
IndyCar has retracted a shirt design after receiving backlash online, with critics labeling it 'racist' and 'inflammatory.' The design was criticized for being tone-deaf and raised questions about its approval process.
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IndyCar pulls shirt design after online backlash calls it 'racist,' 'Inflammatory'
IndyCar went into full reverse Wednesday when it released, then quickly pulled, an officially licensed shirt some fans charitably described as "tone deaf."
Others called it "racist," "inflammatory" and questioned how on Earth the design ever got approved in the first place.
On May 6, IndyCar's official online apparel store released a shirt reading: "One Nation. One Race." Its material β offered exclusively in a creamy, ivory color labeled "gardenia" β featured a helmeted white-clad IndyCar driver seated on the Lincoln Memorial.
"This fun graphic tee is going to be a piece that brings back great memories of this race," a description read.
But after intense public backlash, IndyCar pulled the shirt off its digital sales rack. An archived copy, however, can still be found online β or on social media, where users have mostly condemned both it and IndyCar.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
The controversy arose from an IndyCar shirt design that many fans deemed 'racist' and 'inflammatory,' leading to its quick retraction.
IndyCar pulled the shirt due to significant online backlash and criticism regarding its perceived insensitivity and tone-deafness.
Critics described the shirt as 'tone deaf,' 'racist,' and 'inflammatory,' questioning how such a design was approved.
Fans reacted negatively, with many expressing outrage and labeling the design as offensive, prompting IndyCar to retract it.


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Scott Dixon hangs his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
A jug of milk autographed by an IndyCar driver while hanging their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson near his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
Scott Dixon works with Iva Johnson, a maintenance operation technician, while hanging his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar drivers Kyffin Simpson and Alex Palou install their street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Scott Dixon installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Alex Palou installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Scott Dixonβs street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson is assisted by Iva Johnson, a DPW maintenance operation technician, while installing his street sign on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
Three IndyCar drivers Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson pose for a photo with the DPW workers that ran the bucket truck for the street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
David Kemp shows off his autographed bottle of milk he got while IndyCar drivers were installing their street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
Indy 500 Racing drivers Kyffin Simpson, Alex Palou and Scott Dixon install their street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis. Each driver was timed as a friendly competition to see who was the fastest.
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Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Scott Dixon hangs his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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A jug of milk autographed by an IndyCar driver while hanging their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson near his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Scott Dixon works with Iva Johnson, a maintenance operation technician, while hanging his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar drivers Kyffin Simpson and Alex Palou install their street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Scott Dixon installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Alex Palou installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Scott Dixonβs street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
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IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson is assisted by Iva Johnson, a DPW maintenance operation technician, while installing his street sign on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Three IndyCar drivers Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson pose for a photo with the DPW workers that ran the bucket truck for the street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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David Kemp shows off his autographed bottle of milk he got while IndyCar drivers were installing their street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
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Indy 500 Racing drivers Kyffin Simpson, Alex Palou and Scott Dixon install their street signs Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis. Each driver was timed as a friendly competition to see who was the fastest.
"What an insane shirt for IndyCar to promote and sell," wrote one person on BlueSky, with other users on the platform expressing surprise the shirt was officially licensed merchandise and not some random hoax.
"Who approved this? Homelander?" joked one person on a Reddit thread, likening its design to the lead villain of the popular TV series "The Boys," who's often portrayed as xenophobic and racist.
"This is something that never should never have been approved," an X user said, calling the shirt "incredibly insensitive and inflammatory."
βA shirt was removed from INDYCARβs online store following feedback from customers," a spokesperson for the organization said in an email Thursday afternoon to IndyStar. "We understand that some individuals found its phrasing concerning and therefore have remedied the situation.β
IndyCar did not provide any specifics about its design process to IndyStar when asked. In hindsight, a spokesperson said, the organization has "acknowledged itβs reviewing its approval process related to event apparel."
The shirt was originally listed for $50 and meant as a promotional tie-in for the 2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix, happening in August, which will see cars racing down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives in celebration of the nation's 250th birthday.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at John.Tufts@IndyStar.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar removes 'One Nation, One Race' shirt after public backlash