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.
Key points
IndyCar released a shirt design called 'One Nation, One Race.'
The design faced immediate backlash online.
Critics labeled the shirt as 'racist' and 'inflammatory.'
IndyCar quickly pulled the shirt after the backlash.
Questions arose about the approval process for the design.
Mentioned in this story
IndyCar
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.
IndyCar releases 'One Nation, One Race' T-shirt
On May 6, IndyCar's official online apparel store released a shirt reading: "One Nation. One Race." Its material — offered exclusively in a creamy, ivory color labeled "gardenia" — 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 — 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.
Q&A
What was the controversy surrounding the IndyCar shirt design?
The controversy arose from an IndyCar shirt design that many fans deemed 'racist' and 'inflammatory,' leading to its quick retraction.
Why did IndyCar pull the 'One Nation, One Race' shirt?
IndyCar pulled the shirt due to significant online backlash and criticism regarding its perceived insensitivity and tone-deafness.
What were the specific criticisms of the IndyCar shirt design?
Critics described the shirt as 'tone deaf,' 'racist,' and 'inflammatory,' questioning how such a design was approved.
How did fans react to the IndyCar shirt before it was pulled?
Fans reacted negatively, with many expressing outrage and labeling the design as offensive, prompting IndyCar to retract it.
Related Articles
Sports
Palace beat Shakhtar to book spot in first-ever European final
Sky Sports·
Sports
Bayern Munich open talks over Gordon move
Bayern Munich has started discussions with Newcastle about signing Anthony Gordon this summer.
Sky Sports··1 min read
Sports
ESPN identifies Panthers' biggest roster hole for 2026 NFL season
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
🔥 Final settled! Aston Villa hammer Forest and Freiburg dump Braga
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
The NCAA tournament expansion nobody wanted is happening — the latest example of college leaders abandoning the fans
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Crystal Palace x Shakhtar Donetsk - Highlights, Summary and Match Report
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
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 Dixon’s 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.
1 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
1 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
2 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
Scott Dixon hangs his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
3 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
4 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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.
5 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson near his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
6 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Kyffin Simpson uses a bucket truck to finish the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
7 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
Alex Palou IndyCar driver finishes the installation of his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Indianapolis.
8 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
Scott Dixon works with Iva Johnson, a maintenance operation technician, while hanging his street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
9 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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.
10 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Scott Dixon installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
11 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Alex Palou installs his street sign ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
12 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
IndyCar driver Scott Dixon’s street sign Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
13 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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.
14 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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.
15 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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.
16 / 16
IndyCar drivers install their street signs ahead of the Indianapolis 500 race
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 social media users from BlueSky, Reddit and X are saying about IndyCar
"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."
IndyCar gives official statement on T-shirt
“A shirt was removed from INDYCAR’s 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.”
IndyCar did not provide any specifics about its design process to IndyStar when asked. In hindsight, a spokesperson said, the organization has "acknowledged it’s 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.
