GreenLight had held the licence to make IndyCar Series models in 1:64 since 2011 (Hot Wheels had it for a couple of years before that). It’s therefore big news for it to change hands for 2025, with newly formed IXO America now making the race cars.
Many collectors will know IXO from their excellent 1:43 and 1:18 models, or from the 1:64 replicas they have made for Tarmac Works, Fox18 and others. So far, the new US offshoot has released some cool truck cabs and teased a somewhat predictable selection of classic American cars and pickups.
But as a race car collector, it’s the IndyCar models I’m interested in. Earlier this year, IXO released a 2025 catalogue with a tentative list of releases. The list has been amended since it was published: many of the liveries not shown are now on the pegs; Katherine Legge isn’t racing in IndyCar in 2025; and the mount of this year’s Indy 500 winner, Alex Palou (Ganassi/DHL), has been confirmed.
The Dallara DW12 IndyCar chassis has been used in the series since 2012, during which time it’s undergone several bodywork changes. There are currently two versions: for road courses, street circuits and short ovals; and for superspeedways. In time for the recent Indianapolis 500, IXO released a collection of models in the former configuration. When I was at the race I picked up a couple to share with you here, priced at $12 each. Some dealers have them for less.
I think the packaging is a step forward from the typical GreenLight plastic-fest: a backing card and blister, plus a nice box in which to store the model (clamped securely in a plastic insert) after you open it.
The first is the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan team car of Graham Rahal. I tend to cheer for him because we Grahams have to stick together! Rahal has run a few different liveries already this year. Here are some (poor!) photos of his United Rentals car at Indy, with and without bodywork.
This model represents his Mobil 1-sponsored car from the Thermal Club race in March.
The new IXO casting has a diecast body with a plastic base/floor and wings. That’s a change from the GreenLights, which also had metal floors.
The details appear to be well done, and the complex deco printing is good. I like that they’ve printed the LED on the attenuator at the back of the car (the bit that got Penske into trouble at Indy). There is no driver figure.
The chrome rims on the Rahal car look sharp. For contrast, the other model I chose was the Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) car of Christian Rasmussen, which has all-black wheels. The tire fit on this car isn’t perfect but can probably be cleaned up with a bit of effort. It still rolls decently, though – better than the average Tarmac, not as well as a Mini GT.
Like the J Collection (ex-partwork) models that were recently rereleased by Tarmac, the new IndyCars are made for IXO at a factory in Bangladesh. On my models at least, I don’t see a quality difference to a similarly priced product out of China.
Rasmussen’s Chevy-powered Dallara is sponsored by brands from the Heartland Food Products Group, owned by Ted Gelov, who took a stake in ECR last September. Splenda is the lead sponsor here on the #21, while Java House – present here on the engine cover – takes centre stage on Alexander Rossi’s #20 car. Both are included in the first wave of IXO IndyCar releases.
The yellow, blue and black ECR cars are just as attractive in miniature as they are in real life.
Again, the tampo work is outstanding – crisp and accurately placed. There are even tiny tampos in the cockpit. Aside from the tire fit, the only negative that I can see is that the aeroscreen isn’t as clear as it could be.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with these new additions to my IndyCar collection. To close, here are some comparison shots with a 2021 GreenLight Colton Herta Gainbridge car (superspeedway version).
As you can see, the key dimensions are nigh-on identical, leaving aside the differences in the wings of the two bodywork versions. The IXO tires are also a more realistic shape than those on the GreenLights.
The first superspeedway versions from IXO have already started to appear – the cars of Marco Andretti, Kyle Larson and others. Doubtless we’ll see plenty more of both versions in the coming years, as the range expands. With many drivers running different sponsors from race to race, there’s always plenty of variety to IndyCar collecting, which is one reason why I enjoy collecting the models so much.
Happy collecting!
(the Dallara DW12 features in my children’s book, 20 Great Race Cars)
(follow me on Instagram @diecast215)