Indy 500 host SLAMS F1 in latest spat

A picture of the start/finish line of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 in America

Indy 500 host SLAMS F1 in latest spat

The IMS is growing frustrated with continued trademark violations

Chris Deeley

Monday 26 February 2024 04:57

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles has hit out at Formula 1's repeated use of a trademarked phrase.

The phrase in question is “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing", first trademarked by Hulman & Company - former owners of IndyCar and the Speedway before both were sold to Penske in 2019.

F1 were previously in hot water over a social media account promoted the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix as 'the greatest racing spectacle on the planet', with Vegas being referred to the 'sports and entertainment capital of the world' - dangerously close to riffing off another ISM trademark, the “Racing Capital of the World.”

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Boles didn't seem too concerned about the first incident in March 2023, saying at the time: “They couldn’t have been more gracious, saying 'Yeah, yeah, we’ve got it, no problem'.”

The Las Vegas Grand Prix held its inaugural event in late 2023

A phrase used at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix also caused some consternation in the IndyCar world

Boles: We are prepared to take every measure

“We are aware of the use of our mark in what appears to be a broadcast promotional spot. We will once again address it with the appropriate people and are prepared to take every measure possible to protect our brand’s intellectual property,” Boles said.

“It continues to be disappointing that others can’t create their own brand identity without infringing upon ours.”

Formula 1 IndyCar Las Vegas Grand Prix Penske