Apple's Retro IndyCar Design: A Colorful Omission in Their Racing Ventures
By Editor • August 16, 2026 • 1 min read
Apple has a deep-rooted passion for motorsports, yet its absence from IndyCar remains a peculiar oversight. With major investments in Formula 1 and a successful film about the sport, the tech giant has yet to strut its stuff on the IndyCar circuit.
Designer Daniel Rodriguez has stepped in to fill this gap, creating a striking concept livery for a Dallara IR-18 that fuses Apple’s iconic design elements over the decades. From the classic 1977 rainbow stripes to modern branding like Apple Pay and Apple TV+, this design cleverly intertwines Apple’s past and present.
Rodriguez's design showcases a dual aesthetic: the nose and wing endplates flaunt bold, flat colors, while the sidepods exhibit a soft gradient reminiscent of contemporary Apple wallpapers. The symmetry between these elements evokes a distinctly Cupertino feel, transforming the vehicle into a visual treat.
Notably, the design features the nostalgic “Apple Computer” branding in the quirky Motter Tektura typeface, a nod to its 1977 origins. This juxtaposition of vintage and modern logos, alongside established IndyCar sponsors like Bosch and Firestone, grounds the concept in reality rather than fantasy.
Historically, Apple dipped its toes into racing with a Porsche 935 K3 in 1980, but the revival of that livery at Laguna Seca earlier this year raises the question: why hasn't Apple taken the plunge into IndyCar yet? With the series gearing up for exciting developments, the time may be ripe for them to join the race.
Source: www.yankodesign.com
