DHS AI IndyCar Post Hits A Wall After Pushback

A Controversial Partnership Announcement

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sparked a social media controversy after posting about a new partnership with the state of Indiana. To announce the expansion of ICE detention space by 1,000 beds, the agency shared an AI-generated image of an IndyCar, branded with the ICE acronym and nicknamed the “Speedway Slammer.” The car in the image bore the No. 5, a detail that would soon add another layer to the story.

IndyCar Pushes Back on IP Use

The racing world was quick to react. The IndyCar Series, the governing body for the sport, promptly issued a statement clarifying it was “unaware” of the promotional image. The organization made its stance clear, stating its “preference that our IP not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.” This put direct pressure on DHS for using the likeness of its race cars without permission.

The Post Vanishes After Initial Defense

Initially, DHS seemed to stand its ground. In a statement issued on August 6, the agency argued that “An AI generated image of a car with ‘ICE’ on the side does not violate anyone’s intellectual property rights.” Despite this defense, the post was quietly taken down. By Friday afternoon, the original URL for the post on X (formerly Twitter) was inactive, and the image was no longer visible on the DHS account's main feed.

A Complicated Week for Penske Companies

The situation was further complicated by the ownership of the IndyCar Series. Both the series and the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway are owned by business tycoon Roger Penske. In a strange coincidence, this was the second time in a week a Penske-owned company had to publicly distance itself from a government operation. Penske Truck Rental had to reinforce its policies after ICE agents were seen emerging from one of its box trucks during a raid in the Los Angeles area, as reported by IndyStar.

Driver Pato O'Ward Caught in the Crossfire

The choice of the No. 5 on the AI-generated car directly linked the controversy to Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward, the only Mexican driver in the IndyCar Series and one of its most popular stars. When asked about the post, O'Ward expressed his surprise. “It caught a lot of people off-guard. Definitely caught me off-guard,” O’Ward told reporters, according to the Associated Press. He added, “I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means. ... I don’t think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.” His comments highlighted the awkward and unfortunate association created by the post.