiatives, one of which is these grassroots programs." Miles: "This is not change that happens over night, but we're committed for the long haul to transform our sport" ("Countdown to Green," NBC, 7/4).
